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EDITOR NOTES
Spring 2009 Bundle Buyers 'Download Now' yields the app-only installer. Please check your bundle receipt for the download link for the bootable DVD, as well as instructions on how to burn it. Thanks!
The TechTool Pro 5.0.4 DVD is currently unable to boot the Mac mini and Mac Pro models introduced in March 2009.
DESCRIPTION
TechTool Pro is a full-featured utility program containing options for testing and repair, maintenance (including disk defragmentation), and data recovery. All it takes is one click of the mouse to perform a comprehensive suite of tests on your computer's hardware and attached drives. TechTool Pro does it all. There is no need to purchase additional software to keep your computer performing at its best. In fact, it’s so good that Apple includes a copy of its sibling, TechTool Deluxe, in its AppleCare Protection Plan. Diagnostics and Repair Use the Check Computer feature to perform a complete diagnostics check of the computer and the Macintosh formatted hard drives with one click of the mouse. This includes a SMART test of the computer's built-in hard drive to check for impending drive failure, a test of the computer's available RAM, a check of the disk directories, and much more. If problems are found, advice is provided on how to proceed to repair the problem. Use Check Computer regularly as a part of a preventive maintenance program. Volume Rebuild In addition to testing the disk directories of hard drives, TechTool Pro can also perform a complete rebuild of them. This optimizes these critical data structures and, on a corrupted drive, repair any problems. Use volume rebuild to keep your hard drives operating at their peak performance. Optimization TechTool Pro performs both file and volume optimization. File optimization consolidates each individual file into a contiguous area of the hard drive. Volume optimization consolidates the free space on a hard drive. Optimizing enhances the overall performance of your drives and simplifies the file storage layout. Data Recovery TechTool Pro includes several methods of data recovery. Use them to recover data from corrupted drives that don't mount on the desktop and save the data to another location. Use the Trash History feature to track the location of deleted files and increase the chance of their recovery in the case of an accidental deletion. eDrive One of the unique features of TechTool Pro is the eDrive. This is a bootable Mac OS X partition containing TechTool Pro and a small copy of your system that you can use when performing regular maintenance or in the case of an emergency. It is created on one of your hard drives without the need to reformat it. Protection TechTool Pro includes the option to install the TechTool Protection system preference. This is where you configure automatic functions that operate in the background. In particular, you can configure Protection to track deleted files, monitor the free space on your hard drives, save backups of critical directory data to help with recovery in the event of drive corruption, and to monitor the SMART routines of your hard drives. If problems are found, Protection provides an onscreen alert and can even be configured to send an email alert.
WHAT'S NEW
Version 5.0.4:
- Additional file types validated in the File Structure test.
- Added new machine identity information to Check Computer.
- Improvements to Volume Optimization routine.
- Enhancements to Surface Scan validation routine.
- Improvements to the TechTool Protection system preference.
- Fixed Data Recovery and TechTool Protection file issue.
- Enhancements to Wipe Volume routine in Wipe Data.
- Fixed Check for Update routine.
- Global fixes for French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese
- (Simplified) localization.
REQUIREMENTS
- PowerPC G4, G5, or Intel Mac
- Mac OS X 10.4.9 or newer
- 512MB RAM
- DVD Drive
- Quartz Extreme graphics support
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SCREENSHOT
| Developer: | Micromat, Inc. |
| Downloads: | 616,669 |
| - Version d/l: | 46,280 |
| Utilities: | System |
| License: | Updater |
| Date: | 01 Apr 2009 |
| Platform: | PPC/Intel |
| Price: | $98.00 |
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| TechTool Pro User Reviews (217 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Jun 29 2009 |
4WHATITSWORTH I purchased the Mac Update bundle. I had trouble creating a bootable DVD and was able to clear up the problem through Micramat's tech support. Apparently, one of the links downloaded the installer disk image and not the DVD disk image. Everything is working great now and I know that if I have any questions, I can count on their great tech support!
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
 | Jun 29 2009 |
XENOPHILE TTP sure knows how to make itself feel at home on a Mac. I installed TTP to give it a try, and despite a lack of any tangible benefits, it's been very busy! 1. It pollutes my system with lots of files, most of which are invisible. I don't need more mystery files on my system. I've used DiskWarrior and Drive Genius, and neither of them left their turds all over my system. 2. TTP spawns at least one daemon. No. I mean it, no! I don't want more background processes eating up CPU time. TTP's daemons are also very rude; they never asked permission to install themselves and run in the background. If I'm going to use a maintenance utility like TTP, it's because I want my system optimized. My definition of "optimized" does not include extra invisible files and more background processes. Thus, I see no reason to use TTP, much less pay what amounts to a yearly subscription fee to keep TTP updated and current with OS X.
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jun 20 2009 |
KMARCUS Techtool 5 pro slowed my computer down to a crawl. After installing I noticed that my iMac got slower. After about a week of this, I started to look at the activity manager and noticed that Techtool Daemon was taking quite a bit of CPU usage. I just shut off the Protection services in System Preferences and it was like upgrading my iMac to a Quad Mac Pro. Internet and applications are much snappier. I am not sure what that program does, but it sure is a CPU hog.
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| [ 3 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Jun 24 2009 |
KENTR I'm still not comfortable installing this program just yet, if at all. I got it with the MacPromo bundle, and while I'm sure it got favorable reviews from a magazine, I tend to value ordinary users' opinions more. As of now I don't think it's worth experimenting with. I'll leave it for now.
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| Jun 24 2009 |
KMARCUS I must say, outside of this little memory issue, I have never had any problems with Techtools. I actually like the program and use it frequently. I never lost data or had it corrupt an HD. As long as you have it, I would go ahead and install it and give it a try. Just watch your CPU usage before and after. You can always shut off the daemon easily if it causes you problems. I am sure they will update it soon to fix this issue.
