HDDExpert : Hard Disk Drive health & performance made clear

Discussion in 'Software' started by Kyle_Katarn, Oct 3, 2013.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    Dear all,

    After SUMo , KCleaner and Zer0, i'm coming with a brand new free software called HDDExpert

    HDDExpert give you a cristal-clear vision on your Hard Drive health and performance and translate S.M.A.R.T. attribute into readable indication. Recommends maintenance (fans upgrade, spare purchase, backups,...) depending on amount of failures detected on your hard drives.

    Screenshot :
    [​IMG]

    Web page : http://kcsoftwares.com/?hdde
    Change Log / Bug report : http://kcsoftwares.com/bugs

    Download link : http://www.kcsoftwares.com/files/hdde.exe
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Oct 3, 2013
    #1
  2. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.1 (Released 2013-10-07)
    =====================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Oct 7, 2013
    #2
  3. brownizs

    brownizs MajorGeek

    Check with Western Digital, to see if they will replace the unit. They have been known to allow people to RMA bad units, and they will send a new like unit, if that model is no longer manufactured.

    Run this from Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=613&sid=3&lang=en and report back with the results. Here is the link for end user support, for RMA'ng the unit to WD. http://websupport.wdc.com/rdsfdc.asp?linktype=rmacreate&portaltype=wd&custtype=end&fs=&ss=&lang=en
     
    brownizs, Oct 7, 2013
    #3
  4. mdonah

    mdonah Major Geek Extraordinaire

    I've tried HDDExpert on my system and it incorrectly reads the HDD temperatures. I says that there are errors on my system drive but every other test I've run, including Seatools, report no such errors.

    It also doesn't detect USB connected Hard Drives (I have three of them).
     
    mdonah, Oct 7, 2013
    #4
  5. brownizs

    brownizs MajorGeek

    Those tools are also known not to work properly with SSD drives, due to most SSD's do not have onboard temp sensors.
     
    brownizs, Oct 7, 2013
    #5
  6. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    Hi !
    May i see a screenshot for troubleshooting please ?
    Please post it here or send it to support (@] kcsoftwares.com

    Thanks !
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Oct 8, 2013
    #6
  7. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    Should be working with SSD, even with no temp sensors.
    May i see how it behaves in such condition ?
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Oct 8, 2013
    #7
  8. mdonah

    mdonah Major Geek Extraordinaire

    I removed HDDExpert because of it's errors and won't be re-installing it. It reported a Temp. of 40°C which is only 104°F right off the bat and said temperatures were high. 104°F is nothing on a laptop — well below dangerous levels. It said it found 4 errors but, Seatools. WD Data LifeGuard, chkdsk, etc. report no such errors.
     
    mdonah, Oct 8, 2013
    #8
  9. brownizs

    brownizs MajorGeek

    mdonah, my Notebook regularly runs from 110-116ºf. Now if you want to see high temps, the Lenovo ix2 NAS runs around 132ºf for the motherboard, and 175ºf for the CPU.
     
    brownizs, Oct 8, 2013
    #9
  10. mdonah

    mdonah Major Geek Extraordinaire

    That was exactly my point in my last post. HDDExpert shouldn't have reported 40°C or 104°F as a high temperature. It's well within normal range for a laptop. I run a Dell and have a fan control program specifically designed for Dell laptops — I8KFanGUI — that's currently reporting CPU, GPU, HDD, etc. temps between 118°F and 127°F and the fans aren't even turning on — oops, :-oone fan just went on low speed.
     
    mdonah, Oct 9, 2013
    #10
  11. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    Right, will be modified in next version http://www.kcsoftwares.com/bugs/view.php?id=2201
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Oct 9, 2013
    #11
  12. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.2 (Released 2013-10-12)
    =====================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Oct 12, 2013
    #12
  13. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.3 (Released 2013-10-17)
    =====================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Oct 17, 2013
    #13
  14. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    Kyle_Katarn, Oct 21, 2013
    #14
  15. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.4 (Released 2013-11-03)
    =====================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Nov 3, 2013
    #15
  16. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.5 (Released 2013-11-11)
    =====================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Nov 11, 2013
    #16
  17. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.6 (Released 2013-11-16)
    =====================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Nov 16, 2013
    #17
  18. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.7 (Released 2013-12-01)
    =====================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 1, 2013
    #18
  19. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.8 (Released 2013-12-15)
    =====================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 15, 2013
    #19
  20. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.9 (Released 2013-12-22)
    =====================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 22, 2013
    #20
  21. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Nice App Kyle, and love your website design.

    One thing that may put users off is the survey that comes with this install, while I don't mind surveys at all I do not like to add my Postalcode/Zip Code.

    The HDD app is good though and gives the info a user may need on SMART status etc
     
    DavidGP, Dec 22, 2013
    #21
  22. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    Thanks David.
    Regarding Survey, as indicated in our Download page disclaimer, a "sponsor free" installer is also available (and/or survey can be declined)

    Are HDDExpert indications correct for your drives ?
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 23, 2013
    #22
  23. rustysavage

    rustysavage Sergeant Major

    OK, I'll ask the same question in this thread. How come this guy (Kyle_Katarn) gets to shamelessly plug and beta test his software on this forum? I mean no disrespect, I just don't see anyone else doing it and quite frankly think the whole forum would morph into something entirely different if moderators were to allow all software developers to do the same thing on a hot site like Major Geeks.
     
    rustysavage, Dec 23, 2013
    #23
  24. AtlBo

    AtlBo Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Hey rustysavage...

    A natural question you are asking. However, personally, I don't mind it as long as it's freeware and as long as it's done as part of the quest for better software. For me it's not a problem. It doesn't happen often enough I guess for me to say so. Actually, I was thinking of trying the hard drive software, although I haven't done so yet...
     
    AtlBo, Dec 23, 2013
    #24
  25. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    Thanks !
    Should you have any feedback (suggestions or bug to report) please let me know !

    Let's make these freeware better !

    Merry Xmas
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 23, 2013
    #25
  26. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    HI

    Fair question and Kyle has been a very long standing member here and supporter of Majorgeeks and the downloads site. Its rare I will admit and we tend to vet any devs that may ask for beta help and feedback on "their" app.

    http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/hddexpert.html

    Thanks for the info Kyle and my OCZ Vertex 4 SSD has no SMART data or temp recorded, the Vertex 2 SSD does, the other 2 HDDs I have in Western Digitals have resulting SMART data and temps etc
     
    DavidGP, Dec 23, 2013
    #26
  27. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    May i see a screenshot of this issue ?
    Would you please be so kind to open a bug report with screenshot + details here http://www.kcsoftwares.com/bugs/
    (if you prefer me to do so, just drop screenshot + details here and i'll copy/paste)

    Thanks !
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 23, 2013
    #27
  28. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi Kyle

    Attached is screenshot as requested, some system specs

    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Vertex 4 SSD 256gb (C: drive)
    Vertex 2 80gb
    WDC WD10EACS-00ZJB0 = 1TB
    WDC WD20EADS-00R6B0 = 2TB
     

    Attached Files:

    DavidGP, Dec 23, 2013
    #28
  29. rustysavage

    rustysavage Sergeant Major

    I thank you DavidGP, and I thank AtlBo for the clarification on this matter.
     
    rustysavage, Dec 23, 2013
    #29
  30. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    Looks like a real bug ! SMART Data detected but not displayed !
    Listed here : http://www.kcsoftwares.com/bugs/view.php?id=2406

    May I see screenshots for 3 other drives ?
    Thanks !
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 23, 2013
    #30
  31. AtlBo

    AtlBo Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Kyle...

    Just tried HDDExpert. It's nice, but I think there is some data left out, and also I think the presentation could be improve. I am comparing to results from the program Passmark DiskCheckup. It's very similar, and I like the program, but it detects my USB portable drive and somehow the drive gets turned off.

    HDDExpert doesn't find the USB, so it's better for me (I would like it if a program could record from a USB drive without turning it off, but...), but I recommend taking a look at the data from DiskCheckup as compared to HDDExpert.

    Here is an example:

    Column labelled "Value" for each of these:

    Raw Read Error Rate
    (HDDExpert)/(Passmark DiskCheckup)
    (9248435)/(105)

    Seek Error Rate
    (HDDExpert)/(Passmark DiskCheckup)
    (40714 / 9584)/(87)

    Hardware ECC Recovered
    (HDDExpert)/(Passmark DiskCheckup)
    (197179636)/(83)

    DiskCheckup (see screenshot) converts the raw value into a 1-100 number for the value column that can be compared easily to the Threshold, while your use of raw numbers in the value column is basically useless for the 3 above (and some others too). This is because there isn't anything to compare them to. Also, DiskCheckup includes the worst value column in the same 1-100 format. This helps reinforce what is the actual health of the drive.

    DiskCheckup doesn't include the raw data as effectively as you have in HDDExpert, but I recommend adding a column like what is found in DiskCheckup and labelled as the value column. I don't know but maybe you could call it adjusted value or whatever. Then also I would like to see a "Worst" column, too. Adding these columns would make it possible to compare to the Normal Value and to the worst and then to the threshold, and the user would have a way to have a good idea of how much is left in the drive.

    Included a screenshot of Passmark DiskCheckup for you to see how the data is converted to a number for the Value column and how the "Worst" column is added...
     

    Attached Files:

    AtlBo, Dec 23, 2013
    #31
  32. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    I'll see what i can do ! Thank you for your feedback !
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 23, 2013
    #32
  33. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.10 (Released 2014-01-12)
    ======================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Jan 12, 2014
    #33
  34. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.10.1 (Released 2014-07-19)
    ========================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Jul 19, 2014
    #34
  35. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.11 (Released 2014-11-11)
    ======================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Nov 11, 2014
    #35
  36. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.11.3 (Released 2015-01-25)
    ========================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Jan 25, 2015
    #36
  37. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.13.2 (Released 2015-12-26)
    ========================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 26, 2015
    #37
  38. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.13.3 (Released 2016-03-12)
    ========================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Mar 12, 2016
    #38
  39. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.13.4 (Released 2016-04-07)
    ========================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Apr 7, 2016
    #39
  40. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.13.5 (Released 2016-06-30)
    ========================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Jun 30, 2016
    #40
  41. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.14 (Released 2016-08-31)
    ======================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Aug 31, 2016
    #41
  42. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.14.1 (Released 2016-12-31)
    ========================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Dec 31, 2016
    #42
  43. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.14.2 (Released 2017-05-26)
    ========================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, May 25, 2017
    #43
  44. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.14.3 (Released 2017-07-12)
    ========================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Jul 11, 2017
    #44
  45. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    Bug is now understood and will be fixed in next release to come very soon !!
     
    Kyle_Katarn, Aug 31, 2017
    #45
  46. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.15 (Released 2017-09-01)
    ======================================

    http://www.kcsoftwares.com

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Sep 1, 2017
    #46
  47. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.16 (Released 2018-01-28)
    ======================================

    https://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Jan 28, 2018
    #47
  48. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.16.1 (Released 2018-02-02)
    ========================================

    https://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Feb 2, 2018
    #48
  49. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.6.2 (Released 2018-02-10)
    =======================================

    https://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Feb 10, 2018
    #49
  50. Kyle_Katarn

    Kyle_Katarn Command Sergeant Major

    HDDExpert - 1.6.3 (Released 2018-03-31)
    =======================================

    https://www.kcsoftwares.com/?hdde

     
    Kyle_Katarn, Mar 31, 2018
    #50
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