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Hard Drive Diagnostic Test
How to perform a simple hard drive diagnostics.
Using the Hard drive's built in Drive Self Test(DST) function.
DST is a data safe test, where the data won't be altered.
This is useful to determine whether your Hard drive is physically
damaged. Which could be preventing you from accessing your data from
the drive.
Symptoms
A few reason to perform this test:
The computer crashes randomly while in use
Messages about incomplete or corrupt files
Drive not being detected in windows

Tools


Seagate Technology - SeaTools for DOS
CD/DVD Burning software
CD Burner + Blank CD


Solution

This guide will only show you how to use the Short test function, as this is sufficient to detect most types of issues

Download the: SeaTools for DOS
Burn the CD ISO using your Burning software (Refer to your own software's instructions)
Leave the CD in the drive
Restart your computer
Accept the License Agreement: Click [I Accept]
Click [Basic Test]
Click [Short Test]
After the test finishes
Click [Exit]
Upon prompt, remove SeaTools CD
Press [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Del] to restart your computer

While the test is being performed you can see the progress/status in the right window panel
Results will be in the Message log.
If you do get bad sectors then you should contact your Hard drive vendor if it's still in warranty. Any data recovery for data/files that are in the bad sectors will need to be done by a professional data recovery services.