Support Blog
Customized Testing with Check Computer Suites
If you haven't heard, Techtool Pro 12 is now available for download, and one of its new features is called Check Computer Suites. With these suites, you can define what Check Computer will test when it is run. The three built-in tests are useful for quick configuration, but much more customization is also available.
To set up your own custom suites, start by choosing Configure... from the Suites drop-down menu in the Check Computer configuration pane. This will open the Check Computer preferences, where suites can be customized. After changing any number of tests to your liking, you can save the new suite by choosing Save As... in the preference window's drop-down menu.
When you need help getting home
Techtool Pro provides a number of ways to create a secondary startup disk for troubleshooting purposes. The eDrive and Protogo tools provide ways to either add a startup partition to an existing disk or create a dedicated drive, respectively. Whether you've created an eDrive or Protogo device, when you're done using it, you (most likely) will want to return to your primary startup disk.
The Startup Disk system preference pane is perhaps the most familiar way for assigning a startup disk for your Mac. It's certainly the most straightforward. Open the Startup Disk system preference pane, select a startup disk and you're done. It may not be the best method, however, when you want to start up from a different startup disk only once. The reason for this is that when you select a startup disk in System Preferences, you're telling your Mac that you always want to use that disk to be your startup disk.
Using specialized tools
Techtool Pro is sometimes compared to a Swiss army knife. It is a single tool with a variety of functions. In some cases, however, you might decide that you need a more specialized tool for a particular task. In our experience, RAM testing and reading SMART data are two tasks where you might want additional functionality. Enter ATOMIC and Drive Scope, utilities designed with a very specific function.
Updating your eDrive
When updates are released, either for macOS or Techtool Pro, it is a good idea to also make sure that your eDrive is up to date. Note that updating the macOS or Techtool Pro on your main startup disk won't update your eDrive, because the eDrive exists on a separate partition.
Here are our recommendations for the best way to keep your eDrive up to date.
eDrive vs. Protogo
Every Mac user is different, so each Mac user may have different needs for diagnostic drives. Techtool Pro gives you choices when it comes to building a startup drive for troubleshooting. The eDrive tool adds a partition to an existing hard drive like your internal startup drive or an external drive, such as a Time Machine disk. The Protogo tool, however, builds a dedicated troubleshooting device, and is best used with a fast thumb drive since Protogo devices are reformatted prior to being built.