Hitachi HTS548 NVRAM Compatibility?

[HardDiskBug]

Have a HTS548, which I suspect, PCB is not native. Drive spins, got calibrated, and comes to Ready. But when the ID command is issued, it rejects it with ABRT. No access to any of the SA copy.

From what it sounds, heads seems to be OK. Thus, I suspect that the PCB is not native, but the client denies it. So my question, First, how to tell that if the PCB is native or not? AS, I don't have access to SA, I can only rely upon some method of any label/sticker/number matching. Is there anything from which I can verify it?

Second, if the PCB is not native, can I write another NVRAM? Criteria? I know, the SA starting offset is something very hard to match, but is there any chance if I write some another NVRAM, and I can make them matched?

[hddguy]

Do you use HD Doctor for Hitachi? I am fairly sure this has a feature to restore NVRAM from SA when using non-native PCB. This feature is also within UDMA PC3K.

I would first try to find out from customer is PCB is native or donor, though in my experience customers are not very helpful .

Also, isnt there some reference to DCM and P/N on the first few letters of the white sticker on the PCB?

I have had some cases where symptoms are identical to yours, but in my case heads have been damaged.

[HardDiskBug]

Unfortunately, there is no any sort of access to SA. Thus, cannot create native NVRAM too.

BTW, that's what I want to confirm. Any sure method to determine anything from PN or anything else? I am sure, there must be somthing...someone can shed some more light on that..

[pcimage]

Do you use HD Doctor for Hitachi? I am fairly sure this has a feature to restore NVRAM from SA when using non-native PCB. This feature is also within UDMA PC3K.

I would first try to find out from customer is PCB is native or donor, though in my experience customers are not very helpful .

Also, isnt there some reference to DCM and P/N on the first few letters of the white sticker on the PCB?

I have had some cases where symptoms are identical to yours, but in my case heads have been damaged.

NVRAM dynamic rebuild is only available on Deskstar drives, the Travelstar NVRAM rebuild relies on brute force attack and takes many many hours.

[zebong]

I am also studying for that match.... PCB numbers ... ROM version ... Nvram ....

[HardDiskBug]

Pcimage wrote:

NVRAM dynamic rebuild is only available on Deskstar drives, the Travelstar NVRAM rebuild relies on brute force attack and takes many many hours.

That's the problem Sean..

So, what are my chances if I go to swapping PCB's randomly? Or could you please refer to any starting point to match criteria?

[HardDiskBug]

I have tried writing a couple of NVRAMs..but none of them worked...if there is anything I can do to match, it will save me from a lot of extra burden...

I am still unsure about the native PCB...

[HDD Spaz]

Are you sure there is not further issues with the drive? Are you able to read any modules in safe mode? Have you tested heads?

[HardDiskBug]

Spaz,

All I can say about heads that they "Sounds" fine. The platters spin, heads get unparked, and finally, I can hear them calibrating. No unusual clicking or any other sound. So that leads me to think, heads are fine. So, no other issues with the Drive.

And, I am not able to read any of module from any of the copy in either Normal or Safe mode.

At this stage, All I am looking for an NVRAM writing from another drive, so just want to know the perfect criteria (If there is any) According the drive's labels or any sticker. As, I suspect the PCB is not native, can't rely on any PCB sticker to match.
If anybody knows....

[HardDiskBug]

Or just the NVRAM version no. will do the job? Though, I have tried some, but without success..

[jono-ats]

Pcimage wrote:

NVRAM dynamic rebuild is only available on Deskstar drives, the Travelstar NVRAM rebuild relies on brute force attack and takes many many hours.

That's the problem Sean..

So, what are my chances if I go to swapping PCB's randomly? Or could you please refer to any starting point to match criteria?

We deal with Hitachis daily. Sometimes, as a 'best practices" step, we will program the NV-RAM to another PCB and make sure the drive doesn't have a PCB issue. I've concluded that PCB failures are fairly rare with this model.

On the other hand, I've NEVER been able to successfully swap a J9SA00 PCB without reprogramming. But that's just trying one board at a time.

I've accumulated a lot of NV-RAM images in the process . . .