Dead 3Tb Seagate (ST3000DM001)

[Heichef]

Hi!

Last week my Seagate ST3000DM001 died when connecting it through a docking station to an HDTV.
The drive does not spin anymore nor does it make any noise. Immediately after the accident, the activity LED on the docking station went off every time I tried to plug the drive on it.
I also tried using the disk with an external hard drive case and the same happened, the LED couldn't even turn on.
Afterwards, I tried to connect the drive internally on my computer, but the drive remained dead. The strange thing is that now the drive does not prevent the LED turning on on the docking station and the external case. Something changed, and probably not a very good sign...
After reading numerous threads on this forum I asked for some help on how to use a multimeter and tested the 5v and 12v diodes (on 200 ohms).
The 5v diode (QA RB13) appeared as faulty (the multimeter beeped). Strangely, after removing the 5v diode, and testing it outside the board, I noticed that it was in good condition.
Even stranger is that measuring the diode connections on the board (now diode-free) the multimeter beeps...
Is it the sign that the board is short-circuited?
The 12v diode is in good shape according to multimeter readings.
Is it worth to buy a new PCB and ask for a ROM and firmware transfer or is it certain that there is some kind of internal opamp damage on the drive?

Thank you in advance.

[fzabkar]

Immediately after the accident, the activity LED on the docking station went off every time I tried to plug the drive on it.
I also tried using the disk with an external hard drive case and the same happened, the LED couldn't even turn on.
Afterwards, I tried to connect the drive internally on my computer, but the drive remained dead. The strange thing is that now the drive does not prevent the LED turning on on the docking station and the external case. Something changed, and probably not a very good sign...

I suspect that there is a zero-ohm resistor in series with the 5V TVS diode. This resistor was probably intact initially, causing the power supply to see a short circuit on the HDD. However, your repeated attempts to power up your drive have probably caused the resistor to go open circuit (like a fuse).

Could we see a photo of the PCB?

[Heichef]

Thank you for your quick reply.
I uploaded a picture of my PCB, but I don't know if it is sufficiently clear. Please let me know if you need more detailed pictures.

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[fzabkar]

There are 4 zero-ohm resistors near the SATA power connector. The two on the right are probably open circuit.

Unfortunately you say that there is still a short circuit at the 5V TVS diode pads. This points to a failure of one or more components on the +5V supply. Potential culprits would include the motor controller and the two LX7157B PWM controller ICs adjacent to the R47 coils. I suspect that the chip near the 1R2 coil may also be powered from +5V, as well as the 6855A chip near the jumper block.

The flash memory is the chip located above and in between the SDRAM and MCU. Measure the resistance between its power pins (pins #4 and #8).

The upper rightmost three pins in the preamp contacts appear to be the +5V, ground, and -5V pins for the preamp. You might like to do resistance checks at these points with the PCB mounted on the drive. This will tell you if the preamp is shorted.

EN25S40, Eon Silicon Solution, marking cFeon S40-75GIP, 4 Megabit 1.8V Serial Flash Memory with 4Kbyte Uniform Sector:
http://www.essi.com.tw/upfile/p20122717317.pdf

LX7157B, Microsemi (MSC), step-down PWM regulator IC with integrated high side P-Ch MOSFET
and low side N-CH MOSFET, 2.2MHz, 3V to 5.5V:
http://www.microsemi.com/document-porta ... -lx7157bds

[Heichef]

I measured the components as you indicated.

Each one of the four 0-ohms resistors state 1 ohm.
Pins #4 - #8 state 759K.
I still didn't measure the preamp contacts, but can this measurement risk the preamp in any way?

Thank you for your help.

[fzabkar]

If by "1 ohm", you mean 1.0, then that will be the resistance of your meter leads, in which case the resistors are OK. However, if you mean "1", then this is indicating that the meter has overranged, in which case both resistors are open and I would expect that there will be a problem on both the +5V and +12V supplies.

As for risk to the preamp, IMO that's just DR mythology that has taken root long ago and is taking forever to die. Sure, the heads are susceptible to ESD, but if you take standard ESD precautions, then I can't see why the preamp is any more delicate than any other IC, CMOS or otherwise. In any case, you will be testing the IC's +/-5V power pins with a multimeter whose open circuit voltage is 0.55V on the 200 ohms range, and whose short circuit current is only 100uA.

[rockeater]

fzabkar,
I read your posts above and I am impressed with your knowledge. Plus you probably have also local (Australian) knowledge and therefore I would like to ask you for your opinion on the matter of my failed Seagate ST3000DM001 which is here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30609. The drive spins but is not seen by OS.
Do you have any idea what went wrong there?
Can it be investigated by me without taking off the label so that warranty is not lost?
Have you heard of Seagate offering data recovery on these drives? Particularly here in Australia.
Cheers and thanks

[fzabkar]

ISTM that the most likely problem is an internal one. Unfortunately my experience is mostly electronics related. You can try to obtain a terminal report from the drive via its serial port, but I suspect that it will be merely a post mortem exercise. Data recovery in Australia is not cheap.

[sensei_]

fzabkar,
I read your posts above and I am impressed with your knowledge. Plus you probably have also local (Australian) knowledge and therefore I would like to ask you for your opinion on the matter of my failed Seagate ST3000DM001 which is here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30609. The drive spins but is not seen by OS.
Do you have any idea what went wrong there?
Can it be investigated by me without taking off the label so that warranty is not lost?
Have you heard of Seagate offering data recovery on these drives? Particularly here in Australia.
Cheers and thanks

Whilst I am unable to tell you the problem with your drive, what I can tell you is that Seagate indeed offers data recovery services on the drives. As for where its located or what the cost is, I am also in the process of finding out myself.

