If there is one piece of equipment in your computer that you would predict to fail first, what would it be? Some might pick the power supply, some might pick the motherboard and even some might pick the video card. Most however, are going to choose the hard drive. So, what can you do to prevent hard drive failure?

The standard IDE/SATA hard drive today is still the most mechanical piece of equipment sitting in your present day PC. And this will continue to be the case until solid state drives become much cheaper and much more compatible for present day hardware. The most unfortunate part of the problems with these drives, is how incredibly critical they are to the state of your computer. A hard disk failure means a dead computer - unless you are lucky enough to be running in some type of RAID environment, which most home users won’t be.

To help predict and protect yourself from these the inevitable circumstances of a hard drive failure, I have come up with four third party diagnostic tools, and a list of the all the major hard drive manufacturer tools. Most of these incorporate the built-in SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) feature with most of today’s hard disks. (Windows Only)

CrystalDiskInfo

CrystalDiskInfo is a S.M.A.R.T. based utility that supports not only internal drives, but both USB and IEEE1394’s as well. It displays an incredible amount of simple and advanced disk information, and may always be running in the background. This includes temperature readings, read/write errors and power management tools, running at all times of the day.

General Information on your drive.

Advanced Diagnostic of your drive.

HD Tune

HD Tune is a much simpler hard drive disk scanning utility that has benchmarking, advanced diagnostics, similar to Crystal and a disk scanning utility, very similar to the Windows version, but can be run in real-time. It also includes real-time temperature monitoring.

HD Tune also uses the SMART based technology and has already been a help to myself. I knew that my hard drive was on the brink, and this was the first utility to confirm that. You’ll see my errors below. I wasn’t even able to run the benchmarking tool on my system drive. The screen shot below is for my data drive. It also supports all connection types.

Benchmarking

Disk Scanning

HDD Health

HDD Health is another similar product that can help you predict and prvene hard disk failure. It includes temperature and real-time monitoring, but includes a health indicator, simply by percentage and nothing more. It does include the same advanced diagnostic tools as the other SMART utilities as well.

General Information

Extended Drive Information

HDD Scan

HDD Scan not only includes many SMART diagnostic utilities, but other disk utilities as well. It includes many advanced testing modes, such as reading, writing and erasing in linear. In comparison to the other products, HDD Scan might get you more bang for the free buck.

Various HDD Scan Tools

Available Surface Tests

Manufacturer Specific Products

Some people might trust products designated for their specific hard drive more then any other. So I’ve provided a list of all the major manufacturers with a link to their diagnostic tools. A few of these may even support different manufacturers.

Fujitsu - Supports all forms of internal connection and is capable of doing in depth surface and diagnostic testing.

Hitachi - Several diagnostic tools for Hitachi drives. Analyze, optimize and protect your drive from failure.

Samsung - The Samsung utility will only work with Samsung drives and is an offline bootable disk that can be run no matter what the state of your drive.

Seagate/Maxtor - The Seagate tools, also known as Seatools, are Windows specific tools that can quickly and comprehensively determine the state of your present Seagate or Maxtor hard drive.

Western Digital - In order to determine your appropriate tools, you’ll first have to select your specific product and browse to a compatible ‘Data Lifeguard Diagnostic Tools’. Thorough test and repair utilities for West Digital drives.

All of the tools above may or may not be able to resolve serious disk errors on your drive. But if you are worrisome about the state of your current HDD and you’d like to confirm it, these tools will help to do so. It will force you to clone your harddrive or backing up your data on a regular basis before the inevitable happens. Play with each of tools, and find the best that suits your situation.

The above third party tools are a few of the popular free utilities I’ve found. Do you have another suggestion for protection? If you’ve tried any of the above, get back to us with your favorite.

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Need a tablet PC that'll last all day, do ya? Care for one that you can also see whilst outdoors? Look no further than Motion brand new J3400, a rugged (albeit sleek) new tablet that comes equipped with dual battery compartments and an outdoor-visible LCD. Other specs include an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1.8-inch shock-mounted HDD (a 64GB SSD is a worthwhile option), 2 megapixel camera, GPS, a biometric sensor, multicard reader, Bluetooth 2.1, Qualcomm's dual mode gobi WWN chip, WiFi and a chassis that's IP-52 rated and meets MIL-STD-810F specifications. In other words, a three foot tumble onto plywood won't even faze it. This beauty can be yours to ruin in the field for the low, low starting price of $2,299, and yes, it's ready to ship this very moment. Full release is after the break.


Motion Launches the J3400 Rugged Tablet PC with All Day Battery Life and an Industry-Leading Bright Outdoor Display

Ideal for mobile workers the J3400 is a rugged, lightweight device with a dual battery design for all day computing

AUSTIN, TX – March 16, 2009 – Motion Computing®, a leader in mobile computing and wireless communications, today announced the latest in its line of rugged tablet PCs. Maximizing performance and flexibility, the J3400's lightweight package, superior ergonomics and integrated features allow it to adapt easily to a broad range of demanding work environments. Ideal for mobile workers that compute while walking or standing, the J3400 extends the computing day with a dual battery design and shines with an industry-leading, bright outdoor display.

