| Alsoft DiskWarrior for OS X (Macintosh) | 
 enlarge | From: Alsoft
Category: Software
Buy New: $99.99
New (1) Used (3) from $35.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  57 reviews
Sales Rank: 2380
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Macintosh, Mac Os X
Media: CD-ROM
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 10 x 7.2 x 1.3
MPN: wdd104
Model: 020863062007
UPC: 020863060300
EAN: 0020863060300
ASIN: B000095YXH
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New, in Retail Package, ships same day, from the Mac & iPod Leaders since 1988
|
| Features:
| • | Using amazing new patent-pending technology, this software builds replacement directories using data recovered from the original directory -- recovering files and folders that were previously unrecoverable | | • | If the potential for failure is indicated, DiskWarrior will notify users to back up their data before the drive fails | | • | Regular hard drive tests can be executed manually, or be run automatically every hour, day, or week | | • | Repairs damaged boot blocks to ensure that the computer will start from the repaired disk | | • | Checks custom icon files for corruption, eliminating a common cause of system crashes |
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
DiskWarrior is the safe, fast-acting and powerful utility that prevents & eliminates directory damage on your hard drive! Hardware failure presents a potential threat to your data. When a drive mechanism fails, the data on the drive can be lost, with an expensive data recovery service your only option to retrieve your data. DiskWarrior can be used to activate internal diagnostics that are built into disk devices to help determine if a drive is in danger of physical malfunction. If the potential for failure is indicated, DiskWarrior will notify you, giving you the opportunity to back up your data before the drive fails. These tests can be executed manually, or you can choose to have the tests run automatically every hour, day, or week. DiskWarrior also provides several notification options should the diagnostics report a problem. Optimizes directory for maximum directory performance, speeding up overall disk performance Monitors drive hardware for potential drive failure
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 52 more reviews...
 Either love it or hate it...I'm a little of both December 31, 2008
As you can see by the previous reviews, customers seem to either really love or really hate this program. Obviously, no utility can save, repair or salvage every hard drive. I wish one could.
The positives:
1. This program will help in certain, specific instances. If you do a net search and find that someone had the same issue/same symptoms as you and it worked, give it a shot.
2. Fairly easy to use and straightforward as far as interacting with the actual program
3. Can really save you from expensive data recovery services IN SOME CASES
The negatives:
1. It really is ridiculously expensive for what you get...a piece of cardboard, a small piece of paper and a fairly flimsy looking DVD
2. The company (Alsoft) seems to not really take care of their customers (see previous reviews). There are LOTS of issues with particular versions on particular machines. As of Jan. 1, 2009 these are still not completely resolved so be CAREFUL about using this latest version on some Macs.
3. Obviously, it would be nice if you can see what kind of progress is being made. Yes, it's wonderful to have something fixed or recovered but you realize that when the process starts, you could be there for 20 minutes or literally be there for TWO days. And you don't really know until it's done. If it finishes at all.
I'd like to see them drop the price even for just the updates to their customers. After all, you're literally buying a piece of cardboard, a piece of paper and a duplicated DVD. They could sell it for $49.00 and still make a killing. I realize they're not in the business of 'helping people' they're in the business of selling software but still...
So basically, this will either save your hard drive or recover data and you'll love it or it will fail to save your hard drive or salvage data and you'll hate it. Either way, it's worth a shot even at $100. Why? The same reason they know they can price it at $100 and still sell it: You're DESPERATE. Most of these sales were made to frantic mac users trying to recover their work, files and memories. If you're here reading this review, chances are you're in the same state. When faced with losing years worth of files, data, work, photos, music, etc. Suddenly $100 doesn't seem like much, does it? Allsoft knows this and whether they fix your problem or not, they're going to let you know that they can definitely TRY to get you back up and running.
So three stars...FIVE for the one disk of mine it kind of helped and -2 for the one it didn't and for the hefty price tag.
 Maybe works, maybe crashes May 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
For a local disk, DiskWarrior is exactly what you need to repair major damage. Unlike Apple's Disk Utility, DiskWarrior can separate files that have been cross-linked. The cross-linked files are likely destroyed but at least the hard drive is healthy for use again. Not spending all day on full disk restoration can easily be worth the purchase price.
Contrary to what Alsoft says, DiskWarrior does not work correctly on Time Machine disk images. For it to work, you must babysit the lengthy repair process and immediately skip verification of the new directory structure. If you don't skip it within a few seconds, the entire computer will lock up dead. It's a good thing DiskWarrior works on internal drives because one of those crashes corrupted it.
DiskWarrior also will not work with disk images on wireless NAS. It mistakes the latency for I/O errors then refuses repair.
DiskWarrior has the option to optimize disks. This is an odd feature because the boot disc is optimized, and it takes at least 15 minutes to boot on a laptop.
 DiskWarrior Delved Deep, Discovered Documents May 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
My hard drive was broken but not totally fried. DiskWarrior allowed me to see my files (other tricks like starting up off a System disk or starting my computer as a FireWire drive didn't work) and to back them up.
FIVE STARS!
DiskWarrior couldn't repair my drive, though. Also, the packaging and documentation seems a bit chintzy for $100.
MINUS ONE STAR!!!
Final count:
FOUR STARS!
 Be aware - Not compatible with new MacBook Pros yet May 2, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
In order for this to work with the new MacBook Pro you will need to use an external drive with an operating system on it. The company will charge an additional "$12.95" when they have an update available.
Disappointment March 28, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
DiskWarrior requires starting the computer with the CD. I have an IMac Leopard 10.5.2 and have spent hours attempting to get the CD to start the computer, hours doing all the things Alsoft recommended which included washing the CD. It hasen't ever started the computer.
I also found DiskWorrior requires up to 15 minutes to load once it does start the computer
Apparently Alsoft is not ready for Leopard, yet continues to sell the CD.
I'm out $99.00 with nothing in return. Zero
|
|
|
