WD Changing Model Number

[Dawna]

Hi
Please can anyone help me?
I am trying to change the model number and serial number reported by a WD 10EURX HDD to match those from a Seagate Pipeline drive; this is inorder to be able to replace the failing Seagate drive with the WD one (both are the same capacity) in my PVR which complains if I just put the WD HDD in after DDing it from the Seagate one.

I have a copy of WDMarvel2.3 with which I have successfully changed the serial number but seem to be unable to change the model number. I suspect that the model number is stored somewhere in ROM as well as in the SA area of the HDD.
After attempting to change both numbers in WDMarvel 2.3 hitting “Autodetect” produces the original Model number in the drive entry box although if I go to “Heads” and “Change Model Number” the population entry box does come filled with the new Model Number.

Using Marvel demo 3.0.0:
Tab – “Heads” then change Model and Change serial
In the Drive box after “detect” button has been pressed, the change to serial shows but the model still shows the original WD model, however if I go back to “Heads” and “Change Model” the entry box that shows up is filled with the revised Model number I previously entered.
If I then go to the “Ram” tab and “Edit Config in Ram” then there is an entry part way down which is greyed out “Model from Flash” and a tick box also greyed out “Use Model from Flash” alongside a “Model” entry box which is empty. The first line of the “Config Editor” does show the revised Model Number. (There is no “RAM” tab in WDMarvel2.3)

Using WDs data Lifeguard Diagnostics (DLGDIAG) shows the model number as the original number but does show the changed serial number.

Can anyone please help me where I am going wrong?
Would a full version of WDmarvel3.0.0 fix the problem? I assume the greyed out “Model from Flash” would work but does this option change what WDMarvel is using to find the model number or does it change what the HDD reports to the outside world?
I am connecting the WD HDD direct to a SATA connector on my motherboard.

Dawn

[helpless]

WDmarvel full can do it, heads - edit config, enter new data and untick 'use model from flash' then save to SA.

[fzabkar]

Module 0Dh in the ROM/flash contains the model number and other info. You could use a HDDSuperTool script to read/write this module.

[Dawna]

Thanks helpless and fzabkar for your very quick responses.

I have bought a one month sub for WDMarvel so will try this option first (thanks for PM but cannot yet reply)
I did not go down the HDD supertool as looks more complicated, in particular if I dump the ROM and then edit it before copying it back do I need to recalculate an parity checksum and if so which bits are the parity bits and on what basis?
Dawn

[Dawna]

Should have said still no response with password for my WDMarvel purchase.

[dick]

Just a thought.
Sometimes the pvr manufacturers will lock the hard drive with a password?
I would check the original Seagate drive to see if that is the case. Mhdd or Victoria would confirm it. In which case changing the WD serial and model number might not work?

[Dawna]

Still no password received for WDMarvel - paid 30 hours ago - is this normal?

dick - I never thought of that, thank you.
I checked the Seagate as you suggested and MHDD reports "Security: high, OFF". Victoria reports "Security: OFF, frozen". So this means the HDD is not locked??
I had incidentally earlier copied some of the video MTS streams OK from the Seagate but it proves to be very time consuming as many of the recorded programmes are fragmented across the disk. So this shows that the HDD is not locked as I can read it?

[helpless]

Should have said still no response with password for my WDMarvel purchase.

@dick
not the drive is locked, the key to unlock wdmarvel is meant.
@Dawna
you need to register at the forum and post a message there about this issue.

[Dawna]

After an email, the serial arrived very quickly, thank you.

I then tried as @helpless suggested "WDmarvel full can do it, heads - edit config, enter new data and untick 'use model from flash' then save to SA"
All this worked including the "Save to SA" BUT the model number has not changed! It is still the WD model number that is reported in the "Drive" window of WDMarvel.

Maybe I need to edit the module in ROM??
If in WDMarvel I go to:
ROM
Modules in ROM and then select module 0D
Module tab
Edit selected I can then see a hex editor with the data from module OD and I can change it BUT do I have to recalculate the checksum or will WDMarvel do that automatically for me?
Then it would just be "Write selected"??

[helpless]

Have you power cycled?

[Dawna]

Thanks hopeless.
No I hadn't.
I have now and you are right, again, it now shows the changed model number, thanks.
Dawn

PS still won't work in the PVR - there must be something else!

[scratchy]

PVR tend to use passwords which can be different for each unit. Also it may use ATA PUIS commands to start the dive. I would try setting PUIS on then see what happens. in particular, listen to see if you can hear drive spin up after setting PUIS