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Data recovery and disk repair questions and discussions related to old-fashioned SATA, SAS, SCSI, IDE, MFM hard drives - any type of storage device that has moving parts
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Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

February 6th, 2018, 14:13

Hi there,
I have a 2tb Barracuda LP ST3200542AS lying around showing 0 capacity. I guess firmware is CC34. No bad treatment, was inside a tower and stopped working. Not abnormal noise either.
Looking around I would say that the controler card went nuts and that the hard drive is fine.
Through seatools the drive is showing 0 byte like in a dos boot and has a SN different from the one written onthe disk.
Anyway now I need to fix it.
I see two main ideas.
Get an electronic board from a identical drive or directly alone. Would it work? What special step?
Or connect through serial port and attempt to reset the drive controler? It seems to be a known problem, as there are some explanation on... ebay.

I feel I can perform the second task but the explanations I have found were a bit scarce and missing some schematics. I know electronics and I had a couple of project involving serial communications but I am not an expert.

What do gurus recommend?



Seatools report:

--------------- SeaTools for Windows v1.4.0.6 ---------------
2/6/2018 7:12:29 PM
Model: 42AS
Serial: DF8987654321
Firmware: 0
Identify - Started 2/6/2018 7:12:29 PM
Model: 42AS
Serial: DF8987654321
Firmware: 0
Model Number: ST32000542AS
Serial Number: 9XW0EZCB
Firmware Revision: CC34
Drive Capacity: 0.00 B / 0.00 B
Max LBA: 0
Cache Size: ----
Power-On Hours: 0
Drive Temperature (C/F): 0 / 32
WWN: 5000C5002087D55F
Sector size (Logical/Physical/Allignment): 512 / 512 / 0
Rotation rate: 5900 RPM
Form factor: ----
Specification Supported: ATA8-ACS
Encryption Support: Not Supported
Security Mode: Supported
SMART: Enabled
Host Protected Area features: Enabled
Advanced Power Management: Enabled
Download Microcode: Segmented

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

February 7th, 2018, 13:47

I was taking about this method:
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/332119172320

I guess most of the firmware is on the hidden negative cylinder of the disk. So it might be normal that the SN does not appear correctly right now.

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

February 8th, 2018, 0:53

loopingz wrote:Get an electronic board from a identical drive or directly alone. Would it work? What special step?

99% sure it is not a controller related problem, so no it will not work.
Likely firmware problems - No, don't flash the firmware like you hear/see on the internet.
Possible head issue.

If you are technical enough, perhaps look into getting a terminal output. Can search here on the forum how to do that.
Not recommended to send random commands from the internet. Just get a terminal output and post here.

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

February 8th, 2018, 4:32

Are you saying the S/N the drive shows (9XW0EZCB) is different to the one on the drive label?

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

February 8th, 2018, 7:39

pcimage wrote:Are you saying the S/N the drive shows (9XW0EZCB) is different to the one on the drive label?

OK I am dumb... The serial blinded me... The serial number is right, I feel stupid.
I have bought gear to connect to serial but it will take some time to arrive.

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

February 8th, 2018, 15:41

loopingz wrote:
pcimage wrote:Are you saying the S/N the drive shows (9XW0EZCB) is different to the one on the drive label?

OK I am dumb... The serial blinded me... The serial number is right, I feel stupid.
I have bought gear to connect to serial but it will take some time to arrive.


At least we know it’s the original PCB :-)

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

February 10th, 2018, 16:12

Spildit wrote:Most likely it's a firmware/translator problem but it's VERY RISKY to run commands without backing up the sysfiles and modules first .... So you need way more than a terminal adaptor to safely "fix" the drive to a point where data extraction is possible.

If you need the data inside the drive please do send it to a reputable data recovery firm because at this point it should be a cheap recovery.

If you mess it up with wrong terminal commands you might end up killing the drive for good or at least make the recovery way more expensive ....

If you can't backup sysfiles and modules (and ROM) just DON'T mess with commands.

If you don't need the data just buy another drive and do not buy Seagate.


+1

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

February 27th, 2018, 18:42

Spildit wrote:Most likely it's a firmware/translator problem but it's VERY RISKY to run commands without backing up the sysfiles and modules first .... So you need way more than a terminal adaptor to safely "fix" the drive to a point where data extraction is possible.

If you need the data inside the drive please do send it to a reputable data recovery firm because at this point it should be a cheap recovery.

If you mess it up with wrong terminal commands you might end up killing the drive for good or at least make the recovery way more expensive ....

If you can't backup sysfiles and modules (and ROM) just DON'T mess with commands.

If you don't need the data just buy another drive and do not buy Seagate.


Well that sound interesting and wise. I dont remember what I have on this drive. It might not be very high value as i normally store that elsewhere to me but still I hate to loose data.
Is there any place in Europe you would recommend (private if you dont want to advert)? What would be the price range (more or less so that I can have an idea if they are expensive or not) if the compagnie can fix it without having to open. Price is important here.

I am trying to learn too. How are the backups of sysfile/modules usually done? Is it the info stored in 'U12'

I used to consider Seagate as kind of safer (I enjoyed the IBMs bad series 15 to 20 years ago, doing my first siftware recoveries). I am not ultra up to date. Which brand is serious now and what model lines? I guess the pro and nas series are meant to be safer but insider info is welcome.

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

February 28th, 2018, 17:04

I am based in France and Spain. (moving every week). I see no issue mailing within Europe. Except for the risk of high Gs of course but that's life... No problem with Portugal, I have even worked there in 2012.
I still did not received the serial reader.

Interesting reads looks what I have seen was to fix the 7200.11. Now I feel less like trying that to my 5900.12

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

March 13th, 2018, 15:26

It makes me wondering how safe is my raid 6 nas with 5x7200.11

I did not received the serial to usbstuff, I got bored and I have sent it to a pro lab...

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

March 13th, 2018, 16:39

Yes I might be slow but I will give update...

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

March 19th, 2018, 17:30

Well I have a quote at around 1300 euros, they say recovery should be ok but no access to first sectors, firmware bad. Not much detail, after some more question say they need to do a head change but I dont trust them too much on that.
I understand head change have to cost a lot... But it is hard to trust. I am not willing to pay that much. I will have shipped it back to me.
I accept offer from anybody serious wanting to try a repair. (PM)

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

June 28th, 2018, 9:47

Quick a follow up I have sent the disk to another shop in Germany this time. At first I would have said Germany will cost more than Spain.
I was wrong. The disc and its image are coming back to me. I will update when I receive it. 372 euros including shipping. I also paid to ship there (around 10 something) and I also mailed a fresh disk for the copy. Can't wait!

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

July 13th, 2018, 10:54

OK I received Hdd and backup. Good job. The old drive is now working, but I don't plan to use it anyway.
I don't know if I can post here the company name and quote here.
I think I can post at least the name of the company that did the job?

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

July 13th, 2018, 16:44

If they did a good job then they deserve some credit :-)

Re: Seagate ST3200542AS showing Size 0

May 2nd, 2020, 12:50

Oups sorry for the 2 year old reply.
357 euros with
http://www.xdatenrettung.de/
They are in Berlin. I have shipped them a new drive directly.
I dont speak german. But we managed.

Any recommendation for a 2.5 inch drive used an external save?
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