How to test WD harddrive

[csell]

I'm trying to test my tivo harddrive and need help!

First, I went to Western Digitals and found the diagnosis software for my specific harddrive. I downloaded the software. It includes 5 files, one being a DOS exe. There is a text file in there that says the following:

The program must be run from a floppy drive, so if downloaded, copy all files included in the zip to a formatted bootable floppy diskette in A:. All files must be included for the program to function properly.

This is my first issue - I do not have a floppy drive. These instructions actually contradict what the website says (its says to boot off of the CD), so I'm guessing that text file was just never updated and doing off of a CD is fine...

So anyway, I tried making a CD/DVD instead and boot from that. The method I took was to disconnect my current PC harddrive (since I currently only have one SATA data cable) and connect the new tivo harddrive. I then booted the PC from the CD. It then boots up and displays the following and never does anything else:

Starting Caldera DR-DOS...
And that's where I'm at now. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to also have my Window OS harddrive in there as well?

By the way, here's the file I'm using:
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=702&sid=30&lang=en

[MPSAN]

I'm trying to test my tivo harddrive and need help!

First, I went to Western Digitals and found the diagnosis software for my specific harddrive. I downloaded the software. It includes 5 files, one being a DOS exe. There is a text file in there that says the following:

The program must be run from a floppy drive, so if downloaded, copy all files included in the zip to a formatted bootable floppy diskette in A:. All files must be included for the program to function properly.

This is my first issue - I do not have a floppy drive. These instructions actually contradict what the website says (its says to boot off of the CD), so I'm guessing that text file was just never updated and doing off of a CD is fine...

So anyway, I tried making a CD/DVD instead and boot from that. The method I took was to disconnect my current PC harddrive (since I currently only have one SATA data cable) and connect the new tivo harddrive. I then booted the PC from the CD. It then boots up and displays the following and never does anything else:

Starting Caldera DR-DOS...
And that's where I'm at now. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to also have my Window OS harddrive in there as well?

By the way, here's the file I'm using:
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=702&sid=30&lang=en

So, I assume that you got the ISO and used a program like Nero, or ImgBurn (free) to burn the ISO. That should create a bootable CD. If you do see the message that you are getting, it does show that their OS is starting, but it may not see any of the hardware like mouse, etc. Do you have a wireless or USB mouse? Perhaps you can try an old wired mouse (sometimes even a PS2 mouse). This can happen if you have a rather new PC.

[csell]

So, I assume that you got the ISO and used a program like Nero, or ImgBurn (free) to burn the ISO. That should create a bootable CD. If you do see the message that you are getting, it does show that their OS is starting, but it may not see any of the hardware like mouse, etc. Do you have a wireless or USB mouse? Perhaps you can try an old wired mouse (sometimes even a PS2 mouse). This can happen if you have a rather new PC.

To do this test, do you need to leave in your existing Windows harddrive. I'm guessing that is what my problem is. Since I only had 1 SATA data cable, I removed the existing Windows harddrive and replaced it with the Tivo Linux harddrive. I'm guessing it doesn't work that way, correct???

[lew]

Try the windows version of the program

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=702&sid=3&lang=en


You could make another CD, but burn at a lower speed. There might be a problem with your CD but

It's possible your particular hardware isn't supported with the CD based diagnostics. I think the pp is correct, you're using a keyboard or mouse that's not supported.

[csell]

Try the windows version of the program

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=702&sid=3&lang=en


You could make another CD, but burn at a lower speed. There might be a problem with your CD but

It's possible your particular hardware isn't supported with the CD based diagnostics. I think the pp is correct, you're using a keyboard or mouse that's not supported.

The one answer that no one has said yet (which i think may be my problem) is : do you need to leave in your existing Windows harddrive in the PC (I'm using the 'Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD)')? I was under the assumption that it is running off of the CD so I could just SWAP my current PC harddrive with the Tivo harddrive.... Is this the whole problem???

[lew]

The one answer that no one has said yet (which i think may be my problem) is : do you need to leave in your existing Windows harddrive in the PC (I'm using the 'Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD)')? I was under the assumption that it is running off of the CD so I could just SWAP my current PC harddrive with the Tivo harddrive.... Is this the whole problem???

If that was the problem we would have told you. The CD is desiged to work by itself. The windows program is desgned to work with your existing windows harddrive.

You can try burning your CD at a lower speed. You can try a different brand of CD. It's possible your CD drive isn't properly reading your CD and isn't loading one of the required drivers.

It's more likely your computer needs a driver that's not included on the CD.

[MPSAN]

Yes, I bet you have hardware that the DOS based CD is not seeing. Also, NO, you are booting the OS from he CD and it does not care about a Windows System HDD.

[csell]

Yes, I bet you have hardware that the DOS based CD is not seeing. Also, NO, you are booting the OS from he CD and it does not care about a Windows System HDD.

Thanks...

I just picked up another SATA cable, so I can now install the Tivo hard drive along with my Windows hard drive. So I'm just going to go ahead and using that Windows version that was pointed out a few messages ago. That should work (hopefully).