Updating firmware on an undetectable drive

[Grimmkelly]

Hi folks.

My PC started freezing at the boot screen a few days ago. After some googling I tried disconnecting the hard drive - successfully allowing me to access BIOS (previously everthing would lock up and become unresponsive before i could even get to bios). The hard drive wasn't detected in bios. So after some more googling I discovered that this was quiet a common issue with my model of hard drive - a Seagate ST3500620AS - so they released a firmware update. Problem is there is no way for me to install it - its a windows exe file, and i cant start windows if bios cant detect a hard drive. Even if i created a boot disk, i can't access a boot menu unless my hard drive is disconnected! Is there any way to get the new firmware onto the hard drive or should i just bite the bullet and get a new one? Any help greatly appreciated.

[einstein9]

ur problem is not firmware download, and this will not fix it
send it to pro. for proper diagnose and help

no DIY

[Grimmkelly]

thanks einstein9, the reason i think its firmware is because of a few threads i've found around the net, and also the firware update on the hp website - "Seagate SATA Hard Disk Drive Firmware update resolves an issue where the hard disk drive may become inoperable after a power-on.", which is exactly what's happened.

Also, the data on the disk isnt that important to me, i've backed up all the important stuff not too long ago. So I don't mind if I screw things up (its as good as a paper weight at the moment, so it cant get much more screwed than that), and I quite enjoy my little diy projects

[labtech]

Those Seagate firmware updates suggested by manufacturers are applicable for situations when the drive is still working. It is a preventive sort of firmware upgrade.

The firmware failure and fix for when the drive actually sustained a failure is a different process or approach.

[Grimmkelly]

thanks labtech, would that be an approach or process achievable by a fairly tech saavy guy like me in his spare time or one strictly for professionals only?

[labtech]

Not sure how to answer your question. It is about experience, know-how and the tools available.

For a DIY, one must do research, learn about the failure, see if the failure pertains to the drive, search for a solution and apply it accordingly.

[Grimmkelly]

hmmm. i just wanted to possibly avoid the time consuming and tedious process of reinstalling the os, all my programs, configuring etc, and put my brain to work instead but it looks like my time's gonna be consumed either way. The more I think about it the more i think i'm just gonna buy a new hard drive, AND try working on fixing the old one after i'm back up and running.

[pcimage]

hmmm. i just wanted to possibly avoid the time consuming and tedious process of reinstalling the os, all my programs, configuring etc, and put my brain to work instead but it looks like my time's gonna be consumed either way. The more I think about it the more i think i'm just gonna buy a new hard drive, AND try working on fixing the old one after i'm back up and running.

Sounds like a good plan!

[fzabkar]

If your drive is affected by the 7200.11 BSY bug, then there is an easy, low cost DIY fix.

See http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/26306 ... t3500320as