Drive Genius 3.0.2

'Drive Genius' is a system utility that manages hard drives or other mounted disk images.

This complex utility can do many useful tasks to your system. Besides management, Drive Genius can also provide you statistical data that can be useful.

The working mode of this application is given by its split interface that can let you work with volumes or devices.

When working with volumes, the application allows you to use tools like repair, defragment, duplicate, sector edit, shred, integrity check, bench test, and scan. Most of these features are not available in this demo version, but they can be unlocked after you purchase a key. The application can only work with the file systems that it supports. For example, I have a mounted Windows (NTFS) volume that this application won't display.

The 'Devices' mode provides you with tools like repartition, duplicate, sector edit, shred, integrity check, bench test, and scan. These functions are also limited into the demo version.

The application doesn't have a 'Preferences' panel. It provides all the functionalities in the main interface. This makes it very intuitive and easy-to-use. However, be careful when you use functionalities that can damage your data's integrity. A few wrong clicks may destroy your files.

Pluses: It's pretty easy to use. It gives you many interesting tools that can modify your drive's configuration.

Drawbacks / flaws: The demo version is pretty limited, so I couldn't actually test all of its features. The application has a weird behavior, when it encounters non-Mac volumes, such as a Windows NTFS partitions.

In conclusion: This tool is dedicated for drives maintenance and partitioning. Use the functionalities that you don't know with caution. The application has a good manual. I recommend you to read the manual, especially if you're a novice in hard disk repartitioning. Just remember this: "It's better to be safe than sorry."

version reviewed: 1.5.3