ATATool must be run with administrator privileges. On Windows Vista and later it requires an elevated-privileges command prompt (see User Account Control). The target drive must be connected to a physical disk controller. The software cannot be used via a USB bridge or similar device.
Display detected hard disks:
ATATOOL /LIST
Display information on hard disk 1:
ATATOOL /INFO \\.\PhysicalDrive1
Set HPA to 10GB on hard disk 1 (volatile – will be lost on next power cycle):
ATATOOL /SETHPA:10GB \\.\PhysicalDrive1
Set HPA to 10GB on hard disk 1 (non-volatile):
ATATOOL /NONVOLATILEHPA /SETHPA:10GB \\.\PhysicalDrive1
Remove HPA to 10GB on hard disk 1 (non-volatile):
ATATOOL /NONVOLATILEHPA /RESETHPA \\.\PhysicalDrive1
Set DCO to 5GB on hard disk 1:
ATATOOL /SETDCO:5GB \\.\PhysicalDrive1
Remove DCO on hard disk 1:
ATATOOL /RESTOREDCO:5GB \\.\PhysicalDrive1
Make sector 10 bad:
ATATOOL /BADECC:10 \\.\PhysicalDrive1
Make sector 10 not bad:
ATATOOL /FIXECC:10 \\.\PhysicalDrive1
Make sector 10 bad and then not bad again (alternative method):
ATATOOL /BADECCLONG:10 \\.\PhysicalDrive1
ATATOOL /FIXECCLONG:10 \\.\PhysicalDrive1