Ultimate Boot CD

Hdat2 4.8.1 is out http://www.hdat2.com/

Unfortunately, all device level tests are still disabled in hdat2 4.8.1. I do see that hda2 has other uses, but low-level-examining and repairing disks is where it excels (together with MHDD32). Dysfunctional test routines render this otherwise tremendous tool close to useless for wiping, testing or repairing disks. Moreover, it can be dangerous if you, like me, tend to ignore the ad line in the program. Even though there is a warning, I did not care much about it at first - until I accidentally noticed that one disk I meant to have wipe-read-wiped still was full of all sorts of readable data!

The hda2 version included with UBCD 4.11 does provide working tests routines, which (along with "salvation scan and repair" missing in UBCD 5.0.x) keeps me sticking with UBCD 4.11 most of the time.

According to the hdat2 website, version 4.5.3 is the last so far that comes with working tests. It can be downloaded here. The issue is planned to be resolved in 4.9.

I suggest that if another edition of UBCD is made before, hdat2 4.5.3 be included instead of, or along with, the latest hdat2 4.8.x at the time.

Thanks for the info. I will reintroduce HDAT2 V4.5.3 in the next release of UBCD.

As for "salvation scan and repair", the reason it was removed in V5 was:

1) the app has been discontinued
2) it has severe restrictions eg. it works only on the 1st IDE HDD.