Role of "Factory test " Modules on sector reading

[bunty]

I am working on a typical HGST slim hard disk HTS545050A7E380 .
While starting hitachi utility I get Techno mode Key
Disk has normal detection in my udma and I have taken multiple back ups of fw.
While most of the crucial modules like p-list / G-list are perfectly fine , only few modules are having errors.
Heads seems to be reasonably good as I can read with both heads.
Only issue is large defects while imaging .
I want to know whether those faulty modules have something to do with bad sectors. I am not aware of importance of these modules in reading data.

Module & Head Importance Description
AVZN --- both 0 & 1 copies Importance Not known
HLR1 & HLR2 Importance B Factory Test log module (HLRC)
MFGP Dr Self test parameters module
AMPM Importance B Factory test log
MFGT
DMP1
SCTH

Attachments

[bunty]

I want to know how to tackle " Techno mode key" error and how to enable techno key after entering in utility.
As 2 key modules ( AMPM and HLR1/2) are having B importance they are crucial for data recovery.
I can replace these modules by hdd from same fw model .
So I checked my database and files from hddguru resources , But none of the database files are having AMPM & HLR1/2 modules , from Where can I get these modules ?
I will be highly obliged if someone could give me the same.

I think rest of the modules may not be required and can be ignored as no importance level is displayed for them --
MFGP -- DR
MFGT --- don't know
DMP1 ---don't know.

[data-medics]

If the drive is capable of reading sectors from beginning to end, then you don't need to worry about the firmware anymore. Firmware issues will not cause bad sectors. They might cause a translator issue, such as only able to read up to a certain LBA and nothing past that, but not randomly scattered bad sectors. The drive likely has weak heads and/or media damage causing both the unread SA modules as well as the bad sectors.

[bunty]

Hi Jared
Thanks a lot. Yes disk has access to first and last sectors as well as most of the sectors. Disk is having large defects so recovered files ( 30GB PST) are likely to lose integrity . Besides all other modules can be read very easily so I think SA related issue may not be there.
I was of opinion that since these2 modules are of "B" importance they could hold some crucial adaptive data.

[bunty]

Hi Spildit
Thanks for detailed explanation.
You have simply explained how to check firmware corruption by checking last LBAs of disk.
Also learned that only modules having A importance are critical for data.
Thanks again. Can you pls. explain how such large no. of bad sectors are created suddenly ? As per customer disk was working fine but suddenly became inaccessible. Ageing of precision components & wear tear /platter degradation is responsible for surface defects ,but this should not happen overnight.
If I was having DDI ,then recovery would have been better as compared to UDMA?
How professional Labs and super gurus would have handled such large defects ?I am curious.

[bunty]

Thank You Spildit for beautiful explanation. I am sure it will benefit all.