Best practices for troubleshooting a failing HDD

[Jonathan D. Armendariz]

Good evening everyone (here anyway),

Perhaps this may be a more generic Linux question than anything but 
since I'm here ... here goes.

As we all know most HDD manufacturers offer support for Windows and to a 
slightly lesser extent Mac OS but for Linux (including *buntu) not so 
much. Further to this if a HDD is suspected of failing (USB or FW 
connected) for Windows one can check the Disk Management console and 
Device Manager and for Mac one can check the System Profiler as well as 
the Disk Utility. The question I ask of you, in the collective sense, is 
what tricks or best practices might you employ for a Linux (*buntu) 
user? Obviously a command line inquiry would be ideal given that not 
everyone uses the same distro or WM or whatever the case may be. Any 
general guideline or point in the right direction would be most appreciated!

Kind regards..

-- 
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed 
by the tribe. If you try it you will be lonely often and sometimes 
frightened but no price if too high to pay for the privilege of owning 
yourself.

      - Frederich Nietzsche