"The J3400 was developed based on more than seven years of tablet PC experience, and feedback from customers across industries," said David Altounian, president and CEO, Motion Computing. "It is a mobile computing device with the capabilities our customers are demanding – a powerful processor with a compact rugged design that supports users who must be productive whether in the field or in the office."

The J3400 joins Motion's family of proven tablet PCs that meet the needs of mobile users across a variety of markets including healthcare, construction, field sales and service and government. Balancing performance, weight, durability and integrated features, Motion tablets have significantly enhanced mobile productivity by enabling users to take technology directly to the point of service.

"Motion is recognized for innovative solutions that can improve productivity with the ability to take technology to the point of service," said Brian Tucker, business marketing manager, Mobile Platforms Group, Intel Corporation. "Intel's Centrino 2 processor technology is the backbone in many thin and light concepts like the J3400's innovative design with long battery life."

Cianbro, a construction and service solutions provider, has significantly improved job site productivity with the use of Motion tablet PCs. The company plans to deploy the J3400s at Destiny USA, a first-class destination being built to operate 100 percent free of fossil fuels.

"At Cianbro, we're excited about the advancements Motion has made with the J3400. The new features fit in well with our mobile computing needs," said David Fay, Cianbro's job site technology manager. "The bright screen, ruggedness and integrated camera will help us further improve productivity as we work to enable innovation in the construction industry through advanced technology."

Rugged, Lightweight and Ergonomic Equal All Day Computing
Motion's J3400 offers all of the durability and functionality of a rugged PC, without the extra weight and price associated with traditional fully rugged devices. The tablet PC features a hot-swappable dual battery feature for all day computing performance. Additionally, with its balanced design, integrated shoulder strap attach points, rounded corners and slip-free grip surface, it is easily carried throughout the day.
Motion's unique design and internal frame that protects internal components without adding weight or thickness allows for the J3400's rugged design and light weight. The tablet PC is IP-52 rated and meets MIL-STD-810F specifications – able to withstand a three-foot drop on plywood over concrete as well as the occasional bumps, dust and moisture associated with mobile working environments. A variety of features create a reliable, rugged device:
• 1.8 inch hard disk drive (HDD) that provides extra shock protection
• Shock-mounted display and HDD with DataGuard™, an accelerometer that protects data during drops or other events that could potentially damage the hard drive
• Optional low cost 64GB SSD for extreme shock and vibration protection

Integrated Features and Custom Peripherals Optimize Usability
The J3400's available integrated features improve field productivity while reducing the number of devices that must be carried, while a host of custom-designed peripherals optimize usability:
• 2.0 megapixel camera for seamless, in-the-field documentation
• Smart card reader and biometric fingerprint reader for enhanced security
• GPS for real-time mapping, location tracking or the geo-tagging of digital photos
• FlexDock with full input/output connections, a convenient charging bay and mounting compatibility with any VESA device
• J-Series Work Anywhere™ kit to give users a comfortable option for carrying the device throughout the workday

Improving Mobile Productivity with the Latest Technologies
The J3400 is available with a variety of technologies that improve productivity, whether computing indoors or out. It is the first tablet PC to combine Motion's View Anywhere® technology with the Hydis AFFS+ wide screen display, creating an industry-leading, bright outdoor viewing experience. Other available features include:
• Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology, which includes the Intel® Core™2 Duo processor to provide high performance and optimal battery life
• Speak Anywhere® technology that intelligently switches between two of three microphones for high-fidelity voice and sound input
• Intel® WiFi Link 5300 Series 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n, CSR BlueCore™ Bluetooth® 2.1, and integrated Gobi™ mobile broadband for a variety of communications options

Pricing and Availability
The Motion J3400 is now available at a starting price of $2,299. Motion tablet PCs are sold by authorized Motion resellers and distributors worldwide. For more information or to find a certified Motion reseller visit www.motioncomputing.com/products/tablet_pc_J34.asp.

About Motion Computing
Motion Computing is a mobile computing and wireless communications leader, combining world-class innovation and industry experience so professionals in vertical industries such as healthcare, field sales and service and government can use computing technology in new ways and places. The company's enhanced line of tablet PCs, mobile clinical assistants and accessories are designed to increase productivity for on-the-go users while providing portability, security, power and versatility. Motion combines those products with services and unique vertical market knowledge to deliver robust solutions – platforms, peripherals, services and wireless – customized for the needs of a particular industry. For more information, visit www.motioncomputing.com.

Motion Computing and Motion are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motion Computing, Inc, in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

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