Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic Utility User Manual

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Software Manual

Data Lifeguard Diagnostic Utility

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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.

2779-701022-A00 July 2006

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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

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DATA LIFEGUARD DIAGNOSTICS (DLGDIAG)

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Using DLGDIAG for Windows

1. Click the Start button and point to Programs --> WD Diagnostics- WD Diagnostics.

2. Click I accept this License Agreement, then click Next.

3. The main program screen displays. The top window shows the drives in your system that are available for testing. The model number, serial number, and capacity of each drive are displayed. In the bottom window, the partition information for the selected drive is displayed. Highlight the drive and double-click the physical drive icon on the top row to run diagnostic testing.

4. The DLGDIAG - Select an Option window displays the four DLGDIAG for Windows options.

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Quick Test

Quick Test performs a S.M.A.R.T. drive quick self test to gather and verify Data Lifeguard information on the drive.

Note: Quick Test will perform a S.M.A.R.T. drive self-test only if it's supported and accessible by DLGDIAG. Otherwise. it will perform a short media scan. The S.M.A.R.T. feature is not supported for external hard drives connected to the computer via the FireWire interface. Some IDE and SATA controllers do not allow S.M.A.R.T. information to be read from the hard drive. For more information, please contact the manufacturer of the controller to determine if the controller supports S.M.A.R.T. attribute reading.

1. Click Quick Test, then click Start.

2. Close any open programs to prevent data loss, then click OK.

3. Quick Test begins. The test may take several minutes to complete depending on the size of the hard drive tested. When the test is complete, click Close.

Extended Test

Extended Test performs a full media scan to detect bad sectors. This test may take up to several hours to run depending on the size of the drive.

1. Click Extended Test, then click Start.

2. Close any open programs to prevent data loss, then click OK.

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3. Extended Test begins. The test may take several hours to complete depending on the size of the hard drive tested. When the test is complete, click Close.

Write Zeros

Write Zeros writes zeros to the drive with the option to perform a quick erase or full erase. Selecting the write zeros option the file system and all data on the drive being tested.

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

1. Click Extended Test, then click Start.

2. If you are sure that you want to write zeros to the drive, click Yes .

3. Select Quick Erase or Full Erase, then click OK.

4. Write Zeros begins. When Write Zeros is complete, click Close.

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View Test Result

View Test Result displays the results of the most recent test(s) run on your system’s hard drive(s).

1. Click View Test Result, then click Start.

2. The test results display.

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View S.M.A.R.T. Disk Information

S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) monitors drive performance and calibration characteristics, and predicts imminent drive failure. Drive attributes and their associated values are listed in the SMART Disk Information screen.

Note: S.M.A.R.T. disk information is available only when the S.M.A.R.T. feature is supported and accessible by DLGDIAG. Under the SMART Status column, a question mark icon displays if the S.M.A.R.T. feature is not available. A red X icon displays for a specific attribute if and only if it's value falls below the threshold value and the warranty value is 1. Some IDE and SATA controllers do not allow S.M.A.R.T. information to be read from the hard drive. For more information, please contact the manufacturer of the controller to determine if the controller supports S.M.A.R.T. attribute reading.

1. Highlight the drive and click the S.M.A.R.T. disk info icon on the top row to view S.M.A.R.T. disk information.

2. The S.M.A.R.T. disk information for the selected drive displays.

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DLGDIAG for DOS

DLGDIAG for DOS is a DOS version of the Data Lifeguard Diagnostics utility that determines the physical condition of a WD hard drive. If you are having computer problems that you suspect are hard drive related, you can test your drive with this tool. This diagnostic utility is designed for WD hard drives larger than 8.4 GB with a model number starting with “WD.”