Bootable USB HDD Diagnostics Testing

[CharlieDaves]

So. I wanted to do a HDD test/scan on this HDD that was showing as defective last month. I read that you can use "rescue zilla", but gparted doesn't identify the partition and wont allow a 'check'
I've tried the good old UBCD, but when I get BalenaEtcher to get the .ISO it pops up "not a bootable format"... UBCD doesn't support UFEI, and has some old version of grub.... Solution was syslinux.... whatever this is??

Q-What is a suitable kubuntu HDD diagnostic tool, OS-GUI or Bootable that actually works or can be created from an .ISO image?? PLEASE & Thanks.
PS I don't have M$ Windozs... Well I do have WinXP. I just don't have any working 32-bit Hardware

EDIT- Just read that 'Disks' program has a smart and tests thing... I guess a bootable KuBuntu OS will work. I'll try that.

[cookiemuncher]

I have a 2TB NTFS formatted external USB backup drive that I bought about 10 years ago that randomly produces errors when being used under Linux, and the only way I can repair the errors is to use my Windows 11 setup and repair it with that.

[GerardV]

You could try Ventoy. Download the 20 Mb tar.gz and run the Ventoy2Disk.sh. That will create a bootable usb and copy Rescuezilla.iso to that stick and start your pc from that stick and follow the prompts. No need to install the .iso anywhere.

[claydoh]

To be honest, all the disk checking tools that have a GUI are using the exact same tools under the hood, namely parted, etc.
Any live Linux will have these, particularly the command line tools, so resuczilla may not be any more useful than a Kubuntu live USB, for fixing things.

Gparted, or KDE Partition manage - already on the Kubuntu iso - both make use of these tools, so if Gparted is having real difficulty, the chance is very high that the drive is toast, or nearly there.

But I agree, Ventoy is the bomb. Multiple isos on a USB. No "burning", and more importantly, no constant re-burning for every image. USB sticks do wear out, and low quality ones have a higher chance of corruption in the gpt or similar sections quicker the more you flash. Don't ask how i know this