Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB, no BIOS, but firmware ok

[Levis]

Hi to all,

I'm new in here, so be kind with me


I'll tell you my "story", hoping to find some hints for resolution.


The poor hdd is a 1TB Barracuda 7200.12, with firmware JC45.

The first problem was the spindle stucked, recognized by the classical sound, an identical video of this problem can ben found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXxtSUwC2wk

So I've taken the hdd to the Clean Room, carefully opened, unstuck the motor with an homemade tool similar to the one that a lot of services sells all over the web.

The hdd was revived, now it spins correctly.
But BIOS doesn't recognized it.

So I've attached the RS-232 and made some tests, spin up & down are working, also with "good sound".
I've thought it's in BSY state, so I made the procedure, but nothing.

If I try to call the Heads with h0 to h3 they answer, so they seems ok, but if I try to make a Measure Throughput at level 2 with T command it gives read/write error.

So here the problem.
The heads and actuator seems ok, it moves, there's no head crash on the platters and now the spindle is ok.

Where is the problem?
I don't know what test to make now, I've finished all my idea and science



Maybe some guru can help me.

Thank you.

[hddguy]

So I've taken the hdd to the Clean Room, carefully opened, unstuck the motor with an homemade tool similar to the one that a lot of services sells all over the web.

This worries me actually...

Right now there could be complications relating to the surface where it has met contact with heads, heads could be affected if they were in contact with media during your 'unstuck' process. The spindle could have seized during read/writing of SA causing SA problems also, bearing could be physically damaged so bearing release will not work well, the media could be rotating unevenly, like in eccentricity, HDD could be contaminated as a result of factors such as dust or hair.

There could be any number of problems present. I do not doubt that your homemade attempts would have potentially further complicated it.

Realistically you need this serviced by a professional. In my opinion no amount of advice or suggestions will help you here.

[Levis]

I think I've done the procedure carefully, the Clean Room was used other times successfully, but if it's possible now I need to know if there's another test I can make for a sure diagnosis.

Because without any doubt there's something wrong... but what..

Perhaps a try with mhdd? Or some other test command from terminal that show a more precise diagnosis?

I dunno so am I asking

[hddguy]

When you power now, does it give any response at RS232? Can you post this?

Also, does HDD emit knocking sounds, or does spindle stop spinning? Does HDD sound noisy when powered now?

[Levis]

When I power on, the response at RS232 is:

RST 0x20M

RW: Disc Ctlr Initialization Completed.

(P) SATA Reset

Then, if I send CTRL+Z, it gives the prompt:

F3 T>


No knocking sounds, the spindle doesn't stop spinning, only if I send the /2 and Z it gives the spin down complete and the spindle stops.
The HDD is no noisy, just the normal sound when an hdd power on.

[BlackST]

Per me si e' danneggiato qualcosa (fisico/logico) o e' saltato l'allineamento.
Hai controllato se la velocita' e' corretta e il segnale in uscita non e' disturbato ?

To me, there's something damaged (physical/logical) or platters are shifted.
Did you check for correct speed and signal for disturbance ?

[Levis]

La velocità mi sembra corretta confrontando con altri hard disk ma non saprei come avere un dato numerico (forse da terminale?) e non so come si misuri il segnale in uscita per i disturbi.

Ma l'allineamento può saltare anche se io ho semplicemente ruotato in senso antiorario lo spindle?
Davvero non ho toccato altro


The speed seems ok comparing to other hdd, but I don't know how to obtain a numeric measure (maybe with terminal?) and I don't know how to measure the signal for disturbance.

But, can alignment shift even if I have simply rotated counter-clockwise the spindle?
Really I didn't have touch anything else.

[BlackST]

Da console non si fa nulla, si verifica strumentalmente.
Per verificare il resto ti serve un DDA o simile .
Diciamo che non sei stato tu a modificare l'allineamento, mi sa tanto di disco che ha subito uno shock (se il problema e' li')

No console for checking speed, instruments needed.
For everything else a DDA or equivalent is needed.
I would guess it wasn't you damaging alignment, it seems likely a shocked/dropped disk (if the problem is there).

[Levis]

Ok, purtroppo non ho nessun tipo di strumentazione tipo oscilloscopi o simili.
Mi sa tanto che questo hdd diventerà un fermacarte

Ad ogni modo oggi novità, viene riconosciuto come un modello ST_M13FQBL e seriale QNR_BFW, ma ovviamente non riesco a farci altro.


Ok, I don't have this kind of tools like oscilloscopes or similar.
I think this hdd will be a new paper holder

Anyway today a news, it is recognized now as a model ST_M13FQBL with serial QNR_BFW, but obviously I can't make nothing.

[BlackST]

Senza strumenti e soprattutto know-how e' molto difficile.
Se non e' importante, purtroppo ci devi rinunciare, diversamente devi affidarti a qualcuno.

Without tools and K-H it is very difficult.
If data is not important , forget it - otherwise you better outsource.

[Levis]

Capito, era giusto per fare un po' di pratica e soprattutto capire in cosa eventualmente avevo sbagliato, anche perche' con altri hard disk con problemi minori rispetto allo spindle bloccato sono riuscito a fare qualcosa.

Ad ogni modo grazie per l'interessamento, provero' comunque a fare altri test.


Understood, it was for a little practice and for understanding what kind of error I have done, because with other hdd with minor problems compared to spindle stuck I have successfully completed the task.


Anyway tnx for interesting, I'll try to make other tests.


If anyone has other ideas, I will be very pleased to continue to destroy my hdd