Topic: A small project (I hope), but need some direction on how to get started  (Read 4525 times)

usasma

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  • Date Registered: May 2016
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The problem:  There are no bootable UEFI hard drive diagnostics for users that I can find.
When trying to help users on other forums, those with UEFI systems can't easily boot from a non-UEFI DVD/Flash Drive

What I'm trying to make is a bootable UEFI disk that will allow a user to launch a hard drive diagnostic program (such as Western Digital's Data Life Guard for Windows) without having to jump through a lot of hoops to get it to work.
I'd host a copy of the ISO on DropBox/OneDrive/my website ( carrona.org )
Ideally the DVD should boot to the hard drive diagnostic program and start it automatically.
I'd also like the ability to write it to a flash drive, but consider the ISO for a DVD as being more important.

Any thoughts on this, or a direction that I should proceed in?

usasma

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  • Date Registered: May 2016
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A bit of a success.  I made the standard W10PE and then used Rufus to mount the ISO to a UEFI boot drive.
Then I was able to launch the Western Digital diagnostics from within the desktop environment.

Now looking to:
- slim down the installation to minimize it's size.
- incorporate the Western Digital diagnostic files into the ISO
- set the ISO so that the Western Digital diagnostics launch on startup

usasma

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  • Date Registered: May 2016
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Now, let's just make it a bit more difficult :0)

I found that I could extract the Seagate Seatools .exe from it's installer - so it'll work without installation also.
So now I need the ISO to launch a menu choice at startup - to choose Seagate Seatools, Western Digital DLG, or to exit the menu and go to the Desktop (with a link there to relaunch the menu).

KYHI

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So you are looking for a Seagate Tools Plugin

And a Western Digital Plugin (Below)..
« Last Edit: May 24, 2016, 09:44:52 PM by KYHI »

usasma

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Thanks!  I didn't even know what to ask for! :0)
Now I'll work on adding it in!

KYHI

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here is a quick plugin for Seagate

Requires you also add (checkbox) the Visual C Plugin
« Last Edit: May 24, 2016, 10:09:23 PM by KYHI »

Lancelot

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Thanks KYHI,

updated
Downloads\AppsYGS\HD Tasks\Diagnostic\"WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic"

added
Downloads\AppYGS\HD Tasks\Diagnostic\"Seagate Tools"
Downloads\AppYGS\HD Tasks\Diagnostic\"Seagate Tools File"

:turtle:
« Last Edit: May 25, 2016, 10:42:38 AM by Lancelot »

usasma

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  • Date Registered: May 2016
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Thank you!!!

usasma

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  • Date Registered: May 2016
  • Posts: 6
2 issues I noted while trying to build my latest version:
- if you rename the old ISO in the ISO folder, it generates an error when running the builder.
- if you leave an older copy of Rufus in the Rufus folder (even though you have a newer copy), the system will think you have the old version and will download the new one.  I had 5.5 and 5.9 in the folder

anshad

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Hi

If your goal is to test hard drives reliably, i would suggest including the below free tools in your build.

1. HDTune Free.

http://www.hdtune.com/files/hdtune_255.exe

It has an option to scan the entire disk surface and displays bad blocks (if there is any) in red color. One of the very reliable disk surface scanner and a must have.

2. GsmartControl.

Open source based SMART data analyzing tool. It can reliably interpret SMART data as well as perform short or long self test features of hard drives.

http://gsmartcontrol.sourceforge.net/home/index.php/Downloads



I have used those programs hundreds of times and they have been very helpful in determining a disk's health condition.

Link to working scrips (Right click -->Save As )

http://yomi.cwcodes.net/Yomi/AppsGS/HD%20Tasks/Diagnostic/GSmartControl.Script

http://yomi.cwcodes.net/Yomi/AppsGS/HD%20Tasks/Diagnostic/HDTune.script


There is an option to do full surface scan in "Partition Wizard" free edition but i don't have any personal experience with it.


KYHI

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Thank You...
As I like your explanation of the program(s) and it primary purpose...
We have a lot of plugins and without an explanation of it's purpose or personal knowledge of the program,
they are just another plugin ....

Lancelot

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1. HDTune Free.
2. GsmartControl.

Downloads\AppsYGS\HD Tasks\Diagnostic\GSmartControl
Downloads\AppsYGS\HD Tasks\Diagnostic\HDTune


There is an option to do full surface scan in "Partition Wizard" free edition but i don't have any personal experience with it.
Downloads\AppsYGS\HD Tasks\"Partition Wizard...."


We have a lot of plugins and without an explanation of it's purpose or personal knowledge of the program,
they are just another plugin ....
Besides SubFolder (folder organisation) and small Description if available,
 HomePage link available on most plugins also at Download plugins (so you can check homepage via a Download plugin without downloading The Plugin)

Sometimes Links to "Plugin Page" gives more information where available.
 (well mostly people do not have time to create a plugin page, life is fast...)

Sometimes checking history info of plugin may help to find special infos about application or plugin
ex: GSmartControl -> History002=.... link --> see link

rarely there are also info (link to a post or text) available on plugin interface to give specific information about a plugin or application

Overall
Downloads\
provides good application working plugins so one do not waste time on implementing or adding features and applications,
 and focus on the discovery of applications and features.


That is all we can do on our side  :wink: on organizing and distributing plugins.


Still In the end One need to have experience on applications to understand its features before fully using them.
 Discovery is fun without wasting time to implement.



In the end,
It is always more encouraging to follow a trusted mentor, anshad, to use applications  :cool:
 Nothing can be better than an advice from a trusted user.  :cool:
   Thanks anshad.

 

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