Subject: Using Maxtor's Diagnostic (MAXDIAG.EXE) Utilities
Summary: Step by step procedure to perform hard drive diagnostics 
         via MAXDIAG.EXE.
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Overview: The MAXDIAG.EXE utility is designed to perform QUICK diagnostic 
read/write verifications on Maxtor hard drives. These tests will determine 
hard drive integrity. The MAXDIAG.EXE utility is effective on all Maxtor 
7000 series, CrystalMax, and DiamondMax IDE/EIDE hard drives greater than or 
equal to 500 MB. Maxtor recommends the use of this utility for troubleshooting 
potential hard drive problems. These problems include, but are not limited to 
the following:

 * Potential hard drive surface problems (e.g., bad clusters, bad sectors, 
   partitioning/formatting problems, etc.).
 * Drive recognition problems (e.g. hard drive that is not recognized by the
   operating system).
 * Software removal.

This utility will NEED to be executed on all hard drives prior to 
warranty replacement.

! WARNING !: All data will be lost when the "Write Scan" test is performed. 
Maxtor recommends that users backup any/all critical data and removing other 
hard drives before proceeding to Step 11.

MAXDIAG.EXE can be obtained from the following:
 * MaxBlast Plus version 1.1(or higher) and MaxBlast version 9.08M (or higher)
 * Maxtor Utilities Diskette (MUD) version 6.0 (or higher)
 * Maxtor's World Wide Web Site. Download the file named "HDDUTIL.EXE".

NOTE: HDDUTIL.EXE is a self-extracting file containing the MAXDIAG.EXE file. 
Prior to extraction, Maxtor recommends that user's copy HDDUTIL.EXE to a 
formatted, Windows 95, or Windows 98 3.5" floppy diskette. To extract 
HDDUTIL.EXE:

1. Insert the floppy disk containing HDDUTIL.EXE in the appropriate floppy 
   disk drive and establish operations at that drive's command prompt.

2. At the command prompt, type "HDDUTIL" and press [Enter]. At this point, two 
   files will be extracted to the floppy disk:

   * MAXDIAG.EXE - Maxtor's Hard Drive Diagnostic Utility
   * MAXDIAG.TXT - Text file giving procedures to run MAXDIAG.EXE

   NOTE: MAXDIAG.TXT is this document.

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Step by Step Procedure:
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The following is Step by Step procedure for performing hard drive diagnostics 
via the MAXDIAG.EXE utility:
1.  Clean Boot the system to the "A:\>" prompt with a bootable, Windows 95 or 
    Windows 98 system diskette.

2.  Insert the Maxtor Utility Diskette or the diskette containing the downloaded 
    files in the appropriate Floppy Disk Drive and establish operations at that drive's 
    command prompt. 

3.  If using the Maxtor Utilities Diskette, type "cd llfdiag\diags" and press [Enter]. 
    The command prompt will change to {drive}:llfdiag\diags>.
    NOTE: Skip step 3 if using the extracted files downloaded from Maxtor's World 
    Wide Web Site or executed from the MaxBlast/MaxBlast Plus diskette.

4.  Type "MAXDIAG" and press [Enter]. This will execute the diagnostic program, display 
    the Maxtor logo and display the Disclaimer Screen.

5.  Press "Y" to accept the conditions of the Maxtor Disclaimer. Press any other key 
    to abort the execution of the MAXDIAG utility. At this point the Handling 
    Precautions will appear on the screen.

6.  Carefully review the Handling Precautions screen. Once the Handling Precautions 
    have been reviewed, press any key to proceed to the Main Menu.

7.  At this point, the Maxtor HDD Diagnostic 1.10 menu will appear on the screen. 
    Press the "Up" or the "Down" Arrow keys to move between the Menu Options. Once 
    an option is highlighted, press [Enter]. Press [Esc] or press [F3] to 
    abort the execution of the MAXDIAG utility.

