Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic Utility User Manual

Software Manual

Data Lifeguard
Diagnostic Utility

WD
Data Lifeguard Diagnostic Utility (DLGDIAG)

User Manual

Information furnished by WD is believed to be accurate and reliable; however, no responsibility is assumed by WD for its use nor for
any infringement of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or
otherwise under any patent or patent rights of WD. WD reserves the right to change specifications at any time without notice.

Western Digital is a registered trademark; and WD, the WD logo, and Data Lifeguard Tools are trademarks of Western Digital
Technologies, Inc. Other marks may be mentioned herein that belong to other companies.

© 2006 Western Digital Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2779-701022-A00 July 2006

Table of Contents

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

DLGDIAG Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

When to Use DLGDIAG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Before using DLGDIAG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 DLGDIAG for Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Supported Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Supported Operating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Installing DLGDIAG for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Using DLGDIAG for Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3 DLGDIAG for DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Supported Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Creating Bootable DLGDIAG for DOS Disks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Using DLGDIAG for DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Command Line Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Error/Status Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

4 Service and Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

TABLE OF CONTENTS – i

1

DATA LIFEGUARD DIAGNOSTICS (DLGDIAG)

USER MANUAL

Introduction

The Data Lifeguard diagnostic utility (DLGDIAG) is designed to test WD hard drives
for errors. If DLGDIAG reports errors, you can use the program to attempt to restore
the hard drive to a defect-free status.

DLGDIAG supports WD external and SATA hard drives. It also supports EIDE hard drives
installed on both primary and secondary IDE ports (either the motherboard or a controller
card). DLGDIAG must be run separately to test each WD hard drive in the system.

Depending on your hard drive model and diagnostic requirements, you can use either the
Windows or DOS version of DLGDIAG. Windows and DOS versions of the DLGDIAG
software are available at support.wdc.com/download.

DLGDIAG Options

Windows

 Quick Test — performs a quick S.M.A.R.T. self-test to gather and verify the Data

Lifeguard information contained on the drive.

 Extended Test — performs a Full Media Scan to detect bad sectors. Test may take several

hours to complete depending on the size of the drive.

 Wri te Ze ro s — writes zeros to the drive using the Full Erase or Quick Erase option.

Erases all data on the drive by writing zeros to each sector – file system and data will be
lost.

 View Test Results — displays results for the last hard drive tested.

DOS

 Select Drive — selects the hard drive to test and displays status for all hard drives.

 Quick Test — tests the drive quickly for any major physical problems.

 Extended Test — checks the drive thoroughly for any major physical problems.

 Write Zeros To Drive — wipes any and all data off the drive. Use this option when your

data is no longer usable or recoverable.

 View Test Results — displays results for the last hard drive tested.

 Print Test Results — prints results for the last hard drive tested (USB printers not

supported).

 Log File Open/Close — stores results for all hard drives tested (DLGDIAG.LOG)

 Enter & Print RMA Information — enters and prints RMA information for returning a

hard drive to WD.

 Help — brief descriptions of each option and explanations of error codes.

 Quit — reboot your system once you have completed the selected tasks.

INTRODUCTION – 1

DATA LIFEGUARD DIAGNOSTICS (DLGDIAG)

USER MANUAL

When to Use DLGDIAG

If the hard drive reports errors, if you are unable to access files on the hard drive, or if another
diagnostic utility such as SCANDISK, CHKDISK, DEFRAG, or Norton Utilities reports
errors on the hard drive, run DLGDIAG to determine if they are hard drive-related.
DLGDIAG does not report errors associated with the system BIOS, controller card, or
motherboard of your system.

DLGDIAG can be used at any time to test for hard drive errors. If you experience problems
accessing files or encounter other apparent hard drive errors, you can safely run the Quick
Test option to confirm your hard drive integrity.

DLGDIAG’s Repair Drive feature allows the user to restore any errors found during the
Extended Test scan of your hard drive without destroying all data on the drive.

DLGDIAG does not resolve mechanical damage such as noisy drives or drives that do not
spin up. Contact WD technical support (see “Service and Support” on page 19) if you have a
hard drive that exhibits the above difficulties.

Before using DLGDIAG

If used properly, DLGDIAG does not overwrite data on the hard drive during the scan and
will not result in data loss. However, you should always back up your data before running any

diagnostic utility. Back up all data on your hard drives(s) before using DLGDIAG.

CAUTION: Back up all data on your hard drive(s) before using DLGDIAG. You
will erase all data if the Write Zeros To Drive option is invoked.

INTRODUCTION – 2

2

DATA LIFEGUARD DIAGNOSTICS (DLGDIAG)

USER MANUAL

DLGDIAG for Windows

DLGDIAG for Windows is a Windows version of the Data Lifeguard Diagnostics utility. The
utility can perform drive identification, diagnostics, and repairs on a WD FireWire, EIDE, or
USB drive. In addition, it can provide the drive's serial and model numbers.

Supported Products

Internal Hard Drives

 WD SATA

 WD EIDE

External Hard Drives

 WD USB

 WD FireWire

 WD Combo

®

Supported Operating Systems

 Windows XP

 Windows 2000

 Windows Me

 Windows 98SE

DLGDIAG FOR WINDOWS – 3

DATA LIFEGUARD DIAGNOSTICS (DLGDIAG)

USER MANUAL

Installing DLGDIAG for Windows

Important: If you have a pop-up blocker installed, you may need to disable it to download
the DLGDIAG software.

1. Go to support.wdc.com/download and download the Data Lifeguard Diagnostics for

Windows program (WinDLG.zip).

2. Extract and run the Setup.exe program.

3. The WD Diagnostics InstallShield Wizard screen appears. Click the Next button.

4. Click Install.

5. Click Finish.

DLGDIAG FOR WINDOWS – 4