Current Hard Drive/Computer Maintenance software?

[weapon]

What is everybody using to keep their machines in top shape?

I already have disc warrior 4.4 (since 4.0). but it will not boot the newer machines and I don't see an update anytime in the future.

[decay]

install Diskwarrior on a bootable external HD or 16GB USB flash drive.

Drive Genius is pretty good, too.

[Stavs]

Whats the best price for Diskwarrior these days?

[RAMd®d]

I don't think I've ever seen it under the MSRP.

Using it since v1.0, I've only bought the upgrade *disk* once. Installing it on my Rescue partitions and external HDs has amortized the $100 over many years.

It takes forever minus two days for alsoft to make (and ship!) an upgrade disk for new iron, and Apple has been releasing it faster than they can make new disks. And I guess they have to get some info/ROMs/something from Apple to do so.

An external bootable HD with DW is the way to go. And it's much faster than booting from a disk.

[clay]

about $8 off at J&R (v4.3): http://www.jr.com/alsoft/pe/AFT_DISKWAR_hy_UB/

.95 off at OWC (v4.4): http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Alsoft/WDD105/

should be free shipping at both places

[weapon]

I am having a hard time with a drive. I can't get it to mount. it spins but will not mount. DW4.4 does not see it.

Any suggestions?

[Racer X]

RAMd®d wrote:
I don't think I've ever seen it under the MSRP.

Using it since v1.0, I've only bought the upgrade *disk* once. Installing it on my Rescue partitions and external HDs has amortized the $100 over many years.

It takes forever minus two days for alsoft to make (and ship!) an upgrade disk for new iron, and Apple has been releasing it faster than they can make new disks. And I guess they have to get some info/ROMs/something from Apple to do so.

An external bootable HD with DW is the way to go. And it's much faster than booting from a disk.

I'd try making an emergency boot USB thumb drive with all the tools on it. Do a clean install of the OS on it, then load it up.

[RAMd®d]

I'd try making an emergency boot USB thumb drive with all the tools on it. Do a clean install of the OS on it, then load it up.

I've done that, but it's verrrrry slow. Not just in booting, but in operating the OS.

Maybe the USB3 thumb drives are noticeably faster. But if you're up against it, even verrrrry slow can be acceptable.

[Racer X]

I have a 32 gig USB3 thumb drive, and file copies are about 50-100% faster compared to my various other USB2 drives.

[Buzz]

RAMd®d wrote:
I'd try making an emergency boot USB thumb drive with all the tools on it. Do a clean install of the OS on it, then load it up.

I've done that, but it's verrrrry slow. Not just in booting, but in operating the OS.

Maybe the USB3 thumb drives are noticeably faster. But if you're up against it, even verrrrry slow can be acceptable.

FYI, low and mid level USB2 thumb drives can vary greatly from their minimum rated speeds. Strongly suggest thorough testing before pressing them into service... if you're lucky enough to get a peppy one in the bunch, that makes for better bootable utility drive experience. With prices cheaper lately for big enough thumb drives, the odds are pretty good at getting a fast one if you buy a few at a time. Use the slow ones for regular data storage/sneaker net stuff. Paying big bucks for known fast rated thumb drives can be a waste if you can use a few decent sized spares. Some brands/sizes run as high 65%+ at double, or more, than their rated minimum speeds. Good odds for the consumer. Basically, you're the speed tester.

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