Techtool Pro 5 [Old Version]

by Micromat

Product Features

• Tests critical hardware (CPU, memory, video memory)
• Volume repair, optimization, identifies files that reside on bad blocks
• See a trash history to help recover deleted files, and checks for specific types of file corruption
• The eDrive feature creates an invisible emergency bootable partition on the existing drive, storing a copy of your system and TechTool Pro 5

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001PLWI3A
• Item model number: MMN5777
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 21, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,771 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #66 in Software > Utilities > PC Maintenance

Product Description

Using TechTool Pro 5 will quickly diagnose and prevent problems that require costly disk drive repairs, repair and optimize your disk drive to keep it operating at peak performance, and recover data from corrupt or damaged drives. You don't need to be an expert with TechTool Pro. Easy to use, single-click diagnostics test critical hardware (CPU, memory and video memory) and applies predictive diagnostics to keep your Mac running smoothly. TechTool Pro 5 will check SMART parameters for a disk drive, test volumes for directory corruption, scan disk surfaces for bad blocks, repair a volumes directory, repair disk permissions, plus defragment your files and optimize space on your drive. Plus TechTool Pro provides ongoing protection too, automatically monitoring the system and alerting you when aberrant behavior is detected, so you can more easily recover data or repair your disk drive to maintain top performance. TechTool Pro also includes the eDrive, a bootable Mac OS X partition using TechTool Pro's robust diagnostics to perform regular maintenance for emergency repair. Reformatting the drive is not required. TechTool Pro utilizes powerful diagnostics, but is designed for both novice and Mac professionals. In fact Apple even includes TechTool Pro's sibling, TechTool Deluxe, as a part of the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Use this product only if you want to hose your hard drive, February 10, 2009

By 

Paul J. Mcdonough "XendawG" (Gainesville, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Techtool Pro 5 [Old Version] (DVD-ROM)

I was running TechTool Pro 4.61, and received the upgrade to version 5. When I tried to boot from the DVD to do the recommended installation, the software corrupted my directory to the point where my mac could not be booted from the hard drive. After 24+ hours of going back and forth with a clueless and rude tech support, I got this email, which I will be qouting in its entirety:

"If TechTool Pro froze while optimizing from the DVD, it can cause volume corruption.

If you are unable to repair the volume corruption, you will need to erase the drive and perform a clean install.

If you perform a clean install, that would be a good time to create an eDrive since a corrupted volume can affect the ability to create an eDrive.

Thank You
Micromat Inc.
Technical Support Team"
So there you have it- a OS X disk utility that even its own tech support admits can destroy your data. Still feel like buying it?

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for my Mac, December 30, 2009

By 

G. Kendall (Lancaster, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Techtool Pro 5 [Old Version] (DVD-ROM)

I've used TechTools since Version 2 and have never regretted spending the money. However, Version 5.0.0 had problems. Now that the release is up to 5.0.6, I am again very happy with this product. I have multiple Macs and will have this product on all soon.
If you use this as recommended (from another disk or with an e-drive) it is easy to fix problems that occurs over time. The speed of checks and repairs has greatly improved. File and volume optimizations are painless and fast. The GUI is intuitive and easy to use.

I liked the graphic display of the volume optimization better in Version 4 but the display in version 5 is adequate. The hardware tools are good (maybe a little too flashy) and give me warm fuzzies about the health of my hardware. All in all worth the money invested over the years.

TechTools is not a substitute for backups and backup drives. For the cost of one license, you can buy a good 1Tb second drive and do wonders on the health of your data and greatly ease the process of disk maintenance. I highly recommend you buy a backup drive before you get TechTools.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Tech Tool Pro 5 Won't Work with SoftRAID, April 14, 2009

By 

John M. Schubert "Montana Products" (Wallace, Idaho United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Techtool Pro 5 [Old Version] (DVD-ROM)

I have Tech Tool 3 & 4 so I felt it was time to upgrade to version 5. First let me say I use SoftRAID for Mac. This review will not apply to if you don't use SoftRAID. SoftRAID is a program that creates a mirror of your hard drive in real time on a second disk.

I got my copy of Tech Tool Pro 5 and installed it without a hitch on my PowerBook G4 1.25 GHz, (running OS X 0.4.11). I rebooted using the DVD for the startup disk and all went well, however when I went to use the Tech Tool Pro tools such as:

1. Create eDrive a separate partition for booting Tech Tool 5 or

2. File optimization or

3. Volume optimization or

4. Hard disk defrag.

nothing works. I quick call to tech support confirmed that TTP 5 will not work with SoftRAID. Nowhere on the website does it say it's not compatible with SoftRAID.

I wish I could tell you more about how beautiful the interface is and how well it works, but I can't. The only thing I can tell you is customer support was very friendly, I got a RMA and I was able to send it back.

If you use SoftRAID look else where.

John Schubert