Sanity check: Quantum Fireball Plus LM head failure?

A friend handed me a Dell-branded Fireball Plus LM 20.5GB drive to check out. It powers up, spins up, makes no scary noises, but does not identify itself on the ATA bus nor respond to any commands. The LED on the PCB shines for a few seconds on power-up and then turns off.

I found this old thread (https://forum.hddguru.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28367) re: a slightly newer-gen Quantum disk of a similar vintage, and within it instructions on how to access the debug console. So I wired up a TTL-to-RS232 adapter as prescribed and captured the console output. And it is eerily similar to what the OP of that aforementioned thread saw on his own drive; I will paste what I got from this drive below.

The overwhelming conclusion by most at the end of that thread was that in addition to the initial problem (a dead PCB), at least one -- maybe more -- of the read heads (at least the one specifically that would access the side of the platter that holds the System Area files) had gone AWOL. This drive is also throwing errors while trying to access the same files referenced in that other thread, leading me to conclude something similar has happened to this drive.

Does this seem like a reasonable/likely conclusion? If this is the case, there's likely no point in trying to obtain a proper donor drive to harvest a PCB from, correct? If this drive holds important data, and if it's going to require a head swap to recover, I probably just need to point him to commercial recovery services.

Debug console capture below:

Code:: Rom A35 SpinUp Mtr fr stp RECAL RFl 000E, RS #01 FFFE 0000 0000 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0000 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0000 0000 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0000 0000 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0000 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0000 0000 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0000 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0000 R EC 001B Err 0000 RFl 0065, RS #01 FFFE 0000 0001 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0001 R EC 001B Err 0000 RFl 0006, RS #01 FFFE 0000 0003 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0002 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0000 0003 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0002 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0000 0002 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0002 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0002 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0000 0002 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0000 0002 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0002 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0002 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0003 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0002 R EC 001B Err 0000 RFl 0065, RS #01 FFFE 0000 0001 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0001 R EC 001B Err 0000 RFl 0005, RS #01 FFFE 0000 0004 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0000 0004 R EC 0019 Err 0000 RFl 0001, RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 0110 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0113 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0113 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0113 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0113 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0113 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0114 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0113 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0113 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0113 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0110 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0110 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0110 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0110 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0110 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0110 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 0113 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0112 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 0112 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFE 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0110 R EC 001B RS #01 FFFB 0001 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFFB 0001 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0110 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 0111 R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF6 0000 0111 R EC 001B RS #01 FFF6 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 0019 RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 001B RS #01 FFF9 0000 010F R EC 0019 Err 0020 RPwrOn EC 0020

Thanks much!

nathana wrote:
Code:
Rom A35 SpinUp Mtr fr stp RECAL RFl 000E Err 0000 RFl 0065 Err 0000 RFl 0006 Err 0000 RFl 0065 Err 0000 RFl 0005 Err 0000 RFl 0001 Err 0020 RPwrOn EC 0020

I could be wrong, but I believe that each block represents the drive's attempt to read a particular system file from the SA.

For example, "RFl 000E" means that the drive is accessing system file 000Eh.

The drive has trouble with several files but eventually succeeds in reading them. However, if fails to read sys file 0001h.

I suspect that the following line means that the drive is Reading Cylinder/Head/Sector FFFEh/0000h/0002h, but fails with an Error Code of 0019h.

Code:: RS #01 FFFE 0000 0002 R EC 0019

RFl 000E
Err 0000

it good!
---
iRFl 0001
Err 0020

it bad! Overlay

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=1192
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=224&t=2479

Sanity check: Quantum Fireball Plus LM head failure?

Sanity check: Quantum Fireball Plus LM head failure?

Re: Sanity check: Quantum Fireball Plus LM head failure?

Re: Sanity check: Quantum Fireball Plus LM head failure?

Re: Sanity check: Quantum Fireball Plus LM head failure?