HDDlife for Windows

Used HDDlife for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffNovember 7, 2008

This freeware application is supposed to monitor your hard drive health, but it didn't give us the right readings.

As soon as HDDlife's installation begins, you're offered the choice to try a trial version of HDDlife Pro instead. If you stay with the free program, the program's plain interface displays hard drive temperature, health status, and performance ratings, but details are disabled unless you upgrade.

The main flaw with HDDlife was in the incorrect health status reading of our test hard drive. The program showed a critical rating, with a prompt to immediately back up the computer to prevent data loss. This diagnosis wasn't confirmed, however, when we checked with other tools.

Users beware: HDDlife wasn't a very reliable tool for monitoring hard drive health, and its primary purpose seems to be to get you to upgrade to a paid version.

What’s new in version 2.9.110

Version 2.9.110 now works in Windows Vista.

HDDlife for Windows

Used HDDlife for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: April 10, 2007

Latest update: November 7, 2008

Version: 2.9.110

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 2000
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 10

Additional Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 93,942

Downloads Last Week: 3

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.3/5

34 User Votes

Free version gives no useful information
mSnusJanuary 15, 2013
Pros
Shows some basic info (see screenshot)
Cons
Welcomed me with siren sound and alert. No description for the alert was given - the info button is only active in paid version. I found that it was just beacuse of low free space, not because of disk errors! So it was a false warning.
Summary
You should better use CrystalDiskInfo if you really need SMART diagnotsics tool.
Works for what it's intended purpose
oldtechie47May 27, 2011
Pros
HDDLife 2.9.110 Monitors the temps & reports the hours of use on the HDD. Alarm points can be user-defined for temps as well as for free space. It works well for what it was designed to do. It is good to know how hot those drives are running.
Cons
Maybe not a con: But need to mention: May give a false sense of security because it does not do any surface check. Just realize what it is intended to do, "Monitor temps and free space." You still need chkdisk.
Summary
I had questionable secondary drive used only for storage. It showed up in the System event log as a drive failure. (Bad Block) Running Windows XP. At that point I could still read and write to it. I ran the Western Digital diagnostics against it, and it showed failing. Of course I had to get all data backed up to another drive first! The W.D. diagnostic destroys all data. I wondered about drive temperatures, and found HDDLife. HDDLife shows it in good health. The drive is not too hot or too full. The S.M.A.R.T is able to be read OK. The drive only has about 6000 hours on it. So HDDLife is happy. I don't know why this drive went south, since it is not running hot and has very little use. I swapped out the bad drive with another PATA 80GB W.D. drive. Exactly the same make & model. This one has 39000 hours on it. And it IS running hot... However it is still working. I don't expect it to work a lot longer though. It runs at 49 degrees Celsius with a front fan blowing across it. Finally, I saw where others had trouble uninstalling HDDLife. I did the following: 1. disconnected from my router 2. shut down antivirus and firewall software 3. made sure that HDDLife was shut down with no processes running 4. did an uninstall -- noted that it seemed to want to call home, just cancelled out It seemed to uninstall cleanly. I see no folder named "Binary Sense" left in the program files folder. Was I was lucky or did I do things right? <lol> I can't vouch for how PRO version would uninstall.
was tested with two other HDD software
psyfyreFebruary 21, 2011
Pros
was tested with two other HDD software - cannot recall as HDD crashed
Cons
was tested with two other HDD software - cannot recall as HDD crashed
Summary
was tested with two other HDD software - cannot recall as HDD crashed
I've been using it for years and like it.
porokhApril 6, 2010
Pros
For a free version it carries some good functions. Especially the current temperature of hard drives.
Cons
Loads slower compare to a previous version.
Summary
If you would like to know a present condition of your hard drive(s) it is a good program to have.
for only express analyse
smart_newlineSeptember 18, 2009
Pros
small and friendly
Cons
not have graphic, diagram of monitoring, not custom tray message icon
Summary
Very little useful data, don't waste your time
Bbear2July 28, 2009
Pros
The install went fine and it did set a "restore point" (which I need later). It gave me the drive temps.
Cons
Would not uninstall properly. Had to access the products web page. Provided NO useful data. Data it did provide was erroneous or undefined.
Summary
This was more of a trial version to see the user interface than it was usable freeware. There was nothing of value to this version other than providing the drive temps and that is easily had elsewhere. Upon realizing this I tried to uninstall it and unless I allowed it to "phone home" to it's web site, the uninstall hung indefinitely. Once I allowed it to phone home, the uninstall did complete. However, there were still pieces of it in the registry (and not simply accessed files or temp files). The only good thing I can say about it is that it set a restore point which I used and am now back where I started. A total waste of time.
CNET Staff review was 100% correct
JarrodJAMay 16, 2009
Pros
Nothing much, just the control panel looked interesting, but was a mistake installing it.
Cons
This product reports false positive. I reports my brand new SATA drive with a health state with 0%.
Summary
This product reports false positive. I reports my brand new SATA drive with a health state with 0%. I brought this drive off the hard drive's manufacture, and a freshly installed windows vista. It first reported a drive state of 93%. After 15 days as the trail period ended, it started to report my new STAT hard drive state at Health 0% performance 20%. I tried uninstalling it, but a error message come out "This feature is only available in pro verison. Get pro version to unistall" and also the annoying thing is that it pops up in the taskbar about the fake hard drive state. Windows defender also reports unwanted behavior with HDDlife. I tried installing it by pulling the key out in "Regedit" with "CMD" I typed "sc delete BinarySense" an message under the commend "access denied". I pulled the key out of the "Regedit" and the file on program files. I restart my computer and restarted about 6 times, every time when the windows finish loading, a BSOD comes up windows has shutdown to proven damage to your computer ........... I boot safe mode, backed up my PC and all the sudden, HDDlife installed it-self into my back up files. I found a file under "BinarySense" in appdata and common files. I removed the key using "regedit" program files appdata file and common file then back up my PC again using ssfe. mode. And it seems to be removed. To me, HDD life is a rouge software, but it doesn't give or contain viruses.
Works Well, but no support whatsoever
Intrepid-LIApril 8, 2009
Pros
One of the best SMART applications available. Very customizable. Excellent graphical user interface. Can even email alerts to you (such as high temperature or HD error warnings).
Cons
The company provides no support - none whatsoever. Not even to paying customers. They never responded to multiple requests and I'm a registered customer.
Summary
I use HDLife and I really like it. But if you have problems, you're on your own.
angelajcAugust 2, 2008
Pros
Cons
Summary
Super Nag Ware
jianuwineApril 24, 2008
Pros
It display hard drive information in a simple screen.
Cons
Super nagging to upgrade; plays loud siren noice. Avoid if you are willing to buy. The "free" is deceptive.
Summary

Developer’s Description

Manage your hard drive risks with proactive hard drive failure detection system.

Worried about a hard drive failure? HDDLife is a real-time hard drive monitoring utility with alerts, malfunction protection, and data loss prevention features. This hard drive inspector is an advanced proactive hard drive failure detection system that manages all of your hard drive risks. HDDLife is S.M.A.R.T. technology based, and works both for single PCs and large computer networks.

Version 2.9.110 now works in Windows Vista.