I have a post stuck in a queue. As far as tools go, for testing hard drives, the recommendation for using the manufacture's diagnostic tools is the best course for determining drive health. It's their product.
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Tools from last century (like fdisk) often show their age...
Just like certain physical features we all have, everyone has an opinion, uh? (Just to be sure we're straight on that - this is a forum of opinions only.)
On the other hand, for the record, old is not always bad. Grand-Daddy Linus Torvalds, having been born in the last century, is showing his age as well. What do you think of his product, "Linux"? (That was a rhetorical question - please - there's no need to reply.)