Closed SpinRite v6.1 Final Release!

  • SpinRite v6.1 Release #3
    Guest:
    The 3rd release of SpinRite v6.1 is published and may be obtained by all SpinRite v6.0 owners at the SpinRite v6.1 Pre-Release page. (SpinRite will shortly be officially updated to v6.1 so this page will be renamed.) The primary new feature, and the reason for this release, was the discovery of memory problems in some systems that were affecting SpinRite's operation. So SpinRite now incorporates a built-in test of the system's memory. For the full story, please see this page in the "Pre-Release Announcements & Feedback" forum.
    /Steve.
  • Be sure to checkout “Tips & Tricks”
    Dear Guest Visitor → Once you register and log-in please checkout the “Tips & Tricks” page for some very handy tips!

    /Steve.
  • BootAble – FreeDOS boot testing freeware

    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.

    GRC's “BootAble” freeware allows anyone to easily create BIOS-bootable media in order to workout and confirm the details of getting a machine to boot FreeDOS through a BIOS. Once the means of doing that has been determined, the media created by SpinRite can be booted and run in the same way.

    The participants here, who have taken the time to share their knowledge and experience, their successes and some frustrations with booting their computers into FreeDOS, have created a valuable knowledgebase which will benefit everyone who follows.

    You may click on the image to the right to obtain your own copy of BootAble. Then use the knowledge and experience documented here to boot your computer(s) into FreeDOS. And please do not hesitate to ask questions – nowhere else can better answers be found.

    (You may permanently close this reminder with the 'X' in the upper right.)

Steve

(as in GRC)
Staff member
Feb 1, 2019
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Southern CA, USA
www.grc.com
SpinRite v6.1 is finished and released

We do not plan to announce this more widely until the online documentation is finished to support it. But the code has been finalized and is not expected to change. Sure, something could arise that will require another release. But this code has been very extensively tested and it appears to be as good as we're able to make it.

As before, you may obtain your final SpinRite v6.1 release by going to GRC's Pre-Release page, entering your SpinRite license serial number or transaction code and clicking the link to obtain your personal copy. We are using this pre-release page since it's convenient, everyone knows where it is, and since we'd like to get v6.1 documented before making it more widely available.

Thanks, all!
 
Has the 6.1 expiration date been removed yet or is a fresh download still considered a pre-release until wider distribution?
 
Yes, the expiration date has been removed. https://grc.com/groups/spinrite.dev:54646

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Fantastic! It has been an entertaining journey following all the twists and turns to produce this major enhancement.

Now on to the next release. Maybe in 18 months I will be able to run a pre-release version Spinrite 7.0 on the SSD in my UEFI laptop.
 
Now on to the next release. Maybe in 18 months I will be able to run a pre-release version Spinrite 7.0 on the SSD in my UEFI laptop.
I believe that's a reasonable assumption. A lot of the infrastructure we'll need for the various pieces are already in place since they are reusable, like the whole USB boot-prep system that was first created as InitDisk for v6.1. And debugging v6.1 under DOS was actually somewhat difficult since no debugger understands the "flat real mode" that v6.1 uses and the author of my primary debugger, Brett Salter, passed away a few years ago. (I could have obtained Periscope's source from him to fix it.) By comparison, SR7's RTOS-32 operating system debugger is compatible with Microsoft's Visual Studio cross-machine debugging, which will make things FAR easier.

My plan is to race toward getting something running as soon as possible, sort of like "catching the wave" to get things rolling so that we'll have some early results for the project. (y)
 
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Windows 11 Defender still blocks the 6.1 Download and deletes it. However, one can log into defender as the administrator and tell it to restore 6.1 and it will.

Then it can be copied to a USB drive.
 
Windows 11 Defender still blocks the 6.1 Download and deletes it. However, one can log into defender as the administrator and tell it to restore 6.1 and it will.
I appreciate the feedback. Microsoft replied that once my newly minted EV signing cert has gained sufficient "reputation" (no indication about when/what/how that happens) no one will have any more trouble. <fingers crossed>
 
SpinRite v6.1 is finished and released

We do not plan to announce this more widely until the online documentation is finished to support it. But the code has been finalized and is not expected to change. Sure, something could arise that will require another release. But this code has been very extensively tested and it appears to be as good as we're able to make it.

As before, you may obtain your final SpinRite v6.1 release by going to GRC's Pre-Release page, entering your SpinRite license serial number or transaction code and clicking the link to obtain your personal copy. We are using this pre-release page since it's convenient, everyone knows where it is, and since we'd like to get v6.1 documented before making it more widely available.

Thanks, all!
I have SPinRite ver. 4 What will it take to update, or do I have to 'out-right' buy a new copy?
 
I have SPinRite ver. 4 What will it take to update, or do I have to 'out-right' buy a new copy?
Contact customer service with your purchase details (or your contact details they could use to look you up.) From grc.com: Please address any pre- or post-purchase questions to sales2024 [at] grc.com...
 
I have SPinRite ver. 4 What will it take to update, or do I have to 'out-right' buy a new copy?
One way is to contact Customer Service as PHolder suggested.

You may also go here: https://www.grc.com/cs/customerservice.htm

Enter your SR 4 license number and click Lookup System Code to go to a Purchase and Download page for more info. You may be able to upgrade at a discount from the full price of $89.

NOTE: At the bottom of the linked P&D page you can review the email on file for you and update it if necessary.
 
I'm new here and can't even find where to purchase SpinRite? All the links are for existing owners with a license?