gwendes
24-05-2006, 10:00 AM
The PowerMAX utility is designed to perform diagnostic read/write verifications on Maxtor/Quantum hard drives. These tests will determine hard drive integrity. The POWERMAX utility is effective on all ATA (IDE) hard drives with a capacity greater than or equal to 500 MB.
1. Download the utility
Before you start you will need to download these files (click to download) a computer with a CD writer and blank CD-r disc:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/PwrMaxEn.iso
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/Setup ... .1.0.0.exe (http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/SetupImgBurn_2.1.0.0.exe)
Download PowerMAX .iso image from the above link and save the file to your Desktop - This will create a file called 'PwrMaxEn.iso' though it will usually be displayed as just 'PwrMaxEn'
2. Create the CD
PowerMAX is a standalone bootable utility. This means that it does not load up within the Windows environment but. To run any bootable utility you will need to create a disc image, this is done in the following way:
Put your blank CD-r in the drive.
Install and open the ImgBurn program.
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/imgburn.JPG
Select 'File' and then 'Browse...'. Change the 'Look in:' location to 'Desktop' and select 'PwrMaxEn' (it will have dropped the '.iso' extension) and click 'Open'.
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/imgburn2.JPG
Select 'File' again.
Select 'Write' (or click on the large hard drive/CD image)
The CD should then start the burn process.
If you get stuck at any stage of this process and would prefer that we send a copy of this software on CD please contact our Technical Support department on the Live Chat service or telephone 0870 112 0812.
3. Using the PowerMAX utilty
If you are creating this CD with the computer you want to test then leave the CD in the drive once the burning process has completed. Close any applications that are running and shutdown in the normal way ('Start'>
'Shutdown'>'Restart' in Windows XP)
After the computer shuts down it should startup into the memory diagnostic program. If you are prompted 'Press any key to boot from CD...' or similar then just tap a key on the keyboard.
If your computer starts into Windows then you have either not created the CD correctly or the boot sequence is incorrect. You will need to consult your motherboard manual or PC manufacturer to setup the boot sequence to boot from CD first. Most computers should be setup like this anyway.
The start of the loading process:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/powermax1.JPG
When your computer has successfully booted from the CD you will be greeted by the following screens:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/powermax2.JPG
Press the 'F8' key. You will then get the following advice:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/powermax3.JPG
Press the 'F8' key again.
Then your computer will be scanned for any drives:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/powermax4.JPG
From this stage I cannot give any screenshots due to a limitation of the virtual machine used to capture images.
Any drives that are detected will then be displayed in a list. Select the drive you wish to perform diagnostics on using the arrow keys and press 'Enter'.
The utility will then give you a list of functions:
Installation Confirmation - This will verify that a Windows installation has completed
Basic Quick Test (90 Second) - Does what it says on the tin! If this does not find a fault then it would be advisable to move on to the next option...
Advanced Test (Full Read Scan) - Full hard drive disc surface scan, this test will pick up on the majority of faults.
Burn In Test - The most stressful and time intensive test that you can run. This should find any fault, testing data written in and out as well.
Low Level Format (Full/Quick) - These will erase all data on the drive
Select another drive - End testing on the drive and select another
and the last option will give you contact details.
Any error that is found will also have a fault number to report to Maxtor directly or return to Novatech if purchased here within the last 28 days.
The utility will only work on systems that contain a Maxtor hard drive and /should/ perform accurate diagnostics on non-Maxtor drives.
1. Download the utility
Before you start you will need to download these files (click to download) a computer with a CD writer and blank CD-r disc:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/PwrMaxEn.iso
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/Setup ... .1.0.0.exe (http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/SetupImgBurn_2.1.0.0.exe)
Download PowerMAX .iso image from the above link and save the file to your Desktop - This will create a file called 'PwrMaxEn.iso' though it will usually be displayed as just 'PwrMaxEn'
2. Create the CD
PowerMAX is a standalone bootable utility. This means that it does not load up within the Windows environment but. To run any bootable utility you will need to create a disc image, this is done in the following way:
Put your blank CD-r in the drive.
Install and open the ImgBurn program.
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/imgburn.JPG
Select 'File' and then 'Browse...'. Change the 'Look in:' location to 'Desktop' and select 'PwrMaxEn' (it will have dropped the '.iso' extension) and click 'Open'.
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/imgburn2.JPG
Select 'File' again.
Select 'Write' (or click on the large hard drive/CD image)
The CD should then start the burn process.
If you get stuck at any stage of this process and would prefer that we send a copy of this software on CD please contact our Technical Support department on the Live Chat service or telephone 0870 112 0812.
3. Using the PowerMAX utilty
If you are creating this CD with the computer you want to test then leave the CD in the drive once the burning process has completed. Close any applications that are running and shutdown in the normal way ('Start'>
'Shutdown'>'Restart' in Windows XP)
After the computer shuts down it should startup into the memory diagnostic program. If you are prompted 'Press any key to boot from CD...' or similar then just tap a key on the keyboard.
If your computer starts into Windows then you have either not created the CD correctly or the boot sequence is incorrect. You will need to consult your motherboard manual or PC manufacturer to setup the boot sequence to boot from CD first. Most computers should be setup like this anyway.
The start of the loading process:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/powermax1.JPG
When your computer has successfully booted from the CD you will be greeted by the following screens:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/powermax2.JPG
Press the 'F8' key. You will then get the following advice:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/powermax3.JPG
Press the 'F8' key again.
Then your computer will be scanned for any drives:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/files/powermax4.JPG
From this stage I cannot give any screenshots due to a limitation of the virtual machine used to capture images.
Any drives that are detected will then be displayed in a list. Select the drive you wish to perform diagnostics on using the arrow keys and press 'Enter'.
The utility will then give you a list of functions:
Installation Confirmation - This will verify that a Windows installation has completed
Basic Quick Test (90 Second) - Does what it says on the tin! If this does not find a fault then it would be advisable to move on to the next option...
Advanced Test (Full Read Scan) - Full hard drive disc surface scan, this test will pick up on the majority of faults.
Burn In Test - The most stressful and time intensive test that you can run. This should find any fault, testing data written in and out as well.
Low Level Format (Full/Quick) - These will erase all data on the drive
Select another drive - End testing on the drive and select another
and the last option will give you contact details.
Any error that is found will also have a fault number to report to Maxtor directly or return to Novatech if purchased here within the last 28 days.
The utility will only work on systems that contain a Maxtor hard drive and /should/ perform accurate diagnostics on non-Maxtor drives.