Seagate HDD failure. PLEASE HELP!

[Hiz]

ST31000333AS
Firmware: SD35
No spin. Beeping Sound.

I can terminal to the drive but fail to make any headway beyond spin down with the board physically separated from the drive.

Plz help

Update:
ASCII Diag mode
F3 T>/2
F3 2>Z
Spin Down Complete
Elapsed Time 0.106 msecs
F3 2>U

And the beeping returns It's been over 3 minutes and nothing new has popped up in my terminal session. Thoughts?

Update 2:

Finally something popped up and the drive stopped beeping:

DiagError 00006008
Spin Up Error
Elapsed Time 6 mins 58 secs
R/W Status 2 R/W Error 84150180

Anyone knows the right diagnosis?

Is there anything that can be done to fix it?
Thanks!

Attachments

hdd SEAGATE.jpg (35.98 KiB) Viewed 10488 times

[dmarques]

If your drive does not spin and emits beeping sound, I would go for spindle, but you need to open the drive and check that manually.

[Hiz]

Thank you dmarques but I am afraid I can't go that far.

[labtech]

If understanding the drive's internal architecture, there is a simple trick in determining whether spindle spins or not without opening the drive.

Can't tell more...

[northwind]

Yes and it only works for Seagates

I would vote for spindle too and if that's the case, you have quite a mess in your hands...

If you don't mind sending the drive, I'd be happy to take a look.

[Hiz]

If understanding the drive's internal architecture, there is a simple trick in determining whether spindle spins or not without opening the drive.

Can't tell more...

You are of a great help!
Can't tell how much of a help you are....

[Friedrich]

If understanding the drive's internal architecture, there is a simple trick in determining whether spindle spins or not without opening the drive.

Can't tell more...

Do you mean the ^U command in terminal?

[labtech]

1) Sarcasm does not help. At least I told you something and that it is possible to find out one way or another. Should appreciate it.
2) Does not involve software or even powering the drive on.

Spin up command could tell you something as well.

[Friedrich]

Code:

DiagError 00006008
Spin Up Error
Elapsed Time 6 mins 58 secs
R/W Status 2 R/W Error 84150180

This can easily be a pcb problem, probably the smooth motor chip.
Try to get a good working pcb and swap the 25p40 flash rom chip from your bad pcb into the good pcb, but if doesn't work it means the issue is internal.

[labtech]

If the drive buzzes, it is not a PCB issue.

Let's cut to the chase. 90% or higher chances are the drive has a spindle issue. There is not much you can do on your own to recover the data. If you want a solution that professionals use to recover data from failures such as your drive's, then check this link: http://www.hddsurgery.com/tool/hdds-spi ... 7200-10-11
This is the kind of tool necesary to attempt data recovery. But that is only let's say 70% of the battle, as there could be other issues besides the spindle itself.

There could be one small rare exception where the failure is much more delicate where that tool is not necessary, but then still have to check manually, and it involves opening the drive in a cleanroom environment, and having some skills to be able to examine and address whatever issues there may be.

If you want to fix it, then you are wasting your time. Just trash it. Not worth the time or money.

Question: was this drive dropped?

[Hiz]

Thank you all for your advises.
I really appreciate your responses. Currently I am trying to find a pcb replacement just for a try out. Bottom line, I only need the data and not the drive itself. Labtech, for sure I am going to see the link you are referring to. By the way, the drive has not been dropped. I had a laptop that stopped while it was downloading movies on the hdd and I am facing this problem ever since.
Thank you guys, I will keep in touch.

[Friedrich]

If understanding the drive's internal architecture, there is a simple trick in determining whether spindle spins or not without opening the drive.

Can't tell more...

Maybe i understood what are you talking about.
To know if the motor is stucked or not, simple shake the drive clockwise and counterclockwise quickly with power off, if you feel the platter move a little bit is ok, if you dont feel no movement the motor probably is stucked.
Am i right?

[Keatah]

Yep - if you're "good" enough to feel the difference between a rotating and non-rotating platter.

If not there are other methods.

[labtech]

If understanding the drive's internal architecture, there is a simple trick in determining whether spindle spins or not without opening the drive.

Can't tell more...

Maybe i understood what are you talking about.
To know if the motor is stucked or not, simple shake the drive clockwise and counterclockwise quickly with power off, if you feel the platter move a little bit is ok, if you dont feel no movement the motor probably is stucked.
Am i right?

Try it out and you will now

[Keatah]

I even built a cheap-o device that can tell if the platters are freewheeling by simply pointing it at the disk. No power applied, no physical contact, screws in place, cover on, factory sealed. And that's no joke.

[Friedrich]

I want to ask you if this shaking trick is for all seagate hard drive.
It is also for barracudas green?

[labtech]

I want to ask you if this shaking trick is for all seagate hard drive.
It is also for barracudas green?

Not all Seagates. It depends on architecture.
The Green series is similar in design as .11

[yair25m]

Did you solved this issue. I got the same problem and would like to hear some advice.

[mr_spokk]

I'll tell you a secret...put your ear against it.....scchh don't tell any one
If the drive don't spin up it's bad Pcb or more likely stucked spindle...and in very rare cases sticktion.
Get a Pcb that match, if it spins up it's a bad Pcb, if not stucked spindle or sticktion...both cases not DIY.