8.  Highlight "Select Drive" and press [Enter]. At this point, the following options 
    will be displayed:
      Motherboard Primary
      Motherboard Secondary
    NOTE: If the system has a Promise UDMA (eitherUDMA/33 or UDMA/66) Controller Card           installed, you will see the following:
      Motherboard Primary
      Motherboard Secondary
      Promise Primary
      Promise Secondary
    If the hard drive is on the Motherboard's Primary IDE Interface Port, highlight 
    Motherboard Primary and press [Enter]. If the hard drive is on the Motherboard's 
    Secondary IDE Interface Port, highlight Motherboard Secondary and press [Enter].
    If the hard drive is on the Promise UDMA Primary IDE Interface Port, highlight 
    Promise Primary and press [Enter]. If the hard drive is on the Promise UDMA 
    Secondary IDE Interface Port, highlight Promise Secondary and press [Enter].

9.  After making your selection (whether the drive's attached to the Motherboard 
    or Promise UDMA Card), the following will be displayed:
      Master
      Slave
    If the hard drive is the Master on the selected IDE Interface Port, highlight 
    Master and press [Enter]. If the hard drive is the Slave on the selected IDE 
    Interface Port, highlight Slave and press [Enter].

10. Highlight the "Quick Test" option and press [Enter]. The "Quick Test" 
    performs a short evaluation of the drive to verify basic functionality. If 
    the hard drive passes the "Quick Test", proceed to the Step 11. The following 
    will be displayed if the hard drive fails the "Quick Test":

    This drive has failed one or more tests. If you do not have a recent backup of 
    the data, please do so now if possible. Please call Maxtor Customer Service at 
    1-800-262-9867, then choose option #2 for Customer Service and make sure 
    you tell the customer service representative that the diagnostic software 
    reported error code xxxxxx** for a faster replacement.

    NOTE: Customers can also establish an RMA on line. Reference the following URL 
    for more information:
    https://extranet2.maxtor.com/webRMA/rmatypewebrequest.htm

    When prompted, key in the MAXDIAG Error code that was generated on your 
    hard drive.

11. Highlight the "Read Scan" test option and press [Enter]. The "Read Scan" test 
    performs a non-destructive read verify across the entire selected drive. If the 
    drive passes the "Read Scan" more than likely the hard drive is functioning 
    normally. However, Maxtor suggests that users proceed to the Step 12 and perform the        "Write Scan" test. The following will be displayed if the hard drive fails the 
    "Read Scan":

    This drive has failed one or more tests. If you do not have a recent backup of 
    the data, please do so now if possible. Please call Maxtor Customer Service at 
    1-800-262-9867, then choose option #2 for Customer Service and make sure 
    you tell the customer service representative that the diagnostic software 
    reported error code xxxxxx** for a faster replacement.

    NOTE: Customers can also establish an RMA on line. Reference the following URL 
    for more information:
    https://extranet2.maxtor.com/webRMA/rmatypewebrequest.htm

    When prompted, key in the MAXDIAG Error code that was generated on your 
    hard drive.

12. Highlight the "Write Scan" test option and press [Enter]. The "Write Scan" 
    test performs a data-destructive, write across the entire selected drive. At 
    this point, a red warning screen will appear on the screen.

13. Type "YES" and press [Enter] to proceed with the "Write Scan" test. If the hard 
    drive passes the "Write Scan" test, the drive is erased and will require 
    partitioning/reformatting. The following will be displayed if the hard drive 
    fails the "Write Scan":

    This drive has failed one or more tests. If you do not have a recent backup of 
    the data, please do so now if possible. Please call Maxtor Customer Service at 
    1-800-262-9867, then choose option #2 for Customer Service and make sure 
    you tell the customer service representative that the diagnostic software 
    reported error code xxxxxx** for a faster replacement.

    NOTE: Customers can also establish an RMA on line. Reference the following URL 
    for more information:
    https://extranet2.maxtor.com/webRMA/rmatypewebrequest.htm

    When prompted, key in the MAXDIAG Error code that was generated on your 
    hard drive.

14. Press [Esc] or press [F3] to exit the MAXDIAG utility. This will return the system 
    back to the command prompt. 
    If the system does not return to the Command Prompt:
    * Remove the Diskette containing the MAXDIAG.EXE utility 
      (e.g., MaxBlast/MaxBlast Plus).
    * Insert a bootable, Windows 95 or Windows 98 System Diskette.
    * Reboot the system.

15. Partition and high level format the hard drive using the operating system.
    NOTE: This option is ONLY required if the Write Scan is performed on the hard drive.

    ** The "x" values will vary pending on the error code.