First of all, Im a new user that arrived at this forums because I have a HDD that doesn't work anymore.

The HDD that doesn't work is a Seagate ST3120023AS. I worked fine till a computer freeze and a reset. Then the computer didn't star saying that that there are no drives. I realized that using just one HDD (the one with the OS) worked and started ok. But connecting the secondary the computer doesn't boot. Finally at Bios none of the HDD are recognized when connected both and when just conected the bad one Bios doesn't recognize it too. The disks spins (not constant, with lapsus) but receives power.

I did some research on the web and I saw that there are some troubles on the TVS for seagate models. I opeened the back of the HDD to get acces at the PCB and after looking for a bad component I realized that there was a component that seemed strangely brown ( not clearly burn), also I'm not able to read any on it. I disconected from the PCB and test it with the computer with the same result (disk spin but not recognizable). I thought that maybe another component was bad but I could recognize. I ordered a used PCB for this model, same firmware and when arrived the component on the "new- used" PCB was also brown and after test it I had the same result as before.

I'm posting some photos showing you the PCB and the bad component and I have few questions:

- Is the "brown" component a TVS?
- Should be connected again?
- 5 or 12v?
- Is there any other component bad?
- Has this HDD solution?

I would appreciate any suggestion or recomendation for next steps.

Thanks in advance

Edgar

HDD: Seagate ST3120023AS 9W4011-032 3.01 120GB PCB SATA HDD

ISTM that the boards are OK. The problem appears to be an internal one.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

Probably FW or HSA problem.

you need testing tools

If drive spins, it's not a TVS problem or of any it any other component, maybe could be the SMOOTH chip (only 5% of chance).
However the TVS diodes are those i've checked with red circle:


Forget about TVS and other components, the problem is elsewhere.

If this issue is related to bad SMOOTH chip, you'll need to do a pcb swap.

_________________
My firmware database:
https://mega.nz/folder/O01DkBRI

First of all thanks for your answers.








I have few questions about it :

Using a RS232 - TTL cable?

Can this problem be a LBA (0GB) or BSY trouble?

Is this model affected by firmware trobles detected on othe Seagate HDD? I've seen that using that cable you can acces at some Transmission to the HDD and could be corrected, isn't it?

Now I remember that the initial freeze I had with the computer was produced trying to clean the DNS and I used the ipconfig /flushdns in the cmd window following the instructions my hosting provider gave. After that flushdns command the computer didn't respond while was still showing windows normal layout. I had to resset the computer and since then the HDD doesn't work anymore. Maybe this explains anything.

If you think that I can recover the HDD using the cable and following the instrucctions given here http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/128807-the-solution-for-seagate-720011-hdds/ or somewhere else I will do a try, in other hand if you think that isn't this kind of trouble i will give up, because exceeds me



Thanks too I tried another PCB and same occurs

Thanks for your help I really apreciate it.

First of all thanks for your answers and sorry to post this message again but I still need help





I have few questions about it :

Using a RS232 - TTL cable?

Can this problem be a LBA (0GB) or BSY trouble?

Is this model affected by firmware trobles detected on othe Seagate HDD? I've seen that using that cable you can acces at some Transmission to the HDD and could be corrected, isn't it?

Now I remember that the initial freeze I had with the computer was produced trying to clean the DNS and I used the ipconfig /flushdns in the cmd window following the instructions my hosting provider gave. After that flushdns command the computer didn't respond while was still showing windows normal layout. I had to resset the computer and since then the HDD doesn't work anymore. Maybe this explains anything.

If you think that I can recover the HDD using the cable and following the instrucctions given here http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/128807-the-solution-for-seagate-720011-hdds/ or somewhere else I will do a try, in other hand if you think that isn't this kind of trouble i will give up, because exceeds me



Thanks too I tried another PCB and same occurs

Thanks for your help I really apreciate it.

When you changed the pcb, did you transferred the ROM from your pcb in the other pcb?
If you transferred it, noises from the drive were normal?
Motor spinning was constant or not?

I suspect SMOOTH faulty!
If is not the SMOOTH, then it's an internal issue (heads + something else), or motor issue.

Of course if you didn't swap also ROM, the drive can't work...

P.S.
Will be a good idea to do the spin down and spin up test in terminal!

_________________
My firmware database:
https://mega.nz/folder/O01DkBRI

No, it can not be LBA or SBY Problem




as other guys said here your problem maybe related to bad SMOOTH, HSA problems, or spin Problems, but very recomendable to get log via TTL