Micromat TechTool Pro - 3 Instruction Manual

Installation and System Requirements

............................6

Registration ..........................8

System Requirements ...........8

Installing TechTool Pro ..........9

What’s Installed ..................10

TechTool Pro Parts ..............12

Contacting Technical

Support ............................15

About Micromat Computer

Systems Inc. .....................16

Getting Started........................17

Launching TechTool Pro .....18

Sample Session ...................19

Navigation Window ............20

MultiTester .........................21

Reports................................22

Preferences .........................23

TechTool Protection

Control Panel ...................24

Troubleshooting Using

TechTool Pro ............................26

Preventive Maintenance .....27

Troubleshooting Hints ........27

Recovering Deleted Files .....29

Repairing Drive Problems ...29

Repairing Problems .............30

Optimization ......................31

Testing Components ..........32

Checking for Viruses ...........33

Checking for Software

Conflicts ...........................34

In-Depth Testing .................35

Reference..................................36

Navigation Window ............37

Controls & Displays ............37

View ....................................38

Filter ....................................38

Test List .............................. 39

Tests....................................40

Audio Tests .........................41

Auto-Pilot ...........................45

Benchmark Tests .................49

Cache Tests ........................51

Clock Tests .........................53

Components Test ...............55

Data Recovery ....................58

Desktop Test .......................64

Directory Maintenance .......69

Drives ..................................70

File Structure Tests ..............73

Finder Info ..........................75

Floppy Tests ........................77

Internet Tests ......................82

Mathematics ......................84

Modem Tests ......................86

MultiTester Tests .................91

Network Tests .....................94

Optimization ......................96

PRAM Tests .........................99

Processor Tests .................102

RAM Tests .........................104

ROM Test .........................111

Scanner Test......................113

Serial Ports .......................115

Software Conflicts ............118

Surface Scan .....................120

System Files ......................122

Video ................................125

Video Geometry ...............128

Virus .................................131

Volume Structure ..............133

VRAM ...............................138

Wipe Data ........................140

Control Palette .................143

TechTool Pro Preferences ..146 TechTool Protection

Control Panel .................149

Trash Cache ......................152

Diagnostics .......................158

Virus .................................159

Table of Contents

Contents

more...

Problems and Solutions Using TechTool Pro

..........................161

Problems and Solutions

Using TechTool Pro ...........162

Flashing question

at startup ..............162

Computer freezes

at startup ..............162

Drive will not mount

on the desktop .......162

Recovering files that

have been deleted ..163

Recovering files on a

damaged drive .......163

Intermittent crashes ....163

Sluggish performance .164 Generic or incorrect

icons ......................164

Computer settings

don’t stay set .........164

Strange computer

behavior ................164

Optimization will

not complete ..........164

Hard Drive space is

disappearing ..........165

Making a TechTool

Startup Volume ......165

Troubleshooting TechTool Pro

..........................166

Troubleshooting

TechTool Pro......................166

Computer does not

startup from the CD 167

Not enough RAM to

boot from the CD ...167

Program will not accept

the serial number ...168

Control Panel indicates

serial number in use 168

TechTool Pro crashes

during testing .........168

Can’t select a

volume for repair

or optimization ......169

Glossary ..................................170

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User’s Guide and

Reference Manual

www.micromat.com

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Using this Manual

This manual, as well as the software described in it, is furnished under license and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of such license. The information in this manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Micromat, Inc. Micromat, Inc., assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this book.

Except as permitted by such license, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Micromat, Inc.

Trademarks:

TechTool is a registered trademark of MicroMat, Inc. MacEKG, DriveTech, and TechTool Pro are trademarks or registered of Micromat, Inc. Micromat, and The 3-D "M" Micromat logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Micromat, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, Macintosh, Finder, AppleTalk, MacOS are trademarks or registered of Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective holders.

Printed in the USA.

Part number: MM00777

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Using This Manual

This manual was prepared in the Adobe® Acrobat® PDF format

for viewing on screen. You may also print out selected pages or the entire manual on your local printer.

Using the Manual on screen

Use the scroll bar at the right of this screen to scroll through the entire manual.

You may also click on Contents, Prev or Next buttons in the upper right to

view the Table of Contents or move to the Previous or Next page. Clicking the items in the Contents will jump to that page. The standard tools on the Acrobat Reader toolbar shown below may also be used to navigate this document.

Printing portions of the Manual

You may print pages at any time by selecting Print from the File menu. Follow the on screen instructions that appear for your specific printer.

