ST5000LM000-2AN170 Scratch Pad Restore Failed

[Zero Alpha]

I've got a problematic M11 drive, initially it has this output in the terminal:

Code:

MC051: MainPOR: EXCEPTION: Corrupt PRI copy of MCMT
MC051: MainPOR: EXCEPTION: Corrupt PRI copy of MCMTMS UDE detect during recon   LPCDisc=00 27D2B643 0027
MS Read Fails: 3E95AF00,0000D938
Update Mask - 000000013E95C2D8 - 00000001 - 00
Update Mask - 000000013E95C2D9 - 00000001 - 00
Update Mask - 000000013E95C2DA - 00000001 - 00
Update Mask - 000000013E95C2DB - 00000001 - 00
Update Mask - 000000013E95C2DC - 00000001 - 00
...
LED:0x000000BD FAddr:0x00005E43

And the drive freezes without ATA or terminal access.

After gaining terminal access and backing up system files, the MCMT was reinitialised with C>U10. Also disabled all the usual suspects in SMP.

The drive can now be interacted with via ATA and terminal, but has the following output:

Code:

Boot 0x80MMD45010001   
SpinUp
TCC:001D

Trans
Tech Unlock Handshake: 0xCFE6C19C
Reply:
Rst 0x80MMD4501001   
(P) SATA Reset

RAW OFF
PASSChannel Tracing Offset Value load............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
MCMainPOR: Start:
Media Cache Data Base  02463B71D8
Check MCMT Version: Current
Both copy is same!
SP213: Restore: EXCEPTION: Scratch Pad Restore Failed, the MS may contain errors
MCMainPOR: MediaCacheDiscStateFlags 0000002A  MCStateFlags 00020041
6Gb Max Speed lowered to 3Gb for Intel bug
Send Status: COMRESET seen
FIS34

Writing either copy of the MCMT back to the drive (copy 0 has 0x2BC extents, copy 1 has no extents) causes it to freeze without terminal or ATA access again.

Importing the extents from copy 0 of the original MCMT and writing this to disk results in the same error. Verified with C>U4 that the extents are present.

Code:

SP213: Restore: EXCEPTION: Scratch Pad Restore Failed, the MS may contain errors

Anyone resolved this issue before?

[Zero Alpha]

These MCMT error messages (MC051, MC052 and SP213) appear in the diskfw system file (FID 20D/20E)

Sounds like the only hope for this problem is to reverse some of the firmware code...

[northwind]

What happens if you clear MCMT, fix 50/348 and upload to RAM instead?

[pepe]

I would first clone the drive without MC and check the quality

[Zero Alpha]

What happens if you clear MCMT, fix 50/348 and upload to RAM instead?

Same behaviour:

- scratchpad restore error printed to terminