WDC firmware fix w/o pricey tools?

[cgallery]

Someone brought me a Western Digital 1.5TB drive. It has been in a Mybook USB enclosure. It stopped working, so it was taken to Best Buy, where they (Best Buy) sent it to some outfit that told the owner it would cost $1500 - $2000 to get the data back.

It is "just" photos and not worth that much to the owner. So the owner got my name from a friend and brought me the drive.

I tossed it on my machine and ran MHDD and get an ABRT on every sector.

Any ideas on anything I can check w/o having PC3000 or similar tools?

[michael chiklis]

What's the smart status?
Press F8 in mhdd to see it.

[fzabkar]

Try using NazYura's tools to read the ROM and SA modules.

http://nazyura.hardw.net/000006.htm

http://nazyura.hardw.net/Mavr_fl.zip (PCB flash)
http://nazyura.hardw.net/Mavr_r.zip (SA MODs)
http://nazyura.hardw.net/Mavr_t.zip (SA tracks)

BTW, NazYura's tools expect that the drive will be attached to an IDE controller at the standard ISA ports (0x1F0 or 0x170), so you will need to select legacy or IDE compatibility mode for your SATA controller in BIOS.

[cgallery]

Try using NazYura's tools to read the ROM and SA modules.

http://nazyura.hardw.net/000006.htm

http://nazyura.hardw.net/Mavr_fl.zip (PCB flash)
http://nazyura.hardw.net/Mavr_r.zip (SA MODs)
http://nazyura.hardw.net/Mavr_t.zip (SA tracks)

BTW, NazYura's tools expect that the drive will be attached to an IDE controller at the standard ISA ports (0x1F0 or 0x170), so you will need to select legacy or IDE compatibility mode for your SATA controller in BIOS.

*******************************************
* Read Flash On Hdd-WD (Marvel-CPU) *
* (C)NazYura Krasnodar 2005 *
* Please, Send Me Log File From WD-Marvel *
* To Email: nazyura@rambler.ru *
*******************************************

* [ Native Status = FFFF000B004457B050 ]

* Module ID:01H Len = 0200H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
*** 01H Modules Are Founds ***
Status = 000000-50-50

----------

*******************************************
* Read Modules On Hdd-WD (Marvel-CPU) *
* (C)NazYura Krasnodar 2005 *
* Please, Send Me Log File From WD-Marvel *
* To Email: nazyura@rambler.ru *
*******************************************

* [ Native Status = FFFF000B004457B050 ]