The page sizes for this manual are 4.75 inches wide by 7 inches tall. If your printer software has the ability to print 2 pages side-by-side, you may select this option in your Print Options prior to printing. Refer to the instructions provided with your printer for additional information.

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Installation and System

Requirements

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Introduction

Thank you for purchasing TechTool Pro! We have worked hard to make TechTool Pro the most powerful and easy-to-use problem-solving utility available for the

Macintosh. With TechTool Pro you will be able to:

• Diagnose and repair problems with your drives.

• Scan for and eradicate computer viruses.

• Check for software conflicts.

• Recover lost data.

• Test critical computer components and subsystems.

• Do routine maintenance on your computer.

• Reveal the culprits which cause your Macintosh to crash.

• Verify system configurations.

• Check critical software like the system and enablers.

• Test new equipment.

• Make sure that your computer is running as fast as it should.

Most importantly, TechTool Pro allows you to test your computer like a professional without the need of years of experience or a computer degree. TechTool Pro allows you to check the intricate components of your Macintosh with a simple click of your mouse. When TechTool Pro finds a problem with your computer, it will either fix it for you or it will suggest steps you can take to correct the situation.

Consider TechTool Pro your personal Macintosh technician—always ready to help, and only a mouse click away.

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Registration

Please take a moment to register the program. Your serial number is your proof of ownership of TechTool Pro. Keep it in a safe place since you may need it when you make future updates, upgrades, or need technical support. By regisitering, you also give us a means to help you determine your serial number in case it is lost. Most importantly, registration is required to receive technical support for TechTool Pro.

The easiest way to register is to do so online. Simply visit Micromat’s web site at www.micromat.com and click Register. Fill out and submit the online form and you are finished. If you do not have Internet access, then you should fill out the registration card and mail it directly to Micromat.

System Requirements

• Color-capable Macintosh computer with minimum 640x480 display.

• System software version 7.5.5 or later.

• Drive capable of reading CD-ROMs.

• Minimum 5 megabytes of RAM above that required by the OS.

• Hard disk drive.

Note that these requirements may change with future updates. Please refer to the ReadMe file on the CD for additional changes.

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Installing TechTool Pro

TechTool Pro utilizes an automated installer to correctly place the TechTool Pro application and all ancillary files in their proper locations. The installer offers several installation options and these are explained in detail on the TechTool Pro installation screen. To install:

• Insert the TechTool Pro CD.

• Double-click the TechTool® Pro Installer icon.

• Read the explanatory text on the installer screen and then follow the prompts.

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What’s Installed

The TechTool Pro installer will install the following components as indicated below:

Note that this installation may vary in future updates.

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TechTool Pro Parts

Following is a brief description of the files and folders that are installed by TechTool Pro. Full details on the functions of these items are provided throughout this manual.

TechTool Pro Folder

This folder contains the TechTool Pro program and its necessary support files.

TechTool Pro Prefs Folder

The TechTool Pro Prefs folder contains the various preference files used by both the TechTool Pro main application and the TechTool Protection control panel set. The TechTool Protection control panel requires that a copy of this folder resides in the System Folder’s Preferences folder. However, a copy can also be kept in the TechTool Pro Folder. This makes it easy to use the program on another drive/volume where you would like the TechTool Pro application, but don’t require a system folder and the TechTool Protection control panel set. Just copy the entire TechTool Pro Folder (with the TechTool Pro Prefs Folder included) to the second volume, and you will have everything necessary to run the program from the second volume.

Application Support Files

This folder contains various data files required for the operation of TechTool Pro.

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TechTool Pro

Resides in the TechTool Pro Folder. This is the main application and the item that you double click to launch the program.

Application Prefs

Resides in the TechTool Pro Prefs folder. It contains the preferences for the TechTool Pro application itself. If the TechTool Pro Prefs folder resides both in the

System Folder’s Preferences folder and the TechTool Pro Folder, the application preferences in the TechTool Pro Folder will take precedence over those in the Preferences folder.

Control Panel Prefs

Resides in the TechTool Pro Prefs folder. It contains the preferences for the TechTool Protection control panel.

Virus Database

Resides in the TechTool Pro Prefs folder. This file contains the information required for the virus checking tests of TechTool Pro.

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Key File

Resides in the TechTool Pro Prefs folder. This file contains the serial number and personalization information for TechTool Pro.

Software Profiles

Resides in the Application Support Files folder. It contains a database of software information used by TechTool Pro. This information is necessary to perform the File Tests. It checks the Finder, System, Enablers, Updates, MacOS ROM, and System Resource files.

Conflict Database

Resides in the Application Support Files folder. This file contains the database of known software conflicts used by TechTool Pro.

Sound File

Resides in the TechTool Pro Prefs folder. This file contains the various warning and control sounds heard while using TechTool Pro. This file may be alternately installed in the Application Support Files folder.

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Graphics

Resides in the Application Support Files folder. This file contains graphic elements used by the TechTool Pro application.

Geometry Picture

Resides in the Application Support Files folder. This pict file holds the Custom Picture used in the Video Geometry test. To use your own image in the test, replace this file with a pict image of your choice named Geometry Picture.

TechTool Pro Help

Resides in the Application Support Files folder. This file contains help and advice information.

TechTool Protection

Resides in the Control Panels folder. This control panel works together with the Protection Extension to provide automatic security for your computer. This includes an automatic check of your directory structure, regular backup of your disk’s directory, maintenance of the Trash Cache (which allows you to easily “unerase” deleted files), and virus checking routines.

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Protection Extension

Resides in the Extensions folder. The Protection Extension implements the automatic routines controlled by the TechTool Protection control panel (see above).

Serial Tool

Resides in the Extensions folder. This file is an Apple Communications Toolbox item. It is used in the Serial Ports tests, and in the Modem tests to allow TechTool Pro to test all available ports.

Contacting Technical Support

Micromat provides technical support to its customers by telephone, email and U.S. Mail. For a current listing of our telephone numbers and other contact information, please refer to the back cover of this manual or visit our website at www.micromat.com. Technical support is available Monday through Fridays (excluding public holidays), from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM PST

If you wish to contact technical support, you will need to have your TechTool Pro serial number and version number ready. Our automated phone attendant will require you to enter this information before connecting you to a technician. Please be near your computer when you phone, since our technicians will need to ask you questions about your system, and will attempt to guide you through solving any problems.

Please have the following information ready for the support technician, and be sure to include it in any email or U.S. postal mail you send to Micromat.

• A Brief description of your problem.

• Version number of your TechTool Pro software. (Example: TechTool Pro 3.01)

• Version of Macintosh System software you are running. (Example: Mac OS

8.6.1)

• Type of computer and configuration. (Example: Apple Macintosh 8600, 48MB of RAM, 4GB internal hard drive.)

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• A list of peripheral devices and accessories attached, such as external hard drives, scanners, printers, recordable CD-ROM devices etc.

• If you are using a third party Video Card, please have the make and model number available.

• If you are connected to a network, including a cable modem or DSL modem that uses the network connection, mention the type of network and devices being used.

• Modem type and speed (Example: Apple Internal 56k).

Micromat News (for notification of updates and other information):

Micromat maintains a notification system called Micromat News. This allows us to inform our customers of updates and upgrades by email. If you wish to receive these notifications, please follow the instructions below:

1. Send an email message to listmanager@micromat.com. (You must send the message from the email account that you wish to subscribe.)

2. Message body should say ONLY the following:

SUBSCRIBE MICROMATNEWS

(note that “micromatnews” is one word)

3. You’ll receive confirmation of your free subscription and you’ll automatically be notified whenever a new update is released.

About Micromat Computer Systems Inc.

Micromat Inc. has been developing Macintosh diagnostic utilities since 1989. As the first company to offer diagnostic products for Macintosh, Micromat has pioneered many new technologies for helping Macintosh users bring their computers back to life, and to keep them running their absolute best. When NASA needed to conduct micro-gravity computer experiments in space, they chose our first product, MacEKG, for its ability to test the behavior of computer equipment outside the confines of the Earth’s gravity. We were more than happy to help, because NASA not only put us miles above other utility software products, they gave us the honored distinction of being the first computer diagnostic ever to be used in space.

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Getting Started

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Launching TechTool Pro

After successfully installing TechTool Pro, locate the TechTool Pro Folder. Inside you’ll find the TechTool Pro application. Double click the TechTool Pro icon to Launch the program.

The first time you launch TechTool Pro, you’ll be presented with a dialog box with three fields for your name, company name, and product serial number. Your serial number is listed on the registration card included with the TechTool Pro package. Enter the appropriate information into the corresponding fields.

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Sample Session

When you first launch TechTool Pro you will see the Navigation Window and the MultiTester panel open on the screen. The MultiTester contains a standard suite of tests that will do a thorough analysis of your computer’s drives and components. To run these tests, all you need to do is click the BEGIN button on the MultiTester panel. If problems are found, you will be notified and offered the option to make repairs. When the tests are completed you will be presented with a report detailing any problems found and the results of any repairs. If repairs cannot be made, the TechTool Pro report will give you information on how to proceed. This is all that is required to do a comprehensive check of your computer system.

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Navigation Window

The Navigation Window can be thought of as TechTool’s Center of Operations. It lists each test suite and utility available in the TechTool program so that you can work with it individually. When you double-click on a test, an individual test panel opens with the options for that test.

The Navigation Window has a number of options that make it easy to use. You can drag it to any spot on the screen and size it to your liking. If you wish, you can choose a large format display to make it easier to read. Each test displays an icon indicating its category, such as Drives or Communications. You are able to sort the list based on a variety of criteria. In addition, you can choose favorite tests and list only your favorites, or list only tests that contain a certain “string” of characters in their name.

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MultiTester

The MultiTester is one of the panels in the Navigation Window. It contains a variety of tests that you can run as a suite on your computer. To see what tests are available in the MultiTester, click on the Options disclosure triangle.

Each test may be selected individually by checking its box. The tests may be run on all the attached physical drives or on selected volumes. To run the tests on the selected drives/volumes just click the BEGIN button.

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Reports

As tests are performed in TechTool Pro, the data for the final report is being generated. Upon completion of the tests this report is displayed. It lists which tests passed and failed, any action taken, and advice on how to proceed if further action is recommended. The report may be saved as a Simple Text document and printed for future reference.

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Preferences

TechTool Pro allows you to control and save certain program settings from the Preferences dialog. These are set by choosing the Preferences… option under

the Edit menu.

By adjusting preferences you can customize how TechTool Pro behaves—from whether it uses sound and speech, to how its window settings and dialogs are displayed.

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TechTool Protection Control Panel

When you install TechTool Pro, the TechTool Protection control panel and the Protection Extension are placed in the active System Folder. These two items work

in tandem to provide extra protection for your system. The TechTool Protection control panel allows you to configure the operation of the Protection Extension, and to change the default settings for it, if you wish. By default, TechTool Protection does a diagnostic scan of your volumes at startup to try to spot any directory corruption before it becomes serious. If problems are found, you will be warned so that you can take further action. In addition, a backup of your volume’s directory is made at shutdown. This can often help with data recovery in the case of volume structure problems. TechTool Protection allows you to perform a scan of your drive(s) in order to detect the presence of any known Macintosh viruses. The extension also maintains a Trash Cache that allows you to retrieve deleted files within the currently set limits for the cache (configurable by you).

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The Trash Cache is useful not only for “undeleting” items you have purposely trashed, but can often assist in recovering data from documents you were working on during a computer crash.

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Troubleshooting Using

TechTool Pro

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Preventive Maintenance

One of the most valuable functions of TechTool Pro is its ability to assist you in finding and repairing problems with your computer before they get out of hand. For maximum protection, it is important that TechTool Pro is actually installed on your system. When you install TechTool Pro you install extensions which regularly check your volume(s) and backup your directories. In addition, it is a good idea to run the basic suite of tests in MultiTester on a regular basis (for example monthly) to more thoroughly check your system. This will help ensure that your computer is running at its full potential, and minimize the chance of crashes and data loss. It is important to keep valuable data backed up. A hard drive or volume will always fail at some point in time. While TechTool Pro should be able to bring your drive back to life, the insurance provided by a backup is important. A little time spent maintaining backups and checking your system regularly, may save you many hours of recovery and repair down the road.

Troubleshooting Hints

Computers are complex electronic devices that can sometimes be daunting to troubleshoot. Their proper operation depends on the reliable functioning of both sophisticated hardware and software. TechTool Pro was designed to do as much for you as possible in the event of a computer problem. It also has functions to help you extinguish small problems before they become big problems. But here are a few tips which can help ensure that you are back in business as soon as possible.

Backup Before Repairing

If you are experiencing problems be sure and immediately attempt to backup any important data that hasn’t already been saved. Do this before trying to make any repairs. It may be impossible to retrieve your data later if the problems get progressively worse as the computer is used. Also, consider archival backups. This simply means that instead of having one backup, keep several backups made on different dates. That way, if you should discover a file was damaged, and was backed up damaged, you can refer to a prior backup.

Be Prepared

Keep your version of TechTool Pro up-to-date. Know where the TechTool Pro CD is located in case you need it. If you have updated your copy of TechTool Pro over the Internet and don’t have the latest version of TechTool Pro on CD, then be sure you have copied the updated TechTool Pro program folder to another location (such as a removable disk) in case you need to use it. Keep current

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backups of your work. Know where to find your TechTool Pro serial number, in case you need to call Micromat Tech Support.

