Maxtor D540X-4K (MX4K040H2) shows 20Gb, T0NF

[N.C.]

Hello friends,

Today, i have assembled the donor drive again with own heads, and works well.
Except one thing, the (SIL680 pci ide card's) BIOS won't recognized the drive, but the Linux, dos, MHDD does.
The drive works well on mhdd, almost all the sectors below 10 ms, but all below 50ms.
The heads are good, i think.

Today, i have got another case from this freak drive...

I try to find more donor....

Janos

[N.C.]

i found one.

First i try hotswap.
The drive spin up, but when i try something (like smart read, or scan) first BUSY, and recalibrat sound, and shows the real SN in mhdd, and everithing is the same.
(The head is from the first donor).

I try the head exchange again, from the second donnor.
The drive spin up, start the recalibration (do a little pause and finished it), and shows again 20GB.

The MHDD shows T0NF, ABRT, HPA (the nhpa still not works), so everithing is the same.

I give up.

Thanks for all help anyway friends!
Janos

[N.C.]

Somebody have a loader for this drive?

Thanks a lot!

Janos

[pepe]

Hi,

This drive has very probably bad head. No use messing with FW.
MHA swapping is pretty hard on these, but we can handle it if U are interested.

regards,
pepe

[Doomer]

If I'm not mistaken those drive are Quantums inside (they were known as Quaxtors)
If so such drive is checking heads when it starts. If for some reason one of the heads cannot read servo drive turning that head off
That's probably why drive inits as 20GB - it just sees on head

[shahij]

bad head

[N.C.]

@pepe

I know, you are a good engineer, i think, we can make business, but not exactly in this way, what you think.
I have huge plans for the future, i will call you in phone soon. (at this point, not sure when will this happens, but soon...)

Btw, please don't see me as lamer, i don't want to modify anything in the SA, only want to make sure, the SA is good, readable, and the head is miss-aligned.
I am paranoidly precise, i don't want to do anyithing, until have an exact diagnose, and until i am not sure, my steps will help.....

@Doomer

Agree, the drive can't use one head, i think that too.

@shahij

The head is good, tested, this is the second HE, and the issue is the same.
I have tested the first head in the donor after the HE, and works well.
The head is good, but looks like can't read the servo, or something else in the platter.
(miss aligned, or SA is damaged)

Thanks,
Janos

[pepe]

@pepe

I know, you are a good engineer, i think, we can make business, but not exactly in this way, what you think.
I have huge plans for the future, i will call you in phone soon. (at this point, not sure when will this happens, but soon...)

Btw, please don't see me as lamer, i don't want to modify anything in the SA, only want to make sure, the SA is good, readable, and the head is miss-aligned.
I am paranoidly precise, i don't want to do anyithing, until have an exact diagnose, and until i am not sure, my steps will help.....

Hi,

I only spoke of my experience. That's why I told 'very probably'. The next sentence is to be interpreted this way too I think.
I know U are not lamer, grats for the 7200.8!
I also didn't think U want to modify SA, just that there's very little chance of the problem being SA related.

regards,
pepe

[shahij]

(miss aligned, or SA is damaged)
Thanks,
Janos

agree, at the second step it seems you are right...

[N.C.]

Hi,

I only spoke of my experience. That's why I told 'very probably'. The next sentence is to be interpreted this way too I think.
I know U are not lamer, grats for the 7200.8!
I also didn't think U want to modify SA, just that there's very little chance of the problem being SA related.

regards,
pepe

Thank you.

[Amarbir[CDR-Labs]]

Hi NC ,
I Have More them 100 Of these Drives .I Repaired Some Long time Back in ISA ,What Are you Planning to Do Now in Your Case

[N.C.]

Hi NC ,
I Have More them 100 Of these Drives .I Repaired Some Long time Back in ISA ,What Are you Planning to Do Now in Your Case

I have one theory = I think i know exactly why the heads are miss-aligned.

Now i have exactly 3 active case about this drive.
Both have weak h0 problem.
I have tried the HE on all, with success (technically), and different new issue. :S

Anyway, i have much more active, and more important cases, so, this jobs are in "technological waiting" state.
(Additionally, i am working in more theme, like at this time, i have just arrived from server room, becasue we building special servers, designed in mind for performance + data protection, and hosting these servers as well.)

So, i have 3 choice:

1. waiting for somebody say something clever about the head alignment.
2. trying to find a lot of drive from this model, and do the HE again and again, until i found the closest one.
(the fine tune attempt with screwdriver is done already on both cases, without success)
3. waiting until me and my local friend (who is not in this forum) building up one lab with special tools, like special optical solutions, BGA reworking stations with IR soldering capability, laser soldering solutions, AND bonding solution for exactly one head replacing on the bad MHA.

The 3. option is already planned, and on the way now.

Regards,
Janos

[BlackST]

Fine tuning with a screwdriver? This sounds strange, never had to do it. Some part of 'tuning' is done automatically, the rest are ADAPTIVES.

[N.C.]

Fine tuning with a screwdriver? This sounds strange, never had to do it. Some part of 'tuning' is done automatically, the rest are ADAPTIVES.

It is possible, my words was not too clear, but i was thinked about this:



In this way, we can align a little difference in the headstack, but not any, and any type.

Janos

[BlackST]

It is only for LOWEST density drive that have clearance on Z. We discussed the issue and workout (chat), remember me next time, maybe you missed some point.