I have a problem and I think from what I have been reading it might be a firmware issue. I know very little on how all this stuff works, I don't even know what firmware is. But I have a hard drive that isn't working and I need the data off it, so if some one could help explain what I need to do that would be great. Here is what I have,

Seagate Barracuda GT 7200.11
500GB
ST3500320AS
P/N 9BX154-568
Firmware: SD81

Please let me know if any other information is needed. How can I fix this?

First you need to give more information about the problem, such as: hard drive is not detected, clicking, not spinning...etc.

But if you don't have any technical knowledge and your data is valuable, your best bet is to see a data recovery specialist.

Good luck!

If it's a firmware issue, then read this thread:
http://forums.seagate.com/t5/ATA-and-Se ... 036#M19464

I think that the hard drive is spinning, but when its plugged in the computer it isn't recognized. It is not making any clicking noises. It was in a external hard drive case, when plugged in the front would flash but wouldn't be recognized on the computer. I had a person with a little more knowledge than me remove the hard drive and plug it into a PC tower, once plugged in the tower wouldn't turn on.

If your PC "tower" doesn't turn on, then how is it that your drive can spin?

Can you clarify what your mean by "turn on"? Do you mean that the PC behaves as if it is getting no power? Do the fans kick once and then stop? Or do you mean that the PC doesn't boot up? Does it hang during the POST? Is the screen blank?

Sorry about that I should have clarified, when it was in the external hard drive case I think it would spin, when plugged into the tower of a desk top computer the computer wouldn't turn on. When the original hard drive is put back in the desk top would work. Could this be a PCB problem?

Yep, sounds like a Pcb problem to me.

Bosse

_________________
Rescue IT Datarecovery service Sweden
Rescue IT Dataräddning Göteborg AB
http://www.rescue-it.se

Ok so were can I get a new, or working PCB? Any recommendations?

Check the TVS diodes first.

Search this forum for further info, it's been explained in detail plenty of times.

If that isn't your problem, then you'll need a new PCB. But you MUST transfer the ROM from your old PCB as there is unique info therein

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

This article should help you identify the components:
http://hddscan.com/doc/HDD_from_inside.html

Here are my notes:
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/HDD_ICs.txt
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/TVS_diodes.txt

I believe you will need a Torx 6 screwdriver to remove the PCB.

BTW, if the drive spins, then you have some other problem.