Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 (ST31000333AS) 1000 Gbytes Problem

[enon97]

Hello!

Someone gave me his "old" HDD because it was broken, so I would want to repair it, I don't care about the data, and I do it just for fun. (And if I win a free 1TB HDD ) So, here is the problem:

I just updated the firmware, without looking for another thing. It was succesful but the drive is not repaired at all. I can't even format the drive, it gave a variety of errors on Windows, so I decided to reset to Zero the MBR with Hiren's Boot. Now Windows tries to format it, but says "Windows couldn't complete the format". Before of reseting the MBR, Windows said "Format failed because a device I/O error". So I think that's very strange.

I thought that this may be caused for some dirty contacts, so I dissambled the PCB of the HDD and I cleaned it with Isopropilic Alcohol. The I mounted it and it's reconised in the BIOS, but not in Windows. (Both Windows Explorer and Disk Manager.)

I'm trying to fix it in my experiments pc, that has Windows 10 installed. I also have my main computer, a laptop with Windows 8.1.

Some ideas?


Thanks,

enon97

(Sorry for my bad English, but I'm from Spain.)

[Jano952]

well, maybe you can start by sending us TTL RS-232 Terminal log ?

[enon97]

Tell me how please.

You have to keep in mind that I don't have any professional stuff to repair the drive.

Regards.

[jerovsek]

you can try with mhdd on your hiren's boot
you Will also need ttl adapter.
If you don't wan't to spend money for tools, then the best way is to sll this drive on ebay and earn some money

[enon97]

I can tell someone for lend me the tools. I will try mhdd. It's better to run it on Hirens or to download an updated version of its webpage?

What tools should I have?


Thanks.

(How do I get that log?)

[enon97]

I've tried with MHDD, and the first 475 "Blocks" are fine, but then I got a lot of !!!!!!!! and the it gives a catastrophical error.

Any ideas?

[labtech]

Common issue on your model drive. Has a firmware translation problem.
Use search box with keywords like "terminal" to get a sense of what it is going on.

[enon97]

So, I just ruined the drive because I updated the firmware succesfully?

The adaptor is too expesinve. I've heard I can build one with and old nokia conector cable, is that true?

I will look at those posts.

Thanks a lot.

Will be this very complicated?

Are you sure that it's a firmware problem? I don't get the BSY error...

Regards.

EDIT: Building it for myselft seems to be impossible. Does this cable work? (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-CP2102-USB ... 3980wt_814)

[HaQue]

DIY stands for "Do It Yourself"

so this means that some of it you are going to have to do some work. The question you asked:

I've heard I can build one with and old nokia conector cable, is that true?

well I put "hard drive serial nokia" in google, like you should have and what do you think the first result is?? well I know you wont bother looking, so I will show you:

About 614,000 results (0.55 seconds)
very first result:

How to fix a Seagate 7200.11 with a Nokia-CA42 Cable ...

there is also MANY posts about the serial cable both here and on Spildits forum.

maybe DR is not for you.

[enon97]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply, but I've decide to buy this cable: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-CP2102-USB ... 3980wt_814

I think this cable should work, isn't it?

I've being watching the video and it doesn't look so difficult. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBsf-5iiDEE) I hope not to be wrong with the commands.


Another question, How do you know it's a firmware update problem? It can't be just bad sectors?

Note: I have tried to change the starting LBA in MHDD, an always the first 474 blocks are good, so...

Regards.

[colanco]

"!!!!!" is no problem translator, is a problem bad sectors (glist) so I think the hdd will not be useful.

[labtech]

"!!!!!" is no problem translator..

I think this is wrong.

is a problem bad sectors..

Sure, highly likely. Should be expected.

(glist)

More than likely tripped, therefore corrupt. But it is not the problem per se, it is part of the problem.

so I think the hdd will not be useful.

No good conclusive evidence to know at this point. Likely we will never know for sure, as we won't be able to test in person.

[colanco]

"!!!!!" is no problem translator..

I think this is wrong.

It is possible that this wrong but usually a disc with translator's problems would show "xxxx" in MHDD not "!!!!!!! "

[data-medics]

A fixed Seagate drive isn't worth the scrap metal it contains (or a new one for that matter). Hock it on eBay and use the $30 toward a better drive such as a good HGST if all you want is a drive out of it. Fixing these is far more aggregation than they are worth.