USB ST1000LM025 HN-M101ABB/ESG spins down...

[michaeleangelo]

Hello!
I am a newbie here, so please excuse dumb questions - my main work field is laptop repair.
The customer brought in an external USB 3.0 HDD Seagate Expansion SRD0NF1 fpr data recovery.
Upon connecting power (USB micro-B) it spins up, reads for a second like a good drive and spins down. To start it up again I have to cycle the power.
The drive still responds to terminal commands, though.

Power on terminal readout is as follows:

Fw Active 00
Ovly loaded to 0x00014D00
Ovly loaded to 0x1002DF50
FdtTable Loaded. Rev:0x02
Unknown file id 384
Up MC

PwrOn RRO1x @ H0
Table) cos = 383488, sin = 476928
Coeff) cos = -49444, sin = -3549

DiskSlip : 86 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 81 [SrvTrk]
0. phs diff 6 [wedges] Table) 55, coef) 61

PwrOn RRO1x @ H2
Table) cos = 379392, sin = 481280
Coeff) cos = -60397, sin = -3953

DiskSlip : 86 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 83 [SrvTrk]
4. phs diff 4 [wedges] Table) 56, coef) 60
TgtCyl: 832
Hd: 2 Zn: 0 Avg.:- 78
TgtCyl: 266064
Hd: 2 Zn: 1 Avg.: 1047

SVCAL(0080,0000)-->PASS
RdyTm = 3617474 us 3617303
ENG>mS1 00000003
SK C:157088 H:0
LUL(2)ms
SC(U)..4168/171
UD..OK : 171
PK_4 C: 21 H:1

I have tried RT command:
ENG>RT
ActiveFW : 00
FWVer : 0001
SATA PLL cal done
DDR size detected = 8MB
DDR size detected = 8MB
*PAUNI_L2958*PA VID=0011 PN=000D Rev=0001- PA_LSI2958 Found
*PAUNI_L2958*PA VID=0011 PN=000D Rev=0001- PA_LSI2958 FoundU
S_0SO_1
SPU@28'C,4731mV
IS=5
CLA ..36/94
HO..OK
HO RPM=595 OK
AC 2071
ST..OK
mS1 00000003
GT:408
SC(L):4169/85
BE.N:24
LD..OK
SK C: 7667 H:0
Loaded FIT ( 0: 0: 1)
CalibTable Loaded. Rev:0x1B
ResoTable Loaded. Rev:0x01
Bump Limit Loaded. Rev:0x01
RRO1xTable Loaded. Rev:0x01
Fw Active 00
Ovly loaded to 0x00014D00
Ovly loaded to 0x1002DF50
FdtTable Loaded. Rev:0x02
Unknown file id 384
Up MC

PwrOn RRO1x @ H0
Table) cos = 383488, sin = 476928
Coeff) cos = -107867, sin = 25536

DiskSlip : 86 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 81 [SrvTrk]
0. phs diff 12 [wedges] Table) 55, coef) 67

PwrOn RRO1x @ H2
Table) cos = 379392, sin = 481280
Coeff) cos = -93610, sin = 27865

DiskSlip : 86 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 86 [SrvTrk]
4. phs diff 8 [wedges] Table) 56, coef) 64
TgtCyl: 832
Hd: 2 Zn: 0 Avg.:- 72
TgtCyl: 266064
Hd: 2 Zn: 1 Avg.: 1051

SVCAL(0080,0000)-->PASS
RdyTm = 3541109 us 3540938


[DIPM_TMOUT:00000000]
ENG>mS1 00000003
SK C:160443 H:0
mS1 00000003
LDed
SK C: 7423 H:0
SC(U)..4169/243
UD..OK : 243
PK_4 C: 53 H:0

healing Enable 003C 001E 0000 001E

After this command the spindle stayed on.

I will greatly appreciate any advice how to solve this and what could cause the failure.
What can I do to dig deeper into this issue?
Soldering skills present.

Thank you very much for your help and understanding!

[pcimage]

This is a Samsung technology drive, I have occasionally seen the PCB to cause this issue.

[michaeleangelo]

I have occasionally seen the PCB to cause this issue.

Thank you for prompt response.
You mean, exactly the same behavior? Spinning down after a few seconds?
Did PCB replacement solve the problem in your case?

[pcimage]

I have occasionally seen the PCB to cause this issue.

Thank you for prompt response.
You mean, exactly the same behavior? Spinning down after a few seconds?
Did PCB replacement solve the problem in your case?

Yes, but it was a very rare circumstance.

It really needs proper diagnosis.

[michaeleangelo]

It really needs proper diagnosis.

Yes, this is why I have attached the terminal output, hoping that someone will be able to analyze it.

[fzabkar]

Can you power then drive from a powered USB hub?

Does the drive behave any differently on a USB 2.0 port? I'm wondering whether the USB data lines may be open circuit.

[michaeleangelo]

Can you power then drive from a powered USB hub?

Yes, it does the same without USB lines - starts and stops after 5-7 seconds.
I have soldered +5V directly to the board - all the same.

Does the drive behave any differently on a USB 2.0 port?

Nope.

I'm wondering whether the USB data lines may be open circuit

THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!!!
You saved it! And so my day.
The culprit was the connector - most of its pins were open circuit but power and one USB2 pin.
Replacing the connector brought it back to life.

Thank you for your support, it is priceless.