13 Free HDD Test Tools for 2025
Tech for Life & Work
BY 16. June 2025 0 comments

13 Free HDD Test Tools for 2025

The Download

  • There are many free tools you can use to check your hard drive for problems.
  • Some tools work only with specific hard drive brands, so pick one that matches yours.
  • Programs like SeaTools and GSmartControl are popular because they can be used with many different hard drives.

There are several free programs available to help you test your hard drive and identify any issues. Here are my top recommendations that I’ve been suggesting to people for years.

Most apps offer similar features, but some are compatible only with specific hard drives. Regardless of which software you choose, you may need to replace your hard drive if it fails any part of these tests.

Your Windows PC has tools like Windows Error Checking and the chkdsk command. Additionally, other tools, like those listed below, are available from hard drive manufacturers and various developers.

What We Like

  • Works from both inside and outside of Windows.

  • Completely free.

  • SeaTools for DOS works on any operating system.

  • Windows tool lets you test a hard drive from any manufacturer.

What We Don’t Like

  • SeaTools for DOS can be hard to use and install.

  • DOS version can deal with only 100 errors before restarting.

  • DOS edition might not work well with RAID controllers.

Seagate SeaTools is a free hard drive testing software available in two versions for home users:

  • SeaTools Bootable and SeaTools for DOS for DOS support Seagate or Maxtor drives. They run independently of your operating system on their own  USB drive or CD, respectively.
  • SeaTools for Windows installs on your Windows system. Use it to perform basic and advanced testing of any kind of drive—internal or external—from any manufacturer.

Seagate’s programs are highly regarded. They are commonly used by professional computer services for testing hard drives, but remain easy enough for anyone to use.

The Windows version should work with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. There’s also a Linux version.

For those looking for SeaTools Desktop, SeaTools Online, or Maxtor’s PowerMax software, please note that the tools above have replaced all three. Seagate now owns the Maxtor brand.

Error Checking, sometimes known as scandisk, is a Microsoft Windows tool that scans your hard drive for a variety of errors and can correct many of them.

It is integrated into all modern Windows versions.

What We Like

  • Choose from three different tests.

  • Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

  • Lets you view the drive’s SMART attributes.

  • A portable version is available.

What We Don’t Like

  • Doesn’t support every USB and RAID device.

  • When exporting information, it includes everything, not just a specific result you want to save.

GSmartControl can perform various hard drive tests, providing detailed results and an overall health assessment of the drive.

View and save SMART attribute values like the power cycle count, multi-zone error rate, calibration retry count, and many others.

GSmartControl performs three self-tests to identify drive faults: the Short Self-test (about 2 minutes) detects completely damaged hard drives, the Extended Self-test (70 minutes) examines the entire drive surface for faults, and the Conveyance Self-test (5 minutes) identifies damages incurred during transport.

This program can be downloaded as a portable version or with a standard installer for Windows. The latest version supports Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Vista, and an older edition is available for previous Windows versions. It’s also compatible with Linux and macOS and is included in some LiveCD/LiveUSB programs.

What We Like

  • Works with all hard drives.

  • No installation need (portable).

  • Easy to use.

  • Includes a SMART test.

  • Runs on all modern versions of Windows.

HDDScan is a free hard drive testing program for all types of drives, no matter the manufacturer. It includes a SMART test and a surface test.

Some reasons I chose this app are because it’s easy to use, is completely portable, supports almost all drive interfaces, and seems to be regularly updated.

The official system requirements state that you need to be running at least Windows XP, so it should work with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Vista, including Windows Server 2003.

What We Like

  • Tests hard drives regardless of the OS that’s installed.

  • Not too difficult to use.

  • Lets you erase data from the drive, too.

What We Don’t Like

  • Tests Samsung HDDs only.

  • Isn’t as easy to install as a desktop-based program.

  • Must have access to a working computer to set up the program.

  • Text interface (no buttons you can click).

  • Hasn’t been updated in many years.

Samsung HUTIL is a free hard drive diagnostic utility for Samsung hard drives. HUTIL is sometimes called ES-Tool.

This tool is available as an ISO iimage that can be burned to a CD or USB drive. This feature makes HUTIL operating system-independent, offering a more versatile testing option than tools designed solely for Windows. It can also be run from a bootable floppy disk.

As this is a bootable program, you will need a functioning hard drive and operating system to burn it to a disc or USB device.

HUTIL will only test Samsung hard drives. It will load and find your non-Samsung drive but you will not be able to run any diagnostics on the drive.


Western Digital Dashboard for Windows.

Western Digital Dashboard is a free hard drive testing software for Windows that allows you to conduct several hard drive tests.

It supports viewing Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) information. There’s a Short Test option that performs a relatively fast self-scan, and an Extended Test that checks the whole hard drive for bad sectors.

This tool can also erase a hard drive using the Write Zero data sanitization method.

What We Like

  • Tests several types of storage devices.

  • Includes helpful tests.

  • Information can be saved to a screenshot and copied to the clipboard.

  • The program isn’t confusing to use.

What We Don’t Like

  • Can’t export results to a text file.

