MemTest86, Benchmark Test, Check Disk Test..oh my!

[Leo Nguyen]

For us long time geeks, and newer generations, the tools we use most is not Facebooking and Twitting software, but diagnostic software. Continuing in keeping your fly bench, rods, and reels maintained is excellent habit conditioning. However, what about the tool we use to ensure that our catches, pictures, and releases (both in water and oil) is properly recorded and stored? Well, let's break it down a bit. Little maintenance will prevent you massive headaches and unseen costs later down the road:

1. Hard drive maintenance and detection: The hard drive is like our stomachs. It stores and feed the system with info. If that goes down, most of the system shuts down. Depending on what operating system (OS) you're using, such as Windows, MAC, Linux, smartphone types, whatever it maybe, each operating system has its own command/application to use for diagnostic. Most, if not all, newer operating systems have a built-in command for taking care of the diagnostic and repair. It just waits for you to use it, once every month or so. Monthly diagnostic of your hard drive will prevent you from the "UH OH!! DANG IT!!" moment, where you may lose everything you've recorded, downloaded, and stored for the past XX years.

We can go into discussions about primary hard drive to use, versus a second hard drive as a storage device later. For now, we'll just focus on the primary hard drive that you tend to shove everything onto.

You can chime in on what operating system (OS) you're using so we can give you diagnostic command for usages, such as Windows (during boot, you'll see a logo indicating Windows 98, Windows XP Home/Pro, Windows Vista, Windows 7 Home/Pro/Ultimate), MAC versions 1 to 10, and if you're using Linux, you're already a geek. If you're using a touchpad, iPad, phone, etc, well, make and model will give us a clue on your OS type. If you're using smartphone, you're a semi geek yourself.

2. Benchmark test: this allows you to see how efficient and well built your system is. There are tons of benchmark test application, which tailored for your system operations system. Over time, installation of useless application will slow down your system. Benchmark tests will show you the performance level before you turn your system into a paper weight, as well as monthly performance level due to unknown installation of malwares, adwares, trojans, and viruses (the nasties that will slow your system down)

3. Memtest86 is a great freeware that will save you lots of headaches, beside cleaning up dust bunnies that wreck your system internal components. What is Memtest86? It's a very small program that, when you use your memory stick/USB stick/Flash drive or burn the image to a CD to boot from, it pushes your system to stress test your computer internal memory modules:

http://www.memtest86.com/ (mainly for PC and Linux. MAC has its own specialized software and free apps)

My systems crashed various time in the past, and didn't know what was the cause due to Windows XP and Linux lack of detection protocols. With newer OSes and better detection protocols, we get a better idea. If you live in dusty environment, heavy dust bunnies built-up in the past among the components, or prone to electrical blackouts/light storms, well, good to test your system's memory once every other months to ensure the memory is in tip top shape. Dick experienced the thrill of the damage memory and the headaches that follows. Windows XP didn't detect it, but surely, Windows 7 did, but didn't give us more info about it. However, we figured it out based on the partial diagnostic info we received from the BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH (BOSD, which no one wants to see and fear of).

Conclusion:

What to take from all of this?

a. Make sure your system is free from dust bunnies, inside, outside, and completely all around. Pay especially attention to the fan(s) that cool your computer brain down. You MUST remove the fan and clean the grill/radiator that has the condensed dust, which prevents your system's brain down correctly. This makes your system pretty much half dead, lethargic..

b. Test your hard drive and your internal memory (RAM), the two are different, every other month. Doing so will keep your system at peak performance. Throw in a hard drive disk defragmentation to organize the files structure to increase system performance speed.

c. Think about having two hard drives. The main one can be smaller, but faster, and use as a primary device to make your system go go go. The 2nd one can be bigger, but slower, to store your files.

Example: My main hard drive is 1 terabyte. It's a Western Caviar Black, running at 7200RPM (high performance), but smaller. My second hard drive is a 2 terabytes, Western Caviar Green, 5400RPM (med performance, eating less power, and make less heat). My third hard drive is a 3 terabyte Western Digital Green, 5400RPM, power saving and med performance). My fourth hard drive is a 120 gigabyte backup, to dump my operating system from my 1 terabyte, and create a safe keeping, just in case something goes wrong. We call this ghost imaging the main drive, without the extra software burden. This is a bit more advance for normal users, but for geeks, we love it.

 

[dick tabbert]

All good stuff Leo hopefully we use what your telling us to prolong the life of our computers.

[Leo Nguyen]

I just did a bench test on my main system after cleaning it. The core temp dropped by 25ºF, and the fans are running more silently like they have since the last clean out, because they don't need to work hard to cool down the components (hard drive, the CPUs, video cards, etc.). Lost 1 of my memory stick due to electrical storm last time, and early detection allows me to save plenty of headaches. Imagine if one of the bad memory modules didn't allow me to transfer files properly from my cameras/other hard drives, and corrupt them along the way. Can you envision my angry face holding a sledgehammer after losing 1 terabyte of precious data? LOL

[dick tabbert]

Your right about running cooler sense I cleaned it out. The fans don't run all the time and it's not nearly as warm as it was before.

[Leo Nguyen]

Excellent! See a bit of knowledge can promote great benefits, and more money to invest in fishing gears?

[dick tabbert]

I really don't need anymore equipment can't use what I got but I can invest in some more fly tying material always wanting to tie different things.

[Leo Nguyen]

Hey Dick, make sure to salvage the hard drive from the dead system that you have. Why waste it when you can use it as a storage device..right?

[dick tabbert]

I thought about it but it's only 1 terabyte but its still good so I'll save it.

[Leo Nguyen]

Hm..only 1TB..LOL! My gosh man, that's enough to store all your photos, videos, and presentation for the next decades or so.

Once you put it in, make sure to clean it well, and do a full diagnostic on it. I'll show you how once you're done installing it. That will be your 2nd storage device that will make you quite happy in the long run. Primary hard drive to make you scream like a girl, 2nd to make you squeal like a woman. LOL Just kidding.

[dick tabbert]

I'll be comfortable with 2 TB's I don't think it will be much longer just want to do my homework and get a good one.

[Leo Nguyen]

Price of 2TB is $10 to $15 less than a 3TB. Might as well invest in a 3TB Western Caviar Green.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.as...

$105

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WDC-Western-Digital-Caviar-Green-3TB-3-5-SA...

$68

[Tony Livingston]

2TB or not 2TB.....that is the question.

Carry on.

[dick tabbert]

We'll talk later about the HD. Don't hear much good about the Western Digital Green.