ST3500320AS - Intermittent buzzing, no spin up, no detection

[nox]

So I came back from a weekend away to find my PC on a BSOD.

My ST3500320AS now makes a quiet .5 second buzz every 2 seconds when powered, doesn't spin up, and isn't detected by the BIOS. It delays booting as the BIOS tries in vain to find it before timing out. Checked cables/power.

What's the verdict? How are my DIY recovery chances?

Thanks,
Nox

[dobrevjetser]

Spindle seizure or heads sticking to the platters.
Not a DIY, sorry.

Dobre

[nox]

Thanks, I figured.

It doesn't sound like any HD failure noise I've ever heard. Buzz is low and constant in frequency and volume. Should I try the freezer and physical abuse methods of recovery before I send it in for RMA?

Also: Room might have been a bit chilly when it failed.

[hddinfo]

there is many methods for this model to get data back. (im talking pro only)


freeze it if you dont want you data back.

[nox]

Freezer Method Success.

Since I could live without my data I decided to try the freezer method.
2 days at -26º celsius in a ziplock freezer bag. It's so cold my hands are sticking to it.

Plug it in, power on, and I hear it quietly start to spin up very slowly.

My data's back.

[HDD Spaz]

Freezer Method Success.

Since I could live without my data I decided to try the freezer method.
2 days at -26º celsius in a ziplock freezer bag. It's so cold my hands are sticking to it.

Plug it in, power on, and I hear it quietly start to spin up very slowly.

My data's back.

Bollocks!

[r3712]

Thumbs up! This thing works 1 to 100 at least. So you are the lucky one))

[Magregus]

Just registered as I have exact same drive/issue. I even made an audio recording if anyones interested. http://www.megafileupload.com/en/file/1 ... d-wma.html

May try the freezer method.

[nox]

Thumbs up! This thing works 1 to 100 at least. So you are the lucky one))

Absolutely.

So for anyone who finds this these methods are only worth a shot if there's absolutely no way you'll spend the 1k+ to recover your data. Consider it lost before trying this.

My Process:

-Have HDDGurus identify the cause of the failure as "Spindle seizure or heads sticking to the platters." This method won't work for other types of failure. I think I had a stuck head (very rare issue) because it didn't sound like a melodic spindle seizure, but I'm no expert.
-Store the HD in an airtight freezer bag in your freezer at its coldest setting. I did 3 days at -26 celsius, mostly because I didn't have time to try earlier.
-Prepare/connect a drive that you can transfer the whole contents of the old drive to.
-Remove drive from fridge. DO NOT LICK. It'll be cold-sticky. My drive was cold enough to cause physical pain. Apparently metal sucks heat away more quickly than frozen food.
-Lay on flat surface, plug in, power up immediately.
-(optional) Pray, cross fingers, throw salt, sacrifice goat, etc.
-If you are very lucky, start copying data immediately. Do not expect high performance.

My frozen drive lasted 24 hours before getting stuck again. It had been partitioned into system and data. The primary system partition had some issues, but the data one was fine. I had time to save my data and low-level format the partition, which makes me feel better about RMAing it.

[nox]

Why was I being held for moderation?

[jono-ats]

I've seen quite a few Seagate 3.5" with motor bearing failure. It takes considerable force to free the platters, and the remaining mechanical resistance prevents the drive from spinning up without a lot more work.

I simply don't believe freezing a Seagate with stuck motor bearings will get the drive going again. One person posted that your chances are about 1 in 100. I'd say he's an optimist . . .

Sometimes - in a limited number of cases (& not including Seagate bearing issues) - the "freezer trick" can help. But I suspect it probably signs a death warrant for more drives than it resurrects.

Here's a little experiment. If you've got a junk Seagate, Maxtor, Samsung, or Hitachi hard drive, put it in the freezer for a couple of days. Then remove the top cover when you power it on in a regular room. You'll see water condensing on the platters; sometimes you can even see it spiral out of the air like a planet aiming for a black hole. Condensation on platters is not good. A hard drive is open to the outside air, even with the cover sealed in place.

I know a lot of visitors think that people who recover drives for a living and tell people not to put their gear in a freezer are selfish and greedy tricksters, hoping that they will get a new client instead.

But the fact is that the "casual experimenter" usually ends up tossing out the drive if the experiment fails. Or in some cases he / she will send it to a pro, who will have to work 10X harder to get the data back.

[matt_will_fix_it]

...
-Remove drive from fridge. DO NOT LICK. It'll be cold-sticky. My drive was cold enough to cause physical pain. Apparently metal sucks heat away more quickly than frozen food.
-(optional) Pray, cross fingers, throw salt, sacrifice goat, etc.
...

Damn... thats where I was going wrong. I threw some salt around and some landed on the frozen HDD. Goat then tried to lick the salt and ended up licking the drive... drive got stuck on goats tongue... goat started shaking head furiously and hard drive ended up been thrown against the ground.

Next time I'll leave my goat out of it Hopefully I'll have better success

[lcoughey]

I'm curious to know why you bother with a zip lock bag? When you take it out of the bag, do you open the drive in a room of equal temperature or is it warm environment with moisture in the air? The problem is with the condensation forming, both on the PCB and the platter surface.

I commend you for getting your data back, but I would not trust the drive any more, nor would I recommend this method to anyone that values the data on the drive. Your attempt to save $500 could cost you thousands.

This reminds me of those who swear by SpinRite...until the run it against a drive with failing heads. I had one client start with a drive that detected with some read errors and come to me with a drive where the heads had eaten through the platters... literally.

With all that being said, I'm happy to hear that you were successful nox. Be sure to backup your data and thoroughly test your hard drive before putting it back into production.

[FuzzyLojik]

Sorry to resurrect a dead thread, however I am having the exact same issue with the exact same model detailed in this thread. I am not to keen on the old "freeze the HDD" solution and am fairly keen to learn the "right" way to fix it. I have access to a PC3000 and have attempted to revive the drive using the solution for the HDD LED:000000CC BSY error detailed in its documentation as well as the methods described via forum and youtube instructionals where an insulator is used with hyperterminal. At the end of the day I still have a persistent buzzing identical to the audio file that Magregus posted.

As a result I am prepared to open the drive and have a look inside, but as a noob I am wondering if there are any tips, tricks, or alternative successful repair solutions for this particular problem or in general. I know a clean room is recommended and the usual hard drive platter/head care stuff, but any idea what is causing that buzz would be helpful. I am comfortable buying tools as required if you can recommend some. I am also not seriously attached to the data on this drive but would like to use this problem as a learning tool.

Cheers,

Fuzz

[Alexii]

The hard drive freezing in detail was described by Doomer a while ago.

[ppumkin]

The buzz is either the spindle motor or the head actuator is making that noise because it can move-
If you got access to clean room too - i suspect if you have access pc-3000 that somebody would have a clean bench too.
Open it up and look. If heads are parked on ramp try to rotate the platters using the centre ring. this should be very easy todo with no effort at all.
If heads are on platter- good luck removing them

[ppumkin]

Sorry i meant CANT move! the toll of typing at 12;30 at night. on the head and spindle

[FuzzyLojik]

Thanks a tonne ppumkin, I will give it a shot and let you all know how I make out.

[hddguy]

Open it up and look. If heads are parked on ramp try to rotate the platters using the centre ring. this should be very easy todo with no effort at all.
If heads are on platter- good luck removing them

This is a recipe for disaster....

[drc]

Open it up and look. If heads are parked on ramp try to rotate the platters using the centre ring. this should be very easy todo with no effort at all.
If heads are on platter- good luck removing them

This is a recipe for disaster....

I agree. Telling newbies/endusers to open their hard drives is about the worst advice possible...