Hard drive purchase consideration

[nightflier]

Looks like Western Digital only wants the business of Windows users: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/western-digital-disk-diagnostic-tools-are-windows-only/9235
Guess that's understandable, as only a few fringe players don't use Windows. You know, like Google, Apple, Amazon.com, New York Stock Exchange, and a few others.

[GrannyGeek]

Does any drive manufacturer offer Linux diagnostic tools? I suspect not. However, I believe WD  and Seagate do have tools on a CD (or ISO you can burn to a CD) that boots independently of the OS on the drive.
--GrannyGeek

[nightflier]

I admit to giving in to a little sensationalist temptation here. 

Most drive manufacturers release diagnostic tools that can be run from a live CD or floppy. Usually DOS-based. In WD's case, it appears they do have those kinds of tools available, except for a certain line of drives. What got me was the quote:

Code:

We manufacture our hard drives, build our software and test them on Windows operating systems only.

Hopefully, this is just an "easy out" used by a support person to get rid of a pesky Linux user.