There are a lot of reasons you might want to test your hard drive for problems.
One of the major reasons to perform a test would be if your hard drive is making strange noises. This can often be a sign of a failing drive, something a test
can point out.
Some other reasons to test your hard drive would be if a defrag program directed you to do so or if normal troubleshooting steps for certain problems
(like error messages in Windows) are of no help. Often times the last step is to diagnose a possible hard drive issue.

So what kinds of tests do you run? How do you do that?

"How Do I Test My Hard Drive for Problems?"

The easiest way to test your hard drive is by using hard drive testing software. These programs are specially designed to check every tiny part of the hard drive for issues and then report anything it finds.

Test Your Hard Drive Using Free Diagnostic Tools

Believe it or not, some of the very best hard drive testing software programs are completely free.

See my Free Hard Drive Testing Programs list for several that I recommend.

In all modern versions of Windows, Microsoft includes a program called Error Checking which can perform some very basic tests and can even attempt to correct errors as it finds them. See How to Scan Your Hard Drive Using Error Checking for more on that tool.
Most other free hard drive testing programs are supported by the hard drive manufacturers themselves and are much more powerful. Seagate, Hitachi, and Western Digital all make very popular testing programs. Their software is included in my testing programs list.

Purchase a Retail Hard Drive Testing Software Program
If the free programs aren't feature rich enough for you, there are a number of companies that create even more powerful testing and correcting tools.

Here are a few of my favorite commercial hard drive tools. They might seem a little pricey but depending on the value of the data on your dead or dying hard drive, it

1. Seagate SeaTools
Seagate SeaTools is free hard drive testing software that comes in two forms for home users:
SeaTools for DOS supports Seagate or Maxtor drives and runs independent from your operating system on its own CD or USB drive, making it highly reliable.
SeaTools for Windows is a program that installs on your Windows system. You can do basic and advanced testing of any kind of drive - internal or external - from any manufacturer.
For those looking for SeaTools Desktop, SeaTools Online, or Maxtor's PowerMax software, please note that the two tools above have replaced all three. Seagate now owns the Maxtor brand.
Seagate SeaTools Review and Free Download

2. HDDScan
HDDScan is a free hard drive testing program for all types of drives, no matter the manufacturer.
There are several tools included in HDDScan, including a SMART test and a surface test.
HDDScan v3.3 Review & Free Download
The program is very easy to use, is completely portable, supports almost all drive interfaces, and seems to be regularly updated.

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