Closed Pre-Release 5.04

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    To obtain direct, low-level access to a system's mass storage drives, SpinRite runs under a GRC-customized version of FreeDOS which has been modified to add compatibility with all file systems. In order to run SpinRite it must first be possible to boot FreeDOS.

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Steve

(as in GRC)
Staff member
Feb 1, 2019
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Southern CA, USA
www.grc.com
5.04: Another good step forward.

This further improves SpinRite's tolerance of very troubled drives. It also incorporates the new on-the-fly video system reinitialization that will be use to those who disconnect or turn their monitors off while SpinRite is running to then discover that the screen remains black/blank once it's reattached. Now and forevermore, pressing "Backspace" four times successively without other intervening keystrokes will trigger a video reinitialization that should bring video back.

You may obtain this update as before by going to GRC's Pre-Release page, entering your SpinRite license serial number or transaction code and clicking the links to obtain your personal pre-release copies of either the full Windows/DOS SpinRite and/or just the DOS code.

Thanks, all!
 
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5.04: Another good step forward.

This further improves SpinRite's tolerance of very troubled drives. It also incorporates the new on-the-fly video system reinitialization that will be use to those who disconnect or turn their monitors off while SpinRite is running to then discover that the screen remains black/blank once it's reattached. Now and forevermore, pressing "Backspace" four times successively without other intervening keystrokes will trigger a video reinitialization that should bring video back.

You may obtain this update as before by going to GRC's Pre-Release page, entering your SpinRite license serial number or transaction code and clicking the links to obtain your personal pre-release copies of either the full Windows/DOS SpinRite and/or just the DOS code.

Thanks, all!
Steve, there is no smart data on this version!
 

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Steve, there is no smart data on this version!
I can't remember now where I saw it, but Steve indicated somewhere that SMART data was disabled in this version PR 5.04. He did not elaborate why. I ran 5.04 long enough to confirm the video changes and went back to 5.03 for going through this old stack of hard drives I'm working on.