Seagate ST3160318AS firmware repair

[bluefog68]

Hi,
I have a Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 drive. Few months ago it suddenly started giving very low speeds (<3 MB/s). I thought it was a firmware problem.So, I upgraded the firmware from CC38 to CC49 and it was back to normal. A few days ago it again went very slow. I thought re installing the firmware would do the trick. But the firmware update utility said that it wont download the firmware as it was already updated. The drive is still accessible, but gives extremely low speeds. Is there a way out to repair/reinstall the firmware?
Thnx in advance,
Bluefog68

[Nick_CT]

Why do you think the issue is a firmware problem? Probably some physical issue with the drive.

Look at the SMART data and see if anything shows an obvious problem.

Backup anything important on the drive.

[Vulcan]

@bluefog68,

I completely agree with Nick_CT. Since you say it is still readable, I suggest you backup what you need from that disk now. Just to add a comment:

Is there a way out to repair/reinstall the firmware?

As Nick_CT said, it's unlikely that firmware is actually the true cause of your problem.

However, have a read of this thread to see why there is much more to firmware repair, then you might guess...

diy-what-the-big-deal-t12671.html

[fzabkar]

Could you upload a HD Tune read benchmark graph?

If it is a flat line, then your drive may be running in PIO mode. If so, then your SMART data may provide an explanation.

[Vulcan]

@fzabkar,

Agreed, those are good things to check, Franc That hypothesis would seem to fit and would explain why the effect of the f/w update would only be temporary.

[BlackST]

On .12 it is quite common. The problem can be physical or not but the fix is not by fw update. P.s. You may have 'something' in your pc that 'damage' the drive.

[bluefog68]

Hi,
Thanks everyone for the response. I thought it was a f/w problem because it started to work fine after the update. By the way, i have already backed up everything on the drive. I will soon upload the graph.

[bluefog68]

Hi,
I have attached the read benchmark test (HD Tune). HD Tune also shows that this device has unstable sectors(3) under "health" tab. What does this mean?
Thanks in advance

Attachments

[bluefog68]

Hi,
Here's the S.M.A.R.T. Data.
ST3160318AS-9VY2NLED-SMART.mht
HDDScan S.M.A.R.T. Report
Model: ST3160318AS
Firmware: CC49
Serial: 9VY2NLED
LBA: 312581808

Report By: HDDScan for Windows version 3.3
Report Date: 3/13/2012 9:18:43 PM


Num Attribute Name Value Worst Raw(hex) Threshold

001Raw Read Error Rate 1140990000000467-9220006

003Spin Up Time 0990970000000000-0000000

004Start/Stop Count 1001000000000000-03F7020

005Reallocation Sector Count 1001000000000000-0000036

007Seek Error Rate 05805400001100A6-899A030

009Power-On Hours Count 1001000000000000-01D1000

010Spin Retry Count 1001000000000000-0000097

012Device Power Cycle Count 1001000000000000-01FB020

183SATA Downshift Error Count1001000000000000-0000000

184End To End Error Count 1001000000000000-0000099

187Reported Uncorrectable Error 0870870000000000-000D000

188Reported Command Timeouts 1000990000000002-0008000

189High Fly Writes 1001000000000000-0000000

190Airflow Temperature 06605234 C 045

190Airflow Temperature Minimum06605234 C045

190Airflow Temperature Maximum06605235 C045

194HDA Temperature 03404834 C 000

194HDA Temperature Minimum03404813 C000

194HDA Temperature Maximum03404852 C000

195Error Rate0520450000000467-9220000

197Current Pending Errors Count 1001000000000000-0003000

198Uncorrectable Errors Count 1001000000000000-0003000

199UltraDMA CRC Errors 2002000000000000-0000000

240Heads Flying Hours 1002531AA1530000-05E7000

241Total Host Writes 10025300000096BC-80F5000

242Total Host Reads 1002530000002333-4832000

Current Pending Errors Count and Uncorrectable Errors Count show problems.