Samsung HD501LJ Hotswap question

[HDD Spaz]

Hi Guys,

Got a nice clicking samsung. Hot swapped drive and can read modules from all heads except head 5. Head 1 is a little dodgy but should be fine. I believe head 5 is faulty, head test also confirmed this. I want to extract as much info as possible before swapping heads.

My 1st attempt I performed hotswap and built head map. No data could be read from any heads even though they tested ok.


My question is...what modules (if any) from the patient drive should I write to the donor drive before hotswap to ensure smooth operation of the disk. Also I don't fancy having data shifts everywhere.

Thank you Gurus.

[dobrevjetser]

This info can be found in the Ace forum

Dobre

[HDD Spaz]

Thanks.

Still waiting for access.

[hddguy]

the following modules should be written to donor from patient to gain data access.

"05 SRVTBL"
"06 CONFIG"
"0C ARCOTBL"
"0D GEO_TBL"
"10 SLISTHDR"
"11 SLIST"
"12 TLIST"
"13 ALIST"
"17 SRVTBL2"
"18 ARCOTBL2"
"62 ALISTHDR"
"6E 10SOFS"
"71 VFY_PATT"
"80 SCT_DATA"
"9B HSC_RST"
"9C FOD_NRRO"
"9D FOD_HSC"
"9E HSC_DT"
"9F HSC_RST"
"A0 FOD_NRRO"
"A1 FOD_HSC"
"A2 HSC_DT"
"A3 HSC_CYL"
"A4 IN_SITU"
"A7 FOD_HRLR"
"B3 AVSCAN"

To save these modules from patient, you may need to hotswap to get SA access.

[HDD Spaz]

Thanks hddguy

[BlackST]

@HDD Spaz,

How did you perform "head test" ? I think your tools do not give accurate answer for that (you can mimic a weak head by modding some data in the pertinent modules...) On the contrary sometimes is possible to squeeze some extra life from a weak head... it depends...

[-BR-]

that information from ACE forum is outated, it will only work for very strict conditions
for the newest models, Samsung have drastically changed the module contents, mainly zone allocation tables and servo distribution spaces

it may render the donor inoperative and even finish to break heads in patient, depending on the situation
we know this from our contact inside a Samsung factory

-BR-

[TerraNova]

FYI, the above mods works on Samsung HD501LJ hotswap method, i have tested it.

[BlackST]

@BR

Obviously donor can be rendered inoperative as you are overwriting adaptives... but I think that inducting head damage on donor is a little bit exaggerated. Anyway it is possible to make donor work again EASILY.

@ the others

Hotswap is always a risky (from mild risk to high risk, but always risky) method, but if you don't know other ways, it's the last resort.
And if you study how samsung drives work (instead of using and relying on click and go tools), you can work out alternative methods , non-destructive and effective, to do what you need. It's at least 2 years that I am saying it... (DON'T ask, I am out of everything now).

[-BR-]

FYI, the above mods works on Samsung HD501LJ hotswap method, i have tested it.

As I said, sometimes it will work based on strict conditions
But for newest manufactured drives of the same model there are some missing modules on that list
and also some that are present and may cause donor to be inoperative in other situations ...

@BlackST
... and failing heads to broke, as in this case the user already suspects that 1 head is almost failing and maybe he will be forcing it to work with wrong parameters that will get no good data

-BR

[HDD Spaz]

I managed to extract the required data but it took several (about 20!) hot swaps. Disk would read sectors ok then start clicking for no reason. Now after hotswap disk just clicks.

Donor drive is fine after I restored original mods.

The disk was a 2007 model.

[-BR-]

I managed to extract the required data but it took several (about 20!) hot swaps. Disk would read sectors ok then start clicking for no reason. Now after hotswap disk just clicks.

Donor drive is fine after I restored original mods.

The disk was a 2007 model.

Something similar happened to me on the past more than once and thats the kind of weird stuff that can happen if you follow the outdated instructions posted above from ACE's forum
Good thing you manage to recover your customer's data

May I ask what's your nick in ACE forum?

-BR-

[HDD Spaz]

so what is the correct hotswap procedure?

please pm.

[hddguy]

The instructions in Ace forum are not 100% accurate, and the reference to modules are wrong, sometimes wrong module name, sometimes number, sometimes required modules are not even mentioned. Sometimes all you need is a bit of initiative.

[HDD Spaz]

thanks, you the one that posted them

[hddguy]

I done HotSwap on Samsung Rubicon today, instructions on Ace forum did not allow for data access, and listed modules for the swap were not accurate. I Wrote modules containing defect and translator information and some other important modules and recovered 100% data

[HDD Spaz]

well done. What mods did you write. send me a PM for money