Can I test new hard drive?

I have a WD Caviar Black coming.
Is there a way I can use HD Tune's free error scan before I install my XP Pro?
I ask because I had a problem wit had drive that had a few bad spots and didn't find out until after I installed the os and programs.
Thanks.
Hugger

 

Just plug the new drive into your existing system and scan it. Windows has a built in tool for checking drives.

 

I always check my new hard disks with Western Digital's Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows. It works with all drives.

Panagiotis

 

Hello,
You can check, but it doesn't mean anything.
If your drive survives the first three months, it should work forever. WD drives are very reliable.
Mrk

 

Thanks for all of your help.

@Mrk-If the scans don't mean anything why do we do them/why do the companies supply software to do them?
And thanks, I'm glad WD is so good. I can't afford mistakes anymore.
Hugger

 

That's the thing the full format takes so long on a big drive these days you can be forgiven for doing a quick format plus it done at the factory and tested good. I have seen at parcel depos how much parcels get thrown around so roughly. As more buying done over the web alot more hard drives must get damaged during the delivery. It is wise you decided to do the ff. You can find out later you have several tiny black holes when you got data on, maybe a few months after when you fill it up. Yes HDScan good, nice bright green sectors. If you get a drive thats bad you can use chkdsk /r and it marks the sectors as bad so you data wont use them until you format the drive again. Mrkvonic so right, hardware that is faulty will pass out in the first few weeks from the heat torture otherwise end up working for years.

 

markymoo,
Thanks for the info.
A lot of good help here.
Hugger

 

From what I have seen with most scan uts. they will detect pending read\write failures = disk surface problems. I have not found one yet that can detect pending sudden catastrophic mechanical failure. = the spinning up\down of the drive etc. for what ever reason.

I try to use third party software to test hdds. The OEMs uts. are usually pretty good but seeing as how they are the ones that may have to replace it under warranty, may be a bit lacking\tolerant in their diagnostic results.