SAMSUNG SPINPOINT HD503HI seems to be losing connectivity

[zer0900]

Hi all, I have the named model which is giving me some trouble. SeaTools for DOS reported issues and to check cables. MHDD scans to about the 5gig mark and halts, (totals around 200 bad sectors at this point) sometimes if left long enough it states "Catastrophic error". I tried to erase with mhdd to, again it either halts or gives catastrophic error. Also tried remap option, halts. Tried hard drive sentinel, scans to 2% then states it has lost connectivity to the drive. I can format it and see it in windows just fine, issues arise when I transfer a couple of large files and attempt to write them to another drive. I have checked soldering on the sata power and connectors, looked fine but reflowed them anyway, no change. Tried different leads, and 2 different rigs, same result.

Before these problems began, this drive was used in a portable media player, sometimes windows had trouble detecting it, and sometimes it would disconnect from windows altogether in mid operation, then pop up again after 20 or so seconds, it was connected via usb at this point, I have interfaced the drive directly via sata and pc mobo for all of the above tests. Is this fixable or a lost cause? Cheers.

[zer0900]

Yeah. Not important, I thought that it might be fixable is all as it does appear fine in windows, issues only arise when you attempt to copy something over the 5gb mark, so I assume this is not fixable with software then?

If it is dirty heads, could I possibly clean them? I wouldnt mind attempting it, I have nothing to lose. I just never did before, as I assume you need a clean room, etc... or am I wrong on this?