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Editors’ Review
Ariolic Disk Scanner is a tiny, free tool application designed to help you check the health of your hard drive. By performing a read-only scan of your disk, this utility tool can identify bad clusters that may be a precursor to a drive failure.
Ariolic Disk Scanner’s main function is to scan for read errors. It’s a straightforward process: you select a drive, and the program starts to examine every cluster. This tool also provides a list of the specific files that are located on those unreadable parts of the disk.
A straightforward disk check for potential issues
This disc scanner is praised for its simplicity and portability. Since no installation is needed, you can run it directly from a USB drive, making it a handy tool for technicians or anyone who needs to quickly check different computers. The read-only nature of the scan is another significant advantage, as it ensures that your data remains safe and no accidental changes are made during the diagnostic process.
However, despite its strengths, there are some notable drawbacks. The program's sole purpose is to find read errors, which means it doesn't offer any repair capabilities. It’s a diagnostic tool only. Furthermore, the information it provides, while useful, is quite basic. It identifies bad clusters but doesn't provide more advanced metrics like the S.M.A.R.T. data that is available in more comprehensive tools.
However, this program has now been superseded by ActiveSMART, which also functions as a hard drive diagnostic and file recovery software. ActiveSMART includes more advanced features as well. While Ariolic Disk Scanner is functional, being freeware, it has its limitations. It's more of an entry-level tool that encourages users to upgrade for more advanced features like temperature monitoring and S.M.A.R.T. technology.
Pros
- Portable and requires no installation
- Safe, read-only scan that doesn't harm data
- Identifies and lists files with bad sectors
- Supports a wide range of storage media
Cons
- Lacks advanced repair capabilities
Bottom Line
A good starting point for disk diagnostics
Overall, Ariolic Disk Scanner is a reliable and easy-to-use freeware tool for basic hard drive diagnostics. Its ability to identify and list files on bad sectors is a valuable feature for preempting data loss. While it lacks advanced functionalities like repair options and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, its portability and straightforward approach make it a solid choice for a quick and safe check of your storage media.
What’s new in version 1.7.0.10
- Bug fixes and other improvements for its hard drive diagnostic software
Used Ariolic Disk Scanner for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.