HD Sentinel not loading after update

[gtaus]

Yesterday, I updated HD Sentinel on my Windows 10 Pro home media server. Now it will not load and run. The only other program I have running on the home media server is DrivePool for pool storage. Any ideas on how to resolve this issue? Thanks.

[hdsentinel]

Sounds so interesting.

When you launch it, do you see its tray icon (disk temperature)?
Do you see HDSentinel.exe in Windows Task Manager?

Not sure, but can be similar to this: https://www.hdsentinel.com/forum/viewto ... 81&p=16039
when Hard Disk Sentinel may be displayed just outside the current visible area (can happen if screen resolution changed and/or multiple monitors used).

I'd recommend to try the solution in the linked topic (delete HDSentinel.INI to restore default settings) and try again.

Alternatively you may try to uninstall, clean its folder and install the latest version again - just to verify if a "clean" installation helps.

[gtaus]

When you launch it, do you see its tray icon (disk temperature)? - No
Do you see HDSentinel.exe in Windows Task Manager? - No

All I get is the initial standard pop up screen asking me if I want HD Sentinel to change the contents of the computer, to which I say yes, then the program looks like it is loading, but after a while it just goes away. I know how to restore a program that is "hidden" but running in the background. HD Sentinel is not running as per Task Manager. So, it cannot be restored.

I sent a support email request to HD Sentinel but have received no response. If I don't hear from support, I guess I'll try to uninstall and reinstall the program. Will my initial activation code work on a reinstall? If I continue to have problems with HD Sentinel on my home media server, can I transfer the program to a different computer? I only bought a one computer license, but I expected it to work on my server. It no longer works on that computer.

Thanks for the response and any help is much appreciated.

[gtaus]

I'd recommend to try the solution in the linked topic (delete HDSentinel.INI to restore default settings) and try again.

I'll try that before uninstalling and reinstalling. Thanks.

[hdsentinel]

Sorry for the troubles. I double checked the last month but I can confirm that no email received about similar. Not sure why it not arrived.

If you do not see HDSentinel.EXE in the Task Manager, then yes, it is surely not running. Not sure, but maybe the update not finished completely and one or more file(s) could be missing.

Yes of course, your license code can be re-used after the reinstallation. If you install in the same folder (where all settings, statistics, data files etc.. stored) then usually it is not required to enter again after the reinstallation: if you simply install the latest installer in the same directory, then it should use all details (including the existing license).

Please try to

1) completely install the latest installer: https://www.harddisksentinel.com/hdsent ... _setup.zip
(assuming you had Hard Disk Sentinel Pro)

2) if you see similar (I do not think - but maybe) then you can try to delete HDSentinel.INI and then launch again, just to check with default settings.

Please let me know the results. If there is still an issue, we can investigate further.

[hdsentinel]

Of course if things do not work it is possible to install the software and use the license on a different PC - but I'm sure we can find the reason and solution on your primary system.

[gtaus]

Please try to

1) completely install the latest installer: https://www.harddisksentinel.com/hdsent ... _setup.zip
(assuming you had Hard Disk Sentinel Pro)

OK, I downloaded and installed a fresh copy of HD Sentinel. The program now runs, initially. I see the status of a few of my disks is listed as ? and ? with no data available for those USB 3.0 HDD's. I attempted to run Disk -> Surface Test as suggested, but then HD Sentinel crashes and sometimes crashes my whole computer as well. So, I sent in a report on the first drive that comes up with the ? and ? status bars and maybe tech support will be able to see what is going on.

If I attempt to run the Disk -> Surface Test on HDD's that I can see current status (health and temp) in the status bar, everything works fine. But if I try to run the Surface Test on those drives without any status data, HD Sentinel crashes and sometimes takes down the entire computer.

At least, I now am able to run the program. Just to need to find out why some HDD's are displaying no status data. Thanks for your help.

[hdsentinel]

Thanks for the report, yes, I see the situation.

I'm afraid there may be an issue with the affected USB drives - more precisely their enclosure/adapter/docking station.

Generally Hard Disk Sentinel should never ever cause system "crash" or so. In worst case yes, it is possible that it may seems "not responding" while it is waiting for the response of the disk drives during startup and/or periodically when it attempts to detect the updated status - and if the drive (or its USB enclosure) does not "respond" then it may stuck and required to close it.

If you see the computer crashing, then there can be an even more serious issue. Not sure if it may related to any of the disk drive(s), the USB port itself and/or something else (eg. the internal power or the external power supply of one or more USB hard disks) which could case some elecrical noise when the hard disk drive(s) accessed in the affected USB enclosures/adapters.

According the report, you have 3 such "problematic" USB hard disks with the same VLI 0711 chipset which can cause troubles: while there should be no issue with USB hard disks/external enclosures, this chipset can cause troubles like
- missing/limited disk status information in Hard Disk Sentinel
- incompatibility issues with some hard disk models, especially high capacity models, eg. 6-8 TB or above (independently from Hard Disk Sentinel)
- sometimes slow operation and temporary stability issues compared to other USB adapters/enclosures (independently from Hard Disk Sentinel)

If I'm correct, there is no such/similar issue with your other USB drive (Hitachi HUS724040ALE641 drive, disk #6 in the report) where the status detected, displayed properly - because its adapter/enclosure has different USB chipset.

For one of the above mentioned problematic USB drives (disk #3 in the report) Hard Disk Sentinel could detect the status but sees some weird details, according the Information page:
Highest Possible Transfer Rate . . . . . . . . . : S-ATA Gen3 Signaling Speed (6 Gps)
Negotiated Transfer Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . : S-ATA I Signaling Speed (1.5 Gps)
which confirms that the drive is generally operating much slower than expected - not sure but probably related to some connection / cable / power supply issues which could also cause the other troubles you experienced.

If possible, I suggest to please try to
- disconnect USB drives 3-4-5 (as these are the problematic ones) and connect only one at any time to verify if there is any difference
- remove the drive(s) from these adapters/enclosures and try them with a different USB adapter/dock. Then the status of the drive(s) should be detected immediately (which can indicate problem with the drive itself). Also then you can perform tests/diagnostics specifically in a better USB adapter.