Hello Guys,

Need some help with my Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500 GB.
Have been using it with the Seagate Freeagent Go.
Suddenly one day it started making the beeping noises exactly like the one in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISTN_64MVnA

I managed to open it and parked the head in the parking postion.
No scratches on the surface.
Before it was just the beeping noises.
Now the disk is spinning freely but the head is doing this.

http://youtu.be/5M7032aP5jo

Any ideas ??

Yes, the heads are destroyed.
Moreover, you opened the drive inside your living room, and that makes it even more complicated to recover.
It's game over for DIY.

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Is there anything I can do with an identical drive.
I bought two of these Freeagent Go drives together.
Anything I could swap or use?

Hello sid, Yes, it seems like your top head is damaged from the video. So the head is trying 12 times to read at some position. (i guess this setting is controlled by the Read retries count which is adjustable)This position is on the outer of the platter, i guess it is this the region where is located the SA. It seems not at top end of the platter though. You can try to replace the bad head with the good one. But be very ready to break the good head.
And interesting thing would be to check the head resistance with terminal command:

I wonder if in your case, where it seems to be a mechanical issue the resistance is normal or not.

Thanks guys for the prompt replies. Appreciate the help.

Actually, after i made the video I found a a small metal fragment stuck to the white sticker on the inside of the cover. So I guess it must be from the head.

This hard drive has two platters. I have noticed no scratches on the top platter. I hope the second platter is safe.
But if it is almost clear that the head is broken should I try to replace the head assembly with the one in the identical drive I have.
I know its much more complicated thing to do then getting the head back in the parking position.

And could you be so kind to explain this resistance thing a bit more int0x13.
I am not really an expert at this. but trying to do the best i can with all the resources i can get.

You have the TTL cable to get the terminal access?

What will a terminal adapter do for good if a head is detached? Maybe an interesting sound to hear to when you watching the terminal log! If you want to give people advices, please give them the right one....

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When you enter in a topic, read what is said before please. It's the least you can do.

What in the video indicates it seems to be the top head AND not any other heads?

@sid6900
Can you describe how you unstuck the heads?

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As mr_spokk implies, why on earth would you encourage someone to continue to spin up a drive with physically damaged heads, thus further damaging the surface?

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Well I dont have a TTL Cable and dont know anything about terminal commands.
I got the heads back in parking by slowly rotating the platter counter clockwise and simultaneously pulled the head back.
I made the video immediately after I did that to keep it as reference and share with you guys for help. Then I closed the hard drive as I didnt want any further damage. I havent touched it since. I want to be clear before I open it again.

Well, under the assumption the technique was correct and the heads did not get damaged, then the drive should be working. But it is not, so damage really occurred to either heads or media.

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