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| Jun 29 2009 |
LHMAR I have had TechTool Pro 5 installed on my Mac Pro for several months without problems. The background routines don't cause any slowdown that I have noticed. Perhaps you have a corrupted installation of the program. Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling (and maybe doing a Repair Permissions for good measure)? Also, Micromat offers free tech support. You could always contact them if you continue having problems.
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| Jun 11 2009 |
1) Micromat isn't really known for providing free updates to products. 2) Snow Leopard seems to be a x86/64 operating system. It is nothing like PowerPC G5, Intel CPUs and the operating systems running on them are extremely "touchy" about such deep level running software/utilities being 32bit only. IMHO this utility, as long as it works flawlessly, very good for preventive maintenance. The "work flawlessly" requires constant updates which shouldn't cost. I guess you understand my point. (TTP 4 owner)
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jun 11 2009 |
MUBOX I agree with others that this software is almost worthless unless you get it in a bundle or with a very cheap offer. Their upgrades are stupidly expensive for what they are (smoke). That said, I just read on this page that the TTP 5.0.4 DVD doesn't boot with Mac Minis from March 2009. That's not totally true. At home I have a Mini from March and the DVD works.
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jun 8 2009 |
WAIPEPE What a prick of a program!!! Downloaded with Promo bundle and installed then started Lost a heap of disk space Had all my hard drives connected Later used WhatSize and found that TechTool Protection was using 5.45 MB of disk space ---THAT’S RIGHT - 5.45 Megabytes of disk space protecting ALL my hard drives Deleted that folder and have recovered 5.45 MG of disk space Have now deleted TechTool -for EVER | |
| [ 5 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Jun 8 2009 |
MISHA So what's the issue here, exactly? It using up 5MB?
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| Jun 8 2009 |
WAIPEPE Sorry I got my megabytes and gigabytes mixed up It used 5.45 Gigabytes of disk space so that Does create a problem
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| Jun 8 2009 |
MISHA Got it, that makes more sense. But that's also the way this sort of software works. There's no magic bullet to protect/recover data. I imagine the 5GB TechTool is using in your case is a lot less space than it would take to create full backups of all your drives, no? Having said that, you can just disable those features of the app. There's still lots of other good tools for performing preventive maintenance and repairs (and you don't even to install it on your drive, you can just boot from DVD when you want to run those).
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| Jun 10 2009 |
GERRY555 Did you REALLY mean 5.4 Mb? That's tiny...
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| Jun 11 2009 |
ILGAZ To add more to his frustration, I think he confused terms. I think he tries to mean "5 GB". :)) Tech Tool protection does backup HFS B Trees etc. to make future fix easier and if we don't count last minute changes, almost lossless. He speaks about those files I guess. IMHO it is the only thing making this tool worth buying.
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| Jun 5 2009 |
BS0D TTP is definitely not a very useful app: I would never have spent 100 on it if it hadn't been included in the MUPromo bundle. I've never had to use of all the app's features (thank God), but it is practical in the way that it gathers different options as far as file / disk optimization / degragmentation is concerned. Stability is definitely good enough for my use, it has never frozen. Even though I hope I never have to resort to it, the main reason I bought it is the file recovery option. I don't use it much, but I'm glad I have it "just in case"...
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jun 4 2009 |
LEXICON5 Never had an issue with v.4.x. Bought V.5, ran all the checks, probes, tools and now a once speedy MacBook Pro AND a Mac Pro take twice as long to boot than before I "Optimized" my files/folders etc. Unless you REALLY need to try to salvage a drive...you're better off backing up your data, wiping the drive and reinstalling the OS and apps and pulling your data back over and your machine wont slow down. As for their idiotic update practices....they are pretty much the WORST company in history for what they charge for mere point updates and similar practices. I did buy it with the current MacUpdate bundle for $49.95 so I got a deal....as well as the latest Parallels...these are the full versions...no neutering...
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jun 3 2009 |
YURIA I got TechTool Pro 5.0.4 with the MacUpdate Promo Bundle on the first day of sales. At first, I had problems booting up with the bootable DVD after burning it according to the instructions on my purchase receipt. The screen went completely blank after the grey apple and the loading animation below it at start up. I waited a few days downloaded the disk image again but the situation was the same. I also tested booting with other bootable disks like DiskWarrior and the Mac OS X Leopard disk to verify my optical drive is okay. Finally, I checked out micromat.com's support forum for some insight. The following two solutions seemed to work for me: 1) Disconnect peripherals that aren't related with TechTool Pro's check. 2) Clearing PRAM from a cold start. Links to the posts they are mentioned are as follows. The support team seems to be very responsive out there. http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=5010&catid=6 http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&Itemid=&func=view&catid=6&id=5020#5020 Now the TechTool Pro bootable DVD boots faster than even Apple's Leopard disk and the tools included are working wonderfully. I am a happy customer. Thank you, folks at Micromat and Macupdate for working to include TechTool Pro in this year's bundle. I hope this will be of some help if, by chance, there are other people who have similar issues.
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jun 3 2009 |
GRYPHONENT Just got this in the MUpromo bundle. Had 4.0 before and threw it in the bin once it destroyed my harddrive with its eDrive gimmickry. Buyer beware!! The new eDrive is pretty much the same rubbish as in version 4. Just repaired the eDrive with Disk Utility and it is still fixing a lot of incorrect links. Well, it was worth a try. I for one am back to Disk Warrior and Drive Genius.
(Version 5.0.4) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
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