Hello!

I have a ST31000528AS which spins up normally, but isn't recognized at all by the BIOS. I had a PL2303 TTL adapter hanging around which I tried to use to interface with the drive. Unfortunately, I am not getting any response from the drive (but loopback works).

If it helps: Drive spins up, and then spins down by itself after about 10 seconds.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Sounds like heads are gone...you can contact Northwind here on the forum...he's from Greece aswell.

Regards/ Bosse

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Thanks mr_spokk

I second that, heads are likely gone. If drive spins up and then down after 10 secs, most probably heads.

If you want contact us and we can have a look. Diagnostics are free of charge.

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Agree with both points

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First of all, thank you all for your replies!

I probably wasn't clear enough on my problem. The drive was functioning normally. Connected internally. I shut down my pc at night (usually never do :p) and in the morning woke up, powered on. The computer booted up but the drive wasn't recognized. (The drive in question is not my OS drive).

After rebooting I noticed that the drive was not recognized by the bios. Checked all cables. Powered on the drive. No clicks, no strange noises. Normal power on sounds, the drive spins up normally and stays on.

After reading about a BSY error that had to do with different drives, I thought I would use a serial interface to see if I could communicate with the drive.

This is the important part. After placing "cardstock :p" on the connector of the pcb to the drive, but leaving the motor contacts connected, I power on the drive, with the TTL interface connected to the drive. The drive spins up, then after a while spins down. I send the ^Z control character but I do not get an answer from the drive.

Also, to northwind, and anybody else who may be interested.

I am studying computer science in the prestigious :p University of Crete. As most have heard, the financial situation of most people isn't that good at the moment. I have another drive, which I will not risk repairing by myself. This drive probably has head damage, as I tried twice to turn on and heard it spin up and click, so I never tried again. This drive needs desperate professional help. I have been trying to save up some money for recovery, but it will have to wait.

I am mentioning this in an attempt not to sound ungrateful and cheap :p While the data on the drive I am trying to repair is important, it is not my highest priority. And there is no way I can send 2 drives for recovery

Thank you all again for your help!

well can you record the sound the drive makes when u power it up plz ? Want to listen if the heads are leaving the parking area and do they even try calibrate...

PM on its way

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Once again thank you all!

I have an update! I placed the PCB properly on the drive (without card blocking the pins). Let it spin up properly. sent ^Z and got the prompt from the drive! I went /2 and sent Z to spin down, and it was successful!

The question is why doesn't this work when I have the card in place?

The sound, as I mentioned, appears to me to be completely normal. But, since I am no hard drive specialist. I will record and post in a few minutes.

Thank you all again for your help!

I think Alexii meant that he wants to listen to the sounds of the heads of the other hdd you mentioned, not this one.

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Which is it?

No wonder people are giving you conflicting advice!!

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Sorry if it seems conflicting.

Removing the PCB and placing cardstock on the contacts makes the drive spins up, and then spins down.

If the PCB is placed normally (no cardstock) the drive spins up normally.

EDIT: I tried again without GND in the RS-232 interface (since PSU and the TTL share the same Ground) and was able to get into the interface WITH the cardstock in place. If you want me to run any command on the drive to provide diagnostics, please tell me.

EDIT2: Also, the drive (obviously) doesn't make any sound after spinning up - the sound of heads moving. I assume this is normal since I have isolated the contacts. The drive still spins down by itself -IN THIS STATE-. I am still able to issue commands through the interface though.

Thank you!

Update: Tried the following on the drive, seems to be ok.

Rst 0x20M
(P) SATA Reset

ASCII Diag mode

F3 T>/2

F3 2>Z

Spin Down Complete
Elapsed Time 10.517 secs
F3 2>U

HighPowerMode
ExecuteSpinRequest

Spin Up Complete
Elapsed Time 5.989 secs
F3 2>/1

F3 1>

GConstantine: thanks for right answer
that solution of this problem

The problem is not solved I just managed to interface with the drive and spin up and then spin down.

this command is very power full for Seagate hdd's
if u used it, so then your's hd head damage