  • Officially works on up to Windows 7 only.

  • Only home/personal use is allowed.

  • Last updated in 2008.

HD Tune is a Windows-based hard drive tester compatible with any internal or external hard drive, SSD, or memory card.

You can run a benchmark read test with HD Tune, check the health status with Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology, and run an error scan.

Only Windows 7, Vista, XP, and 2000 are said to be the only supported operating systems, but I used HD Tune in Windows 10 and Windows 8 without any issues.

What We Like

  • Keeps track of SMART attributes to predict hard drive failure.

  • Can be configured to email you when certain events take place.

  • Well-organized and easy-to-use interface.

  • Small download size.

What We Don’t Like

  • Doesn’t scan SCSI or hardware RAIDs.

  • Free for home/personal use only, not commercial/business.

DiskCheckup is compatible with most hard drives. It displays SMART information, including reading error rate, spin-up time, seek error rate, and temperature, and provides short and extended disk tests.

Details in the SMART section can be configured to send an email or display a notification when their attributes exceed the manufacturer’s recommended threshold.

DiskCheckup should work fine with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, plus Windows Server 2008 and 2003.

What We Like

  • Scan results can be emailed to you automatically.

  • Runs a surface scan to check for errors.

  • Shows SMART attributes.

  • Checks errors on both internal and external hard drives.

  • Scan results show useful information.

What We Don’t Like

  • Hasn’t been updated in a long time (the last official supported OS is Windows 7).

  • Works on Windows computers only.

  • Doesn’t include as many features as most other hard drive testers.

Free EASIS Drive Check is a hard drive tester that incorporates two main testing utilities—a sector test and a SMART value reader.

The SMART test outlines over 40 values related to a hard drive, while the sector test examines the media surface for reading errors.

The report of either test can be read straight from the program when complete, configured to be sent to you by email, or printed off.

Free EASIS Drive Check is said to work with Windows 2000 through Windows 7, but I successfully tested it in Windows 10 and 8 as well.

Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool

What We Like

  • One of the easiest hard drive testing apps to use.

  • Provides two hard drive testing functions.

  • Runs from within Windows, but there’s also a floppy version if you don’t have Windows.

What We Don’t Like

  • Tests Fujitsu hard drives only.

  • The bootable program runs from a floppy disk only (not a disc or flash drive).

  • The floppy program isn’t as easy to install and use as the Windows version.

  • The desktop program runs on Windows only.

Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool is a free hard drive testing tool designed for Fujitsu hard drives. It’s available in both a Windows version and an OS-independent, bootable DOS version. However, the bootable version is designed for floppy disks—an image that works with a CD or USB drive is not available.

Two tests are available: A “Quick Test” (about three minutes) and a “Comprehensive Test” (time will vary based on hard drive size).

The Windows version reportedly operates with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. It may also function well in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Download For:

This tests Fujitsu drives only. If you have any other make of hard drive, try one of the manufacturer-independent tests listed toward the beginning of this list.

What We Like

  • Very easy to use.

  • There are two HDD testing functions.

  • An option lets you perform a deep test for better results.

  • Lets you test more than one drive consecutively.

  • SMART attributes can be viewed.

  • Also lets you erase a hard drive.

What We Don’t Like

  • Can’t scan the primary hard drive where Windows is installed.

  • No tutorials, instructions, or tips are included in the program.

  • Unable to change where the LOG file is saved.

  • Works on Windows operating systems only.

  • No longer receives updates.

Windows Drive Fitness Test is a free hard drive diagnostic software compatible with most drives available today.

The download link below installs the Windows Drive Fitness Test software to the Windows OS, but you can’t use the program to scan the drive that has Windows installed. Only USB and other internal hard drives can be scanned.

You can install WinDFT to your PC if you’re running Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, or XP.

What We Like

  • Great visuals that are easy to understand.

  • Doesn’t have to be installed.

  • Works on several Windows operating systems.

What We Don’t Like

  • Excludes features found only in the paid versions.

  • Free only for personal/home use.

  • Scans just one drive at a time.

  • Includes external links you might accidentally click.

  • Infrequent updates.

Macrorit Disk Scanner is a simple program that checks for bad sectors on a hard drive. It’s easy to use, and you can start using it in no time since it’s fully portable and doesn’t need to be installed.

The majority of this screen is used as a visual representation of the progress of the scan and clearly indicates if there’s damage.

It runs on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. Windows Server support is available for paying customers.

What We Like

  • Checks any hard drive for bad sectors.

  • Shows which files are affected by errors.

  • Portable (no installation necessary).

  • Very clean interface that’s not distracting or confusing to use.

Ariolic Disk Scanner is similar to Macrorit Disk Scanner in that it’s just a read-only scan of a drive to check for bad sectors. It has a minimal interface with only one button and is easy to understand if any parts of the drive contain bad sectors.

One thing that’s different from Macrorit Disk Scanner is that Ariolic Disk Scanner lists the files where read errors occurred.

I tested Ariolic Disk Scanner in Windows 11, 10, and XP, but it should also work with other versions of Windows. The program is portable and just over 1 MB in size.

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