ST1000LM025 conversion

[fzabkar]

I misread your earlier post, so my suggestion for a match was based on the wrong MCU part number. However, the reasoning was correct. Please go with the other suggestions.

As for your Youtube uploads, why not post a terminal log?

[osity]

I'm currently incapable of producing terminal logs from this drive. That's why I wanted to convert it. If you're referring to my YouTube uploads, those would be from other jobs.
I'm going to check my drive library for the pcb suggested earlier.
Would be nice if I knew which models used that board, that would save a lot of time sorting through the 100 or so seagates 2.5" I got.

Perhaps they can be filtered by date to narrow the legwork...I.e 2012-2014

[fzabkar]

A spinning Samsung drive should produce a terminal log, unless the latest designs are different from the earlier ones. There are two Tx/Rx test points. You only need to solder 3 wires. Pretty basic stuff.

[osity]

Fzabkar;
I've only ever needed 2 wires for it to work in the past, pins 3&4.
Is your 3rd wire a ground?

[fzabkar]

Some people report random garbled characters until they add the ground wire.

[osity]

Yep, I get those sometimes

[guru]

100% true

Some people report random garbled characters until they add the ground wire.

[osity]

quote="Spildit"
"Samsung drives doesn't store adaptives on ROM. You just need to match the ROM code version with the Overlay version and it will work,"

Kevin over at PCB Solution stated the following about the Rom chip:
" this is the only chip that holds any unique data on the board"


So someone must be incorrect. I'll test this with a random donor by swapping ROMs to see if they ID. It's so easy to do that it seems silly not to do it every time anyway.

[pcimage]

Data in ROM on Samsung isn't unique to the drive, unlike WD, Toshiba, most ahitachi and later Seagates.

[osity]

Hi, just reporting back with my finding about the comment below.

"Samsung drives doesn't store adaptives on ROM."

It seems that the PC vendor that recommended the ROM's be swapped was correct at least for that model anyway.
I eventually sourced a PCB and the adaptives did have to be transferred otherwise the drive would not detect.

[fzabkar]

Hi, just reporting back with my finding about the comment below.

"Samsung drives doesn't store adaptives on ROM."

It seems that the PC vendor that recommended the ROM's be swapped was correct at least for that model anyway.
I eventually sourced a PCB and the adaptives did have to be transferred otherwise the drive would not detect.

What do you understand by the term, "adaptives"?

[pcimage]

Hi, just reporting back with my finding about the comment below.

"Samsung drives doesn't store adaptives on ROM."

It seems that the PC vendor that recommended the ROM's be swapped was correct at least for that model anyway.
I eventually sourced a PCB and the adaptives did have to be transferred otherwise the drive would not detect.

Vendor was correct, ROM had to be transferred.

You are wrong, "adaptives" were not transferred. There aren't any in the Samsung ROM.

As Franc suggests, ROM version is NOT the same as "adaptives". You are getting the terminology mixed up.

[osity]

fzabkar: By 'adaptives' I'm referring to G&P lists, LBA, model#, Serial#, some servo details, and any other unique info that is stored on the "ROM" chip pertaining to that particular drive that allow it to come ready. Perhaps I've used the wrong terminology. Is this the case, how do you define the term?
..... I've also not clearly understood why everyone calls is a "ROM" when it can be written to and modified.

Spildit: how are you identifying your ROM version. (visually on a chip?) I'd like to verify your #2 statement on this last recovery I just finished.
I'm not familiar with your #4 statement, I've never needed to do anything with overlays.....sounds interesting.

[osity]

Spildit:
ai que caralho! It's not that I doubt you. lol
I just need to see/test everything for my self.

I've seen that article before, It doesn't mention the terms 'ROM' or 'adaptives' anywhere.....

[osity]

I don't get to use the words caralho to often in forum posts.
...never actually.

[fzabkar]

fzabkar: By 'adaptives' I'm referring to G&P lists, LBA, model#, Serial#, some servo details, and any other unique info that is stored on the "ROM" chip pertaining to that particular drive that allow it to come ready. Perhaps I've used the wrong terminology. Is this the case, how do you define the term?
..... I've also not clearly understood why everyone calls is a "ROM" when it can be written to and modified.

Spildit: how are you identifying your ROM version. (visually on a chip?) I'd like to verify your #2 statement on this last recovery I just finished.
I'm not familiar with your #4 statement, I've never needed to do anything with overlays.....sounds interesting.

It's a different model, but the only unique section of a SpinPoint F3 ROM is the small FIPS module in the otherwise empty second half of the ROM. As is evident from the following thread (and from an Ace Lab blog), the FIPS section can simply be cleared without affecting the operation of the drive. In fact the OP replaced his drive's damaged FIPS with a FIPS from a different drive and was then able to recover his data.

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php? ... fips#p2066

Here are my attempts to understand the structure of Samsung's ROMs and firmware updates:

Analysis of Samsung SpinPoint F3 ROM:
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php? ... 681&p=1992

Analysis of Samsung F3 firmware update:
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php? ... 679&p=1986

AIUI, Samsung's firmware update replaces the entire first half of the ROM. This means that there cannot be any unique information stored there. This leaves only the second section which is empty apart from the FIPS.

BTW, "ROM" is a misnomer, as you correctly point out. But when in ROMe, do as the ROMans do.

[osity]

fzabkar: that's some deep stuff, you remind me of John Nash from the movie a beautiful mind.
.... so when people refer to ROM they're simply referring to the serial flash memory chip, I figured that much. I thought those WERE the adaptives... What do you understand the term adaptives to be?

[scratchy]

I'm with Guru ...

Good luck to both you and your customer. There is terminal access through a USB PCB.

I am a full time DR guy. This I how I make my living. I do DR practically every single day and with an excellent success rate (except for DM series).

The reason for wanting to convert to SATA this whole time is to access it through terminal. There is no terminal access through a USB PCB.

good luck

fzabkar:

2. I am a full time DR guy. This I how I make my living. I do DR practically every single day and with an excellent success rate (except for DM series). I only get paid if I recover data. In fact, I recover jobs that labs with over 10 years on me have deemed unrecoverable..(including drives with scratched platters) but thanks for the warning. I know you mean well.

Wow ! I didn't know you were so good, at least judging from your other posts and PMs...

I don't think that you should reply the way you did to @fzabkar as he was trying to help you out.

[osity]

scratchy: Drive was already 100% recovered a few days ago. Conversion board suggested by Mikkip was a perfect match ...after flash chip was transferred.

[mikail13]

i convert ST1000LM025 to ST1000LM024 with chip transfer.

ST1000LM025 is a direct usb drive.
it has a poor jack. it's very easy to break.