I have a 2TB SSHD that has failed after 1.5 years. Seagate wants $600+ to recover data. Can't afford that. Probably a lost cause for DIY with no special tools (i.e. no PC3000) but I'm fairly technical so I'll ask the experts here.
Background: drive gave no warning to failure; no power issues and no physical abuse - laptop hung during normal use and then drive would not spin up.
Removed the drive and installed in external case where drive appeared dead - no power indication. However, there is some life when connected to the diagnostic terminal port:
Code:
Boot 0x80M
DensityList:0x0000
PrgF
LED:0x000000BD FAddr:0x000059D8
LED:0x000000BD FAddr:0x000059D8
LED:0x000000BD FAddr:0x000059D8
(1Ah)-Serial Port Not Ready
It just keeps printing the "LED..." refrain slowly over and over and reporting "Serial Port Not Ready" on Ctrl-z (or any input).
Purchased a second drive of same type but this "donor" is not identical PCB rev. Failed drive is Rev A and new donor drive is Rev B (see attached photos). I examined the new donor drive from the terminal and discovered that Seagate has locked the port. Not promising. Uncertain if this is also the case on the rev A drive purchased back in 2017.
Just for kicks, I tried to swap the PCB's (I know the ROM must match the platter specs). Here is the terminal session from that (i.e. donor PCB connected to platters from failed drive):
Code:
Boot 0x80M
DensityList:0x0000
(P) SATA Reset
RAW OFF
PASS
Send Status: COMRESET seen
CSpd= 6Gbps
Set Transfer Mode selected
PIO selected
Set Transfer Mode selected
Ultra DMA selected
Servo Processor Is Reset.
Srv DETCR init 0x0000
Spin issued
!
RECOV Servo Op=0195 Resp=0005
Waiting drive spin up
PrgF
(H) SATA Reset
SSPSaveSettings
SSPRestoreSettings
Send Status: COMRESET seen
CSpd= 6Gbps
Set Transfer Mode selected
PIO selected
Set Transfer Mode selected
Ultra DMA selected
Waiting drive spin up
Repeat that sequence.
The last thing I can attempt on my own is to move the ROM from the failed drive to the donor PCB and see if the failed platters will then spin up and mount (joy). My question to you all is, what are the chances of this working? I'm not sure how the diagnostic port lock works - if it comes from the ROM, I suppose there may be a chance the old ROM did not have the lock set but I think I must assume I will not be able to issue terminal commands even after the swap due to the lock. So in that scenario, is it worth swapping the ROMS? I have access to a rework station but not sure it's worth the hassle if probability of success is low.
In any case, I hope the data I'm providing to others here will be of some use. BTW, I have examined both PCB's (front and back) and was not able to find any appreciable difference (by eye) to the traces on top and bottom nor the component fills. So the changes between revs must be very minor.
Thanks for your advice.