ST9320325AS connects but only 0-byte size

[inflex]

On my linux recovery system, a 320GB Seagate 2.5" drive intermittently shows up with the following on powerup;

Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.545807] ata4.00: HPA support seems broken, skipping HPA handling
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.545817] ata4.00: ATA-8: ST9320325AS, 0003, max UDMA/133
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.545823] ata4.00: 0 sectors, multi 16: LBA NCQ (depth 31/32)
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.546643] ata4.00: configured for UDMA/133 (device error ignored)
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.551231] ata4: EH complete
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.551435] scsi 3:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA ST9320325AS 0003 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.552036] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdc] 0 512-byte logical blocks: (0 B/0 B)
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.552223] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.552232] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.552312] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdc] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.552552] sd 3:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0
Jan 4 03:09:13 REC01 kernel: [8424027.553207] sd 3:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI disk

What are the possible causes, and what possible recovery options?

[drHDD]

You need software which could work with system area

[inflex]

You need software which could work with system area

I'm presuming that'll be via the serial port of the drive?

What generally causes this fault?

[inflex]

0-LBA. If the drive is not clicking / making strange noises most likely it have DAMAGED TRANSLATOR very typical on Seagate F3 arch drives.

You need at least something like this :

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=192
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=193

and post the terminal LOG.

DO NOT ISSUE ANY COMMANDS YET.

Attempting to regen translator without checking first for Non-Resident G-List entries on your drive might cause partial access to user area.

To understand the translator sub-system in general - http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1402

Thanks for the links - have a serial terminal cable on hand, now a case of setting up time to do it, I'll be back in the near future, I hope (assuming client wants to proceed).

[LarrySabo]

I'll be back in the near future, I hope (assuming client wants to proceed).

With all due respect, have you been open with your customer about your lack of the tools, knowledge and experience required to be working on their drive?

[inflex]

I'll be back in the near future, I hope (assuming client wants to proceed).

With all due respect, have you been open with your customer about your lack of the tools, knowledge and experience required to be working on their drive?

ABSOLUTELY NOT. I'm going to go at their drive with a sledge hammer to align the thing-a-me-bob and charge them a non-refundable $15,000 to even try.

I'm not even going to bother.

[inflex]

Ok.

Please let us know if you want to proceed.

You will need to check non-resident G-List for entries and attempt to rebuild translator.

Regards and have a nice day.

Will do, thank you. Most likely I'll outsource this one but it seems at this point the client "believes" they have a backup of the important things, of course, such matters are subject to change on whim as most workshops are aware.