Module ID:00H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:01H Len = 0018H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:02H Len = 0004H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:03H Len = 005FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:04H Len = 2A1DH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:05H Len = 2A1DH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:06H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:07H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:08H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:09H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:0AH Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:0BH Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:0CH Len = 000AH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:0DH Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:0EH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:0FH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:10H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:11H Len = 039EH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:12H Len = 0031H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:13H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:14H Len = 001DH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:15H Len = 0012H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:16H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:17H Len = 003FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:18H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:19H Len = 001FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:1AH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:1BH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:1CH Len = 0030H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:1DH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:1EH Len = 0016H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:1FH Len = 0015H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:20H Len = 007CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:21H Len = 007CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:22H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:23H Len = 007CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:24H Len = 007CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:25H Len = 0101H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:26H Len = 0081H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:27H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:28H Len = 0010H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:29H Len = 0006H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:2AH Len = 0006H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:2BH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:2CH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:2DH Len = 01C2H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:2EH Len = 01C2H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:2FH Len = 0006H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:30H Len = 0002H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:31H Len = 06B6H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:32H Len = 0020H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:33H Len = 0A00H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:34H Len = 0017H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:35H Len = 000AH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:36H Len = 000EH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:37H Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:38H Len = 0101H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:39H Len = 0011H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:3AH Len = 000CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:3BH Len = 0010H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:3CH Len = 0010H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:3DH Len = 0010H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:3EH Len = 0010H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:3FH Len = 0010H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:40H Len = 0084H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:41H Len = 0084H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:42H Len = 0084H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:43H Len = 0084H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:44H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:45H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:46H Len = 0084H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:47H Len = 0002H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:48H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:49H Len = 0004H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:4AH Len = 000DH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:4BH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:4CH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:4DH Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:4EH Len = 02B4H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:4FH Len = 0002H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:50H Len = 0004H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:51H Len = 0004H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:52H Len = 0004H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:53H Len = 0004H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:54H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:55H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:56H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:57H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:58H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:59H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:5AH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:5BH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:5CH Len = 0122H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:5DH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:5EH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:5FH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:60H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:61H Len = 001DH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:62H Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:63H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:64H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:65H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:66H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:67H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:68H Len = 007CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:69H Len = 007CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:6AH Len = 007CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:6BH Len = 0004H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:6CH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:6DH Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:6EH Len = 0002H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:6FH Len = 0C98H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:70H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:71H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:72H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:73H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:74H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:75H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:76H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:77H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:78H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:79H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:7AH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:7BH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:7CH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:7DH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:7EH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:7FH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:80H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:81H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:82H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:83H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:84H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:85H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:86H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:87H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:88H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:89H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:8AH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:8BH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:8CH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:8DH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:8EH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:8FH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:90H Len = 0096H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:91H Len = 0008H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:92H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:93H Len = 000CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:94H Len = 000AH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:95H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:96H Len = 007AH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:97H Len = 0018H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:98H Len = 0018H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:99H Len = 000CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:9AH Len = 003CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:9BH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:9CH Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:9DH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:9EH Len = 0005H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:9FH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:A0H Len = 0040H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:A1H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:A2H Len = 00ADH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:A3H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:A4H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:A5H Len = 0033H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:A6H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:A7H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:A8H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:A9H Len = 0078H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:AAH Len = 00C5H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:ABH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:ACH Len = 00CFH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:ADH Len = 0022H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:AEH Len = 0114H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:AFH Len = 03E8H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:B0H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:B1H Len = 0016H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:B2H Len = 001AH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:B3H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:B4H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:B5H Len = 00FFH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:B6H Len = 00ECH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:B7H Len = 0013H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:B8H Len = 0002H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:B9H Len = 00CDH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:BAH Len = 00D1H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:BBH Len = 00B3H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:BCH Len = 00CAH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:BDH Len = 0109H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:BEH Len = 001BH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:BFH Len = 0008H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C0H Len = 007AH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C1H Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C2H Len = 0002H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C3H Len = 0174H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C4H Len = 01B7H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C5H Len = 00E0H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C6H Len = 009BH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C7H Len = 0001H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C8H Len = 018BH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:C9H Len = 0052H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:CAH Len = 000CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:CBH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:CCH Len = 000CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:CDH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:CEH Len = 0281H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:CFH Len = 000CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:D0H Len = 00B0H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:D1H Len = 010CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:D2H Len = 009FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:D3H Len = 008CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:D4H Len = 009CH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:D5H Len = 00D6H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:D6H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:D7H Len = 00EAH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:D8H Len = 0090H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:D9H Len = 00E6H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:DAH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:DBH Len = 00EDH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:DCH Len = 00A5H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:DDH Len = 00E6H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:DEH Len = 00F9H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:DFH Len = 0102H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E0H Len = 09C4H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E1H Len = 09C4H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E2H Len = 09C4H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E3H Len = 09C4H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E4H Len = 09C4H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E5H Len = 09C4H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E6H Len = 0043H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E7H Len = 0020H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E8H Len = 041FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:E9H Len = 041FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:EAH Len = 041FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:EBH Len = 041FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:ECH Len = 041FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:EDH Len = 041FH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:EEH Len = 0004H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:EFH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 048151-51-51
Module ID:F0H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:F1H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:F2H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:F3H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:F4H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:F5H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:F6H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:F7H Len = 00E6H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:F8H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
Module ID:F9H Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:FAH Len = 0100H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:FBH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
* Module ID:FCH Len = 0004H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:FDH Len = 0040H Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
* Module ID:FEH Len = 05DCH Sectors Status = 000000-50-50
Module ID:FFH Len = 0000H Sectors Status = 044637-51-51
*** 98H Modules Are Founds ***
Status = 044637-51-51

----------

*******************************************
* Read Tracks On Hdd-WD (Marvel-CPU) *
* (C)NazYura Krasnodar 2005 *
* Please, Send Me Log File From WD-Marvel *
* To Email: nazyura@rambler.ru *
*******************************************

* [ Native Status = FFFF000B004457B050 ]

Error: !!! Drive Busy Time Out Expired !!!
 Error: !!! Drive Busy Time Out Expired !!!
 Status: -XX-XX

[cgallery]

What's the smart status?
Press F8 in mhdd to see it.

