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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.
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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!
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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.)
You have already taken the first step by buying a SpinRite license!
SpinRite 6.1 is still in development. Eventually Steve will be announcing a beta test version. When that happens you, as a SpinRite license owner, will be eligible to participate as a beta tester. It is not possible to say when that may be.
Until then, you may monitor SpinRite progress at https://www.grc.com/groups/spinrite.dev as well as Steve's Blogs in these forums.
There is nothing to sign up for beyond becoming a GRC customer and buying your SpinRite license. As others have said above, there is nothing to test yet that approaches what you would consider even alpha quality. Steve is still reworking his old code to handle modern computers (using 32 or 64 bit addresses instead of older 16 bit addresses if you will.) I am sure there will be noise here in these forums when the first beta is ready for a wider audience, and at that time you will go back to the GRC webpage to get a copy you can test out. This will be the same when 6.1 finally releases, your SpinRite receipt is your ticket to future versions you are licensed to use.
I was also looking for a test version or (Beta) or something to test as well. I'm building some older systems with more modern hardware ATM and some HDD are a little too used; So I'm currently running Spinrite 6 on them but it's slow. I understand Steve has implemented some new methods of Data transfer in his code so I thought I'd try it. Oh well just have to wait with baited breath.
I think Paul's post above yours explains it all. My personal opinion is I think we will have something to test on 6.* this year, but I think 7.* wont be available until 2023!
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