SeaTools for Windows

Used SeaTools for Windows for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffJanuary 23, 2013

Hard disk maker Seagate's SeaTools for Windows scans your disk drives for driver corruption, broken master boot records, viruses and Trojans, spyware, and any hardware conflicts. You'll have to take its word that it's working, though, because it doesn't offer any scan details.

SeaTools' user interface is extremely stark: basic menu items line the top of a plain window, with detected drives are listed below. It detected our only drive, along with its serial number, model number, firmware revision, and drive and test status. We went through each test that the program offered, starting with the S.M.A.R.T. Check. The program quickly scanned our drive, and it passed the test, but that's all we know; SeaTools doesn't display scan results. The Short Drive Self Test had the same outcome. The Long Drive Self Test, however, never progressed past a certain point. We eventually had to abort the test, which caused the program to freeze and shut down. We later learned from the Help file that the test can take up to four hours and works in 10-percent increments. The Advanced Tests feature stern warnings that you can lose data or render your drive unusable should you proceed. That was enough for us--we left it untouched. The one place SeaTools displays useful scan data is the Drive Information feature, which offers a detailed report that can be saved to a file.

SeaTools for Windows is free. It installs desktop icons without asking, but it uninstalls cleanly. We recommend it for intermediate to advanced users.

SeaTools for Windows

Used SeaTools for Windows for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: January 23, 2013

Latest update: January 23, 2013

Version: 1.2.0.8

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows 10
Windows 7
Windows Vista

Additional Requirements: Microsoft .NET Framework v4.0

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 64,402

Downloads Last Week: 2

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Last Updated

User Reviews

2.5/5

17 User Votes

Don't bother
danielostranderFebruary 2, 2015
Pros
Can't come up with any
Cons
Could only find 3 out of 6 HD's installed. The HD's it did find it couldn't harvest any detailed info on them. Couldn't even get any info on the one Seagate drive installed.
Summary
simple diagnostic tool
sk528June 19, 2014
Pros
can do 3 tests to diagnose the HDDs
Cons
very basic stuff
Summary
Didn't install. Useless.
jordanbprivateMay 19, 2014
Pros
No pros whatsoever when you can't download and test the software.
Cons
Like most reviewing this software, I tried to install the software and kept getting the error message: "Argument length must be greater or equal to zero. Blah, blah, etc, etc"
Summary
Dismal AT BEST !!!
gmatthewbJune 13, 2013
Pros
I would write something here if I could've used the application that was downloaded directly from the Seagate web-site.
Cons
a. NOT USABLE b. Additional frustration. I wouldn't be looking for solution-based applications if I weren't dealing with a dying hard drive. Chairman Seagate, I have received your implied message... Caveat directionem gerentis = End-User Beware !! Epulemur ! Continue The Feast !
Summary
...and we're walking....and we're walking... and stop !
It is a disappointment!
oneclotJanuary 31, 2013
Pros
None!None!None
Cons
Works with microsoft net framework which has to be installed if you don't have it already installed. Application won't open after installation as it takes forever to scan for available disk drives.
Summary
More research work needs to be done on the software to resolve the issues mentioned above.
Useless software, doesn't run
mdppat64September 14, 2012
Pros
NONE at all, dont waste your time downloading it
Cons
Does not run, gets stuck on detecting SCSI drives and just sits there for as long as you want to leave it until you end the process running it. Even the latest version from seagate doesn't work.
Summary
SeaTools for Windows = Tech-Inferior Crap That Crashes
krosafchegAugust 11, 2012
Pros
It is clear evidence of how Seagate: (1) Allows, for years, SeaTools (in all its bug-ridden versions) to fester; (2) Gains extra profit by outsourcing programming work to temporary contract hires (read: overseas peons); (3) Isolates its engineers and top-level tech staff from Seagate-Support Chimps; and (4) Maintains ongoing contempt for its customers.
Cons
FOR NO GOOD TECHNICAL REASON, SeaTurds for Windows REQUIRES installation of the system-infecting POS known as "Microsoft .NET," because Seagate's contract programmers care more about their convenience than writing code free from bloat and superfluous dependency. The bug-ridden 2007 version of SeaTurds -- which misdiagnoses some of Seagate's 2012 internal drives and CANNOT DEAL ADEQUATELY (OR AT ALL) WITH EXTERNAL DRIVES -- demanded .Net 2.0. This bug-ridden 2011 version of SeaTurds demands .Net 4.0, an even lengthier installation of garbage no one wants. Better yet, SeaTurds bombs out after installation thereof (Google "SeaTools" and the .Net error fragments "fatal error," "argument length," and "System.String"). SeaTurds is USELESS.
Summary
This shows what a virtual monopoly decides: Seagate (who owns Maxtor and Samsung drives) is making so much money that it is okay if a certain percentage of its customers receive defective products or suffer fake, BS "tools" meant to pacify them (or, more likely, make them think that they did something wrong). Just make them pay (again) for shipment of a warranty replacement, if need be: A REFURB that just might make it to the warranty's end (I'm on my SECOND refurb in JUST THREE YEARS for a 1TB that has 2 years left on its warranty: I've spent at least $25 additional, this way, on a drive size decreasing in price each year). Seagate JUST WANTS YOUR MONEY. SeaTools for Windows is a broken PACIFIER.
Absolutely useless
keithhodgsonJuly 18, 2012
Pros
None that I can think of
Cons
Doesn't work on any drive, Seagate, Maxtor, IBM/Hitachi WD
Summary
I downloaded this to check out some old hard drives to see if they were worth saving. I went through all the drives and they all passed! Not good news seeing as I knew one had failed and another was throwing up disk errors for fun! One of the failing drives was a Seagate so I ran the advanced utilities which claimed they would repair the drive. It completed and reported back all was well. I formatted the drive (or tried to) and it failed at about 90%, just sat there for about 2 hours. I've now removed this from my PC. Makes me wary of the old DOS version as well now.
Basic tests not as informative as similar utilities
pierce113January 1, 2012
Pros
Simply Interface
Cons
Limited Diagnostic Information
Summary
Limited usefulness
Error - Won't Start
kncudaJanuary 1, 2012
Pros
None so far
Cons
Scans for supported drives and gives error message "Fatal error: Device Discovery", with the text "Argument 'Length' must be greater or equal to zero. System.String Mid....(etc.)"
Summary
Can't tell if the software does anything if it won't start properly. Appears to be a programming issue to me.

Developer’s Description

Determine the condition of your disc drives.

SeaTools for Windows is a comprehensive, easy-to-use diagnostic tool that helps you quickly determine the condition of the disc drive in your external hard drive, desktop, or notebook computer. It includes several tests that will examine the physical media on your Seagate or Maxtor disc drive and any other non-Seagate disc drive. SeaTools for Windows tests USB, 1394, ATA (PATA or IDE), SATA and SCSI drives. It installs onto your system. SeaTools for Windows is completely data safe.