I also have the same drive that has failed, with the notorious clicking sounds. This can replicated when I dock the drive either with the original expansion enclosure, or an aftermarket dock. The drive will click for exactly 11 times with a 1 second break in between each click. From what I have been told and previously experienced, it is a head failure. But I am no data recovery/hdd expert.

[rockeater]

I contacted Seagate and they said that it should not be expensive to recover the data as I myself got two-thirds of it off the drive already.
They suggested to contact Dr. PC who does this for themunder contract in Australia.

Upon contacting Dr. PC, I was told by a girl answering phone that it will cost $70 for them to examine the drive but... they only do software data recovery (ie. when you accidentally delete the data).
As mine appears to have failed, they will have to send it to Amsterdam clean room and that it will cost only $800 to do that (plus the original $70).
Plus postage. So only about $1000 all up.

I can now confirm that my drive is not seen by BIOS and to me it appears to be an electrical fault (drive still spins and makes right head seeking data noises).
Just no equipment to which it is connected works (no boot if connected internally via SATA cable).

I might have to get a spare board from someone who has a mechanically dead drive.
I could use the board to get the data and then send a drive to the donor for him to use heads from mine to get his data.

Any volunteers?

[ShaneWard]

If you managed to get your drive up and running again, but its making clicking sounds and that then its more likely the preamp inside the drive has been killed by the over voltage from power supply. There is practically nothing you can do now as this will require new read/write heads, cleanroom work and such. Better dig out the backup if you got any.

Shane

[fzabkar]

@rockeater, I would start by getting a terminal log from the drive. You'll need a serial TTL adapter. That should help others to diagnose your problem. ISTM that you would be wasting money on a PCB.

[rockeater]

@rockeater, I would start by getting a terminal log from the drive. You'll need a serial TTL adapter. That should help others to diagnose your problem. ISTM that you would be wasting money on a PCB.

I will go to the forum's resource vault to get some info on this, make up an adapter and publish the results.
Cheers and thanks

[rockeater]

@rockeater, I would start by getting a terminal log from the drive. You'll need a serial TTL adapter. That should help others to diagnose your problem. ISTM that you would be wasting money on a PCB.

fzabkar,
I got myself the TTL adapter.
Although there is zillions of tutorial on the internets about 7200.11 drives there is very little about 7200.14.
What commands should I use to get the relevant info out of it?
Cheers

[day1data]

You won't have to input anything into terminal just copy and paste what it outputs here.

I'm a bit confused. Have you got the drive spinning now? If so when you put your ear up to the drive are you hearing any clicking? These drives are known for having bad pre amp / heads.

[rockeater]

You won't have to input anything into terminal just copy and paste what it outputs here.

I'm a bit confused. Have you got the drive spinning now? If so when you put your ear up to the drive are you hearing any clicking? These drives are known for having bad pre amp / heads.

After reading a bit more about it all, I realised that for 7200.14 I need 1,8V (or even 2,5V) TTL converter unit. Have ordered one and I am now waiting for delivery.

Yes, I have drive spinning.
It always was spinning. No strange noises or clicking.
Listening to it, it sounds just like a normal drive - just not seen in BIOS.

[rockeater]

You won't have to input anything into terminal just copy and paste what it outputs here.

I'm a bit confused. Have you got the drive spinning now? If so when you put your ear up to the drive are you hearing any clicking? These drives are known for having bad pre amp / heads.

After reading a bit more about it all, I realised that for 7200.14 I need 1,8V (or even 2,5V) TTL converter unit. Have ordered one and I am now waiting for delivery.

Yes, I have drive spinning.
It always was spinning. No strange noises or clicking.
Listening to it, it sounds just like a normal drive - just not seen in BIOS.

And what a wealth of information one can receive from the serial port...

Boot 0x40M
Spin Up
Trans.

Spin Up
SpinOK
(P) SATA Reset

That is all

[lcoughey]

Looks like it could be a "simple" job for a pro with the right tools and experience with these drives.

[indomitus]

Hi!

Last week my Seagate ST3000DM001 died when connecting it through a docking station to an HDTV.
The drive does not spin anymore nor does it make any noise. Immediately after the accident, the activity LED on the docking station went off every time I tried to plug the drive on it.
I also tried using the disk with an external hard drive case and the same happened, the LED couldn't even turn on.
Afterwards, I tried to connect the drive internally on my computer, but the drive remained dead. The strange thing is that now the drive does not prevent the LED turning on on the docking station and the external case. Something changed, and probably not a very good sign...
After reading numerous threads on this forum I asked for some help on how to use a multimeter and tested the 5v and 12v diodes (on 200 ohms).
The 5v diode (QA RB13) appeared as faulty (the multimeter beeped). Strangely, after removing the 5v diode, and testing it outside the board, I noticed that it was in good condition.
Even stranger is that measuring the diode connections on the board (now diode-free) the multimeter beeps...
Is it the sign that the board is short-circuited?
The 12v diode is in good shape according to multimeter readings.
Is it worth to buy a new PCB and ask for a ROM and firmware transfer or is it certain that there is some kind of internal opamp damage on the drive?

Thank you in advance.

HEllo... is the typical "asian spit" in seagate drives. You must carefully sanding and clean it with alcohol (marked zone in black). Believe me, I saved several drives with that method. Good Luck.

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