Eliminate Easy Problems First

Try starting with extensions off (hold the shift key while booting) and see if that eliminates the problem. Run through all the tests in the MultiTester and opt to repair whatever problems might be found. Check the Desktop files and the PRAM (TechTool Pro can do this for you). It’s possible one of the above items will help pinpoint or solve the problem.

Simplify/Isolate

Eliminate as many variables as possible. If your problem appears to be with an internal volume, then power down your machine and disconnect all external devices. If it is with an external drive/volume, then connect only that drive to the computer. Startup and run TechTool Pro from the TechTool Pro CD if possible. This will eliminate the possibility of extension conflicts or system corruption.

Keep Your Software Fresh

Many computer problems are actually software problems. The producers of most software will release regular updates to address incompatibilities and other issues that they discover. Do your best to have current versions of software, extensions, drivers, etc. Staying current may keep problems from developing in the first place, and updating an older piece of software may actually solve a nagging problem.

Make Use of Available Resources

There are many sources of assistance available to help you solve problems. These include local Macintosh Users Groups, specialized newsgroups on the Internet, and websites, listserves, and tech support provided by software and hardware vendors.

Document What You Do

As you try to solve your computer problems, keep notes about what you do and the outcome of these actions. This can be a valuable reference for you later and can be extremely helpful if you need to talk to a tech support representative. Knowing exactly what was done and the results (including any error messages) can make problem solving much easier. In addition, if you continue to have problems at a later time, you may be able to spot a pattern that would otherwise elude you.

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Recovering Deleted Files

Deleted files can usually be retrieved if the Trash Cache was active when a file was erased. To recover a deleted file, simply go to the TechTool Protection control panel in the Control Panels folder, select Trash Cache, click the Displayed Cached Files button, and drag the deleted files back out onto the desktop. If Trash Cache was not active, the chances of recovery may have been diminished. The Data Recovery panel might be able to recover the file for you.

Repairing Drive Problems

You probably already know the importance of your hard drive. It contains the data that allows the computer to boot, as well as the programs you use and the files you’ve created. In most cases, this manual will refer to a drive as a “volume.” A volume is simply a unit of storage that appears as an icon at the upper right side of your desktop. A CD-ROM is a volume. Your hard drive is a volume. A floppy disk is a volume. A removeable disk is a volume. A mounted drive from another server is a volume. The term “hard drive” and “volume” are almost interchangeable. Though a hard disk can contain more than one volume (multiple partitions), a volume cannot contain more than one hard drive. (This is not entirely true. Some forms of RAID disk setups can make many drives appear as one volume).

When you double-click a volume icon, and view the contents of that volume, you’re not seeing the true nature of that volume. Every volume contains many invisible files and data files. This allows the computer to access the data on that particular volume. Items, such as the file catalog or directory, the extents tree and a host of other objects; dictate how data is stored on a particular device (see the Glossary section of this manual for definitions of these terms). These items comprise the “volume structure” of a particular volume. In most cases, when a drive fails and then is repaired with a utility like TechTool Pro, it is not the physical drive that is being repaired. It is the software that comprises the volume structure. If there is a problem with the structure of a volume, it can prevent the computer from being able to boot or prevent you from having access to your data. If there is an actual problem with the physical drive, like an electrical or mechanical problem, software will not be able to correct the problem.

TechTool Pro is unique in that it can check the mechanical and electronic aspects of a drive (Drive panel), as well as repair the volume structures (MulitTester panel and Volume Structure panel).

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Repairing Problems

First start by using the MuliTester panel of the program. This will conduct a series of abbreviated tests that can repair most volume problems, if found. Be sure the Volume Structure, Surface Scan and Drives tests are checked. If TechTool Pro finds a problem, it will ask you if you wish to repair the problem. If you still have access to your files, you should stop the test at this point. Make a current backup of your important files prior to proceeding with repairs. Then run the tests again and allow the repairs to proceed.

After the program has made repairs, it will create a pseudo-volume (which is a replica of your volume) on the desktop. This allows you to pre-check a repair before committing the changes and making them permanent. The pseudovolume will behave like a normal volume: you can open files and folders. Once you’re satisfied that the proposed repairs are accurate, the Replace button will make the repair permanent and will dismount the pseudo-volume.

In the unlikely event that the MultiTester routines are unable to repair the volume, open the Volume Structure panel from the Navigation window. Check all of the test options and make sure Validate & Repair is selected. Using the Control Palette, run the tests and allow repairs to proceed.

If the repair is successful, the volume is probably in good shape. If the volume structures cannot be repaired, you should either reinitialize the volume, or reformat the drive and restore your data.

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+ 149 hidden pages

Micromat TechTool Pro - 3 Instruction Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual