Seagate Freeagent Pro: diagnosis please (with video)

[holger]

Hi there,

I dropped my Seagate Freeagent Pro 500GB from about 2 feet while it was running.

It makes exactly the same sound as the HDD in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTWcdBCCgv8
from time 0:00 to 0:35.

When I turn or move my HDD, it does *NOT* sound like it's blending screws though, as in the video from 0:35 on. When I turn my HDD, it just keeps making the humming noise with a beep every few seconds. No change at all when I rotate or slightly shake it.

Any idea what that could be?
Any chance I can fix it? I will not pay >500$ or Euros, so I'd take the risk to finally wreck it.

Cheers,
Holger

[drc]

Stuck spindle

[pcimage]

Agree, drive seized.

€500 "may" be acheivable, but certainly no less.

Sorry to say but you WON'T be able to DIY this one

[holger]

Thanks guys! I'm amazed; you remote-diagnosed my hard disk. What would we do without internet?

I found out how much effort goes into repairing it, so 500 Euros does seem fair. On the other hand, I have to think about whether the data is worth the money.

[lcoughey]

It certainly has a seized spindle, but seeing that the drive was previously opened, you may find your lab price higher as a result.

[Bjerringbro]

seized! or stuck head.
be glad it's not a WD. don't open it. you won't be able to unstick/seize it.

[pcimage]

It certainly has a seized spindle, but seeing that the drive was previously opened, you may find your lab price higher as a result.

Luke,

Don't think the OP actually said it had been opened, so chances are reasonable I think

Sean

[lcoughey]

It certainly has a seized spindle, but seeing that the drive was previously opened, you may find your lab price higher as a result.

Luke,

Don't think the OP actually said it had been opened, so chances are reasonable I think

Sean

Did you not notice that all the screws were out of the cover in the video...along with the note under the video on Youtube saying that he opened it and it isn't spinning?

[pcimage]

Yes I did, but I'm assuming he's using that Youtube footage as an EXAMPLE of his problem, to show us the noise HIS drive makes

I deduced that from the fact that that video was uploaded in 2009

Could be wrong of course

[holger]

You got it right, pcimage. My HDD is unopened, never touched it. I linked to the video as my drive makes exactly the same noise as the disk of video (without the grinding). I don't know the guy who uploaded the video. But linking to youtube is much clearer than saying it makes "buzzz, buzzz, beep, buzz, buzz, beep". I guess the title I chose might have been misleading...

At the same time, I'm very happy that people in this forum pay attention to details (like the screws) in the video, so I know you really watched it and thought about it; and really want to give me a fair price estimate (which understandably is much higher for an opened disk). So I certainly do trust your diagnosis.

Thanks for all the feedback, I'm amazed! I have to think about whether the data is worth 500 Euros, though. Being in Europe, should I decide to have it repaired, I guess I'll get your service, pcimage!

[fzabkar]

If it's a stiction fault rather than a seized motor, then see this thread, but heed the warnings:
http://forums.seagate.com/t5/FreeAgent- ... 242#M11384

[drc]

If it's a stiction fault rather than a seized motor

How is he going to make that determination without opening the drive and (dangerously) attempting to manipulate the internal components?

[fzabkar]

If it's a stiction fault rather than a seized motor

How is he going to make that determination without opening the drive and (dangerously) attempting to manipulate the internal components?

How did you arrive at the diagnosis of "stuck spindle" rather than the much less expensive diagnosis of "stiction" without even seeing the drive?

[thatdellguy]

Seized motor.

[thatdellguy]

How did you arrive at the diagnosis of "stuck spindle" rather than the much less expensive diagnosis of "stiction" without even seeing the drive?

I believe it's called actual data recovery experience.

[pcimage]

If it's a stiction fault rather than a seized motor

How is he going to make that determination without opening the drive and (dangerously) attempting to manipulate the internal components?

How did you arrive at the diagnosis of "stuck spindle" rather than the much less expensive diagnosis of "stiction" without even seeing the drive?

I don't recall ever having seen a 7200.10 500Gb with stiction, but literally hundreds with seized motor.

Similarly with 7200.11, but I HAVE actually seen 3 cases of stiction on 500Gb .11's vs 100+ seized

Why would it make sense to have him open the drive and double the DR cost (at least) for a less then 1% chance he may be able to bodge it up DIY-style?

I understand you wish to help out people to to DIY which is fine, a lot of the time your advice is sound. But with respect on this occasion, your advice is flawed, purely through lack of experience on physical problems with this particular series.

[BlackST]

100percent agree with Sean, with no more than 15 stictions in a lifetime on .10 series.

[drc]

If it's a stiction fault rather than a seized motor

How is he going to make that determination without opening the drive and (dangerously) attempting to manipulate the internal components?

How did you arrive at the diagnosis of "stuck spindle" rather than the much less expensive diagnosis of "stiction" without even seeing the drive?

Obviously the only proper method of diagnosis is in person. As others here have stated, our "internet diagnosis" is based on experience, and should of course be taken as "probably", not "definitely".

Since making a fully informed diagnosis will require the drive to be opened and manipulated, it doesn't make any difference whether this case is spindle seizure or stiction; either way it will need to go to a professional if data recovery is necessary. If data recovery is not necessary, then again it doesn't make any difference whether this case is spindle seizure or stiction; the user can dispose of the drive or bang it on the table all he wants.