Stress testing PATA data bus
 

On one of my older systems, I am having an intermittent hard drive problem. It usually shows up as a core dump and a message about swap error. used smartctl and the drive passed an extended self test. I am wondering if my problem lies between the microprocessor and the hard drive such as the PATA controller or possibly both drive cables I tried are dodgy.

I know there exist stress testing software for memory and the microprocessor. Is there such a program that will stress the data bus between the micro processor and the hard drive, while verifying the data integrity?

Memtest 86 is for RAM testing if you want to run it.
http://www.memtest.org/

For data integrity-
http://www.cromwell-intl.com/securit...y-privacy.html
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/app...rity-tool.html
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/SCSI-2.4-HOWTO/perform.html

On some of the Rescue DVD downloads there are all kinds of tools you can use to dx problems.
http://www.sysresccd.org/SystemRescueCd_Homepage
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

I know you already used smartctl -t but there are more commands on this page.
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-...k-failing.html

Recently the dmesg command showed me bus error after bus error and an interface fatal error.
In addition to that a bad CRC Cycliccal Redundancy Check too.
I found out that my HDD is failing.

If there is an application to test the front bus between the processor and the drive I have not found it yet but I'm trying.
This article might give you knowledge to help your issue.
http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090077365
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19095-01/...1-12/chp6.html

What you need is a Diagnostic Tool with Advanced Dianostic Capabilities--
Sorry I could only find the ones I think for a computer.
The ones I came across were for a car.
But like I said I tried-

Hope this helps as I gave it my best go-;)