[cgallery]

The ZIP file w/ the modules is here:

http://www.jpthien.com/temp/wd-wcaza3475576.zip

It is 6.5-MB.

[jono-ats]

It could be bad Relo, but I doubt it, since the checksum is OK.

More likely it's a weak head.

[fzabkar]

FWIW, MODs 20h and 21h are showing that the SMART Command Timeout attribute has hit its threshold. That's one of the hidden attributes that isn't reported to the user.

Code:

ID   Typ   Cur  Worst  Raw             Description

1   2F    200  200    00000000000000  Read Error Rate
3   27    253  253    000000000003F8  Spin-Up Time
4   32     97   97    00000000000F6B  Start/Stop Count
5   33    200  200    00000000000000  Reallocated Sector Count
7   2E    191  191    00000000000355  Seek Error Rate
9   32     97   97    0000000000096F  Power-On Hours
A   32    100  100    00000000000000  Spin Retry Count
B   32    100  100    00000000000000  Calibration Retry Count
C   32     97   97    00000000000F69  Power Cycle Count
B8   B2 H  100  100    00000000000000  End-to-End Error
BB   B2 H  100  100    00000000000000  Reported Uncorrectable Errors
BC   B2 H    1    1    0000DF00E10151  Command Timeout
BE   A2 H   68   52    00000000000020  Airflow Temperature
C0   32    200  200    000000000000A0  Power-off Retract Count
C1   32    197  197    0000000000266E  Load/Unload Cycle Count
C2   22    118  102    00000000000020  Temperature
C3   B6 H  100  253    00000000000000  Hardware ECC Recovered
C4   32    200  200    00000000000000  Reallocation Event Count
C5   32    200  200    00000000000002  Current Pending Sector Count
C6   30    200  200    00000000000002  Offline Uncorrectable
C7   32    200  200    00000000000000  UltraDMA CRC Error Count
C8    8    200  200    00000000000003  Write Error Rate
F0   B2 H   99   99    00000000000371  Head Flying Hours
F1   B2 H  200  200    000000102A61AA  Total LBAs Written
F2   B2 H  200  200    0000000BAD411D  Total LBAs Read


[cgallery]

It could be bad Relo, but I doubt it, since the checksum is OK.

More likely it's a weak head.

Given the way the drive acts otherwise (delays after ID and EID and SCAN, sometimes timeout on any of those) I'm sort of guessing it is a weak head.

But in this case, the weak head has lead to firmware issues too?

[jono-ats]

If this WD drive doesn't pass its POST test, then the translator is not loaded and there is no access to LBAs, but there is access to the FW modules. The most common cause is a weak head.

[pcimage]

If this WD drive doesn't pass its POST test, then the translator is not loaded and there is no access to LBAs, but there is access to the FW modules. The most common cause is a weak head.

+1 for weak head(s) preventing the translator initialising properly.

Even so, $1500-2000 is very steep. We would charge half that for this case.

[microsoftengineer]

I would test PCB also , corrupted Buffer can give the same effect.

[Cleanroom]

If this WD drive doesn't pass its POST test, then the translator is not loaded and there is no access to LBAs, but there is access to the FW modules. The most common cause is a weak head.

+1 for weak head(s) preventing the translator initialising properly.

Even so, $1500-2000 is very steep. We would charge half that for this case.

well from best buy that is probably cheap since it is really ontrack ( They build a best buy lab in Tennessee or Alabama or something for all geek squad DR) doing the work. So Ontrack gets a cut, Best Buy get a cut, plus the overpricing of it being a retail store...

But i agree with Jono as well.. I bet on a weak head.

[arztt]

I had exactly the same problem with my 1,5 TB WD15EADS some time ago.
Head test with WDR Demo was ok, but very slow.
The drive was detected under Windows but I couldn't write or read it.

WDR Demo couldn't even read the P-List

I did clear G-List and recalculate translator, but it didnt help.

Then I did merge G to P (even if G-List was empty), which took about 15 minutes and resultet in an error.
Without repowering the drive I did ReMerge G to P and it succeeded after 3 minutes or so.

I could read P-List now and restarted the drive.
It was detected immediately by Windows and was like new with all data on it.

It's still working nicely now.

[cgallery]

Well, for the above post i will assume that you have decided to go for the "free" route.

All modules that were found on the drive apears to have been read ok.
Now you should see if the checksum for them is correct.
You should have a copy of the SA mods done by this tool :

http://nazyura.hardw.net/Mavr_r.zip

Plese upload those modules here (zip them or use winrar) for checksum checking and for future use if you end up messing them up with DIY firmware fixing.

Next step i would fetch a copy of WDR demo from here :

http://malthus.zapto.org/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=33

Select your port on config, and detect the drive.
Use the ROYL utility and on the menu of the Window do a "Clear G-List" (icon with a umbrella) and then a "Recalculate translator" (icon with a bell).
Try MHDD again and see if it helps.

Sorry for the delay, I had to get an XP machine ready for this process.

I was able to follow these procedures, it seemed like everything worked as it should (got SUCCESS messages) and the drive is no better but at least seems no worse.

Hmmm...

[cgallery]

I had exactly the same problem with my 1,5 TB WD15EADS some time ago.
Head test with WDR Demo was ok, but very slow.
The drive was detected under Windows but I couldn't write or read it.

WDR Demo couldn't even read the P-List

I did clear G-List and recalculate translator, but it didnt help.

Then I did merge G to P (even if G-List was empty), which took about 15 minutes and resultet in an error.
Without repowering the drive I did ReMerge G to P and it succeeded after 3 minutes or so.

I could read P-List now and restarted the drive.
It was detected immediately by Windows and was like new with all data on it.

It's still working nicely now.

The WDR Demo doesn't seem to offer a means of merging G to P. I imagine you used some other software to perform that step?

[arztt]

I had exactly the same problem with my 1,5 TB WD15EADS some time ago.
Head test with WDR Demo was ok, but very slow.
The drive was detected under Windows but I couldn't write or read it.

WDR Demo couldn't even read the P-List

I did clear G-List and recalculate translator, but it didnt help.

Then I did merge G to P (even if G-List was empty), which took about 15 minutes and resultet in an error.
Without repowering the drive I did ReMerge G to P and it succeeded after 3 minutes or so.

I could read P-List now and restarted the drive.
It was detected immediately by Windows and was like new with all data on it.

It's still working nicely now.

The WDR Demo doesn't seem to offer a means of merging G to P. I imagine you used some other software to perform that step?

I used WDR Demo too. You need to right-click your mouse to open the options menu.
Go to Actions -> Super Format -> Merge G to P
Maybe it will take long (10-30 minutes), just be patient, even if nothing is shown in the status window or if it just closes.
Just wait for a success or error message in the log.
After this do Actions -> Super Format -> ReMerge G to P

Then re-power the drive.

Good luck!

[cgallery]

I used WDR Demo too. You need to right-click your mouse to open the options menu.
Go to Actions -> Super Format -> Merge G to P
Maybe it will take long (10-30 minutes), just be patient, even if nothing is shown in the status window or if it just closes.
Just wait for a success or error message in the log.
After this do Actions -> Super Format -> ReMerge G to P

Then re-power the drive.

Good luck!

Unfortunately, no joy. Both the Merge G to P and the ReMerge G to P ran pretty quickly (a few seconds). But the drive is still showing ABRT's.

Stupid question: The software has a checkmark under "Safe Mode." It is actually making changes, right? I don't have to disable safe mode to make it commit the changes, do I?

Any other ideas or anything else anyone wants to see from WDR Demo, I'm happy to oblige.

[hhddrec]

Maybe FW corruption, i thant case "regen trans" can solve this isue, but maybe weak heads too, i that case clean room a head exchange.

[cgallery]

I can read the P-List, I get
>>> All 1902, tracks 1177, sectors 724.

I can read the G-List (I think), but it is empty. I guess that makes sense as SMART shows no grown defects?

I can read the T-List, I get Amount Defects 420, then:

Head 0 84
Head 1 84
Head 2 84
Head 3 84.


And I can do the head write test, there are heads 0..4, and they seem to test fine.

Maybe it is a bad head.