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PC utilities: Need help with a decision

by BrianZachary - 11/3/08 1:05 PM
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Post 1 of 4

Need help with a decision

by BrianZachary - 11/3/08 1:05 PM

I'm assuming this is the correct forum for this. If not, let me know.

I'm not having a problem or anything. I just need advice about this from someone more knowledgeable about this than I am.

Today's Featured Freeware is SMARTReporter, which is a MAC only program that monitors hard drives and lets you know their status, etc.

http://www.download.com/8300-2007_4-12.html?categoryId=9918337&tag=nl.e415

Since I use Windows, this program won't work for me. So, I searched for a similar program for Windows and found a couple that seem similar, but I don't know much about these types of programs, so I'm having trouble deciding if one is better than the other or if I should try using both.

Active@ Hard Disk Monitor
http://www.download.com/Active-Hard-Disk-Monitor/3000-2086_4-10879888.html?cdlPid=10879927

Smart System Informer
http://www.download.com/Smart-System-Informer/3000-2094_4-10867820.html?cdlPid=10867821

Active@ seems more similar to the Featured Freeware and Smart System Informer (SSI) looks like it monitors other hardware as well as the hard drive. Going by the screenshot, SSI looks like it gives the same info that can be found by many other utilites. I already have CCleaner, Advanced WindowsCare Personal, Revo Uninstaller to name a few. Active@ seems more for just the hard drive, but nothing else.

So does anyone know which of the two are better? Or does it matter? I realize it's hard to tell a lot just from descriptions and screenshots, but if anyone has any experience with this type of program, that would be helpful. Or if anyone knows of a different program altogether, that would help as well.

Post 2 of 4

Go with Active Hard Disk Monitor...

by John.Wilkinson Moderator - 11/3/08 3:56 PM In reply to: Need help with a decision by BrianZachary

Hello again. :)

Smart System Informer just regurgitates limited information already provided through Windows' System Information utility, whereas Active Hard Disk Monitor reports your hard drive's S.M.A.R.T. attributes. It will not necessarily be able to predict hard drive failure (it's only 30% effective), but if it does report a problem there's a 70% chance your hard drive is failing. Far from perfect, but the best prediction mechanism available at this time.

Hope this helps,
John

Post 3 of 4

Thanks, John

by BrianZachary - 11/3/08 4:03 PM In reply to: Go with Active Hard Disk Monitor... by John.Wilkinson Moderator

I will try Active@ then. Thanks for the help.

Post 4 of 4

(NT) Ditto, installed it.

by Coryphaeus - 11/4/08 5:57 AM In reply to: Go with Active Hard Disk Monitor... by John.Wilkinson Moderator

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