Hi HDDGurus,

I own a Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 8 40GB harddisc, with a firmware problem. MHDD shows this hdd as a 6E040L1. No Access to drive is possible. I hear no knocking sounds or similiar. So i think the heads and the platters are OK.

I read often that i need a pc3000 controller with software to transfer the firmware files back to the drive. Google shows me no prices / offers for this card, but i doubt it will be cheap.

Could I send the hdd to someone here in the board, to flash the firmware ?

The data of the hdd:
DiamondMax Plus 8
Code: NAR61EA0
6E040L0511014
K,M,C,A
B8FEA
Ardent Chipset

I'm located in the middle of germany.

I'm also glad if you have tips to repair / flash the drive by myself.

Thanks and a happy new year

Florian

Look for forum member N.C.

He is located in Hungary and is very good with Maxtor drives.

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

Hi,

Platter is probably fine, the drive is initialized from SA-c, so it is having some problems with its primary SA.
It is not possible to repair without tooling and precise knowledge of FW structure and repair procedures, so I would suggest to send it to someone able to do it.
If you don't mind sending it abroad, NC or I can do it in Hungary, as drccsc mentioned.

regards,
pepe

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Adatmentés - Data recovery

I agree to pepe, Maxtors are not drives to start teaching yourself from. A deep knowledge of FW structure is required most of the time to get the data back.
I do not like saying "Send it to a pro who know how to manage", but sure is better than try to do anything yourself!
I also can help you with this but I'm even far away than pepe - Bulgaria.

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DataRecovery.bg

Hi Guys,

many thanks for your help.

I'm in contact with the manufactor of the software which is lost in rely of the defetive hdd. Perhaps i'll get the drivers and software from him.

If i need somebody who can fix this drive, i will send a reply in this topic.

best regards

florian

Which software?

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Adatmentés - Data recovery

Hello,

Be careful!
With maxdiag or the new seagate tool you can kill the drive.

Janos

For me, it looks like your drive have no FW/SA nor critical HW problem.
I suggest to you to try to diagnose the drive with MHDD's scan option, and post a picture of the result.
Maybe we can help remotely or at least localy...

If pepe are right, and your drive is in SA-C, than there is no safe and easy way for you to solve the problem alone.
But someone who have a proper tools for this, this is an easy task, and can be cheap as well.

Janos

6E040L1 usually means the drive is started from SA-c...

pepe

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Adatmentés - Data recovery

I think he is talking about the lost software in the drive, not for fixing himself
Agree

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DataRecovery.bg

Yes, thers is the point.
L1 not L0.

OK, the drive was ss-ed (or modified) before or right there in SA-C.

Janos

I am suspecting that ROM SA or ATA overlay is damaged.
Anyway, it is strongly recommended not to mess with the drive because lack of knowledge will drive you to screw it up much more and the recovery price can be easily multiplied by a positive rational number...
right tools in wrong hands are pretty dangerous.

pepe

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Adatmentés - Data recovery

Sorry pepe, did not mean to leave you out!

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

I mean the software which was / is on the harddisk.

@ N.C. What kind of information do you need from mhdd

@ALL Could you explain me the meaning of SA-C ?

Thx for your help

Flo

SA-C is a second copy of Service Area on a disk.
If your drive has some issues, such as: bad sectors, overheating and etc; Main SA will get corrupted and will block access to User Data area, to prevent user from damaging it any further.
SA-C will allow to analize/fix Main SA in order to get access to User Area.

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www.datarecoveryne.com

1. F2 and all information after this.
1b, scan map if there is a way to do that

2. SA-C Is the factory generic version of your drive's primary SystemArea.
Your drive's main SA is damaged, and the drive falls back to the factory state in this case.
Fortunately the generic state don't do any of the LBA or usual ATA commands for prevent any "bad move".
It is good only for be source of SA restoration and running the factory recalibration routine (SS) wich destroys the user data and automatic rebuild the main SA.

Janos