Hard disks are the core components of personal computers. They keep the device in running condition. However, over time, the hard disks suffer from issues like outdated drivers, overheating, excessive load on the built-in memory space, errors, and other glitches that affect their performance. An unexpected crash could wipe out your precious data which may lead to loss of thousands of photos, documents or other personal or business information.
A hard drive monitoring software can help track its performance and alert you about potential breakdowns, degradations or crashes. Ideally a such software can also repair a few issues and backup data.
We will compare two popular hard disk monitoring software apps – Hard Disk Sentinel and HD Tune in this post. Let’s find out which is a better choice for your requirements.
Hard Disk Sentinel Overview
Hard Disk Sentinel is developed by a Hungarian-based software development company that builds diagnostic software for personal and enterprise use. The software is compatible with multiple operating systems. It monitors and analyzes the hard disk on desktops, laptops and servers too.
It can also analyze data in SSDs (Solid State Disks, both SATA, M.2 / NVMe), internally and externally. Hard Disk Sentinel also reads data on USB / e-SATA hard disks, hybrid disk drives (SSHD), NAS (Network Attached Storage) drives, RAID array disks, SCSI / SAS drives etc. It’s a one-stop solution for monitoring hard disks and data protection. The software has won several awards.
HD Tune Overview
HD Tune is developed by EFD Software Company based in Belgium. The company specializes in computer networking, equipment, hardware, and software solutions. The hard disk monitoring software by the company is built for Windows operating systems and comes with an array of features.
HD Tune has a Pro version that scans the drive for errors, checks the health status, runs extra tests to analyze the drive’s performance, and erases unwanted data to create more storage space. The software is compatible with internal and external hard disks like SSDs, USB drives, memory card readers, etc., and can be used on laptops and desktop computers.
Hard Disk Sentinel vs. HD Tune
Here, we’ll understand the similarities and differences between these two software apps.
#Versions
As technology changes, the hard disk monitoring software should adapt and have more features to analyze different drives.
Hard Disk Sentinel is regularly updated to provide improved services. For example, 6.10.5c beta is the latest version of the software available for download from the official site. This update occurred in September 2023. You can check the facebook visit to see the updates
HD Tune Pro has been updated quite frequently over the years. However, the software’s latest version is 5.75, last updated in August 2019. Comparatively, we can say HD Tune is an older version and may not suit some of the latest computer models.
#Technical Specifications
Hard Disk Sentinel is compatible with Windows, Linux, and DOS operating systems. It works with the latest Windows 11. The software is categorized based on user requirements (and pricing).
HD Tune Pro works with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 operating systems. HD Tune standard version is limited to Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7.
#Other Features
Hard Disk Sentinel has several features, ranging from displaying the detailed status of the drives to providing extended S.M.A.R.T information, customizing reports, quick fixes, panic backup, export registry sections, remote disk management, file transfers, etc.
HD Tune also has many features, though not as extensive as Hard Disk Sentinel. It provides detailed drive and S.M.A.R.T information, runs extra tests, gives temperature stats, securely erases unwanted data, etc.
#Customer Support
HD Sentinel offers installation and support services through the detailed step-by-step guide, FAQs, knowledge base, discussion board, etc. The content is available in English, Hungarian, Italian, and French. Additionally, the customer service team can be contacted through email and the contact form on the website.
Overall it’s a great tool for users facing challenges in using SSD & HDD drives.
Read all user reviews here before you make a decision to purchase HD Sentinel.
Download the tool from the official website of Hard Disk Sentinel
The HD Tune customer service team can be contacted through email. Though the company hasn’t provided any educational resources, you can check the Test Results page to see how the software works with different brands of hard disks.
#Pricing
→ Hard Disk Sentinel has four plans:
- Free trial with limited features
- Standard – $22
- Professional – $33
- Enterprise – $219.50
The company offers one-time purchases and recommends buyers register their products and get the official license to access the future versions of the software. Individuals can buy a Family license to cover up to five devices for $59.
→ HD Tune has two price plans:
- 14-day free trial with limited features
- Pro – $34.95 (single-user license)
Both companies offer a choice between the US dollar and the European euro for payments.
Final Words
In today’s world, it’s essential to invest in reliable hard disk monitoring and analyzing software to ensure your computer doesn’t crash unexpectedly or destroy your data without a chance to save a backup copy.
Based on our review, Hard Disk Sentinel is an appropriate choice as it is more versatile and has additional features. The company provides good customer support and has several versions to choose from. We recommend Hard Disk Sentinel for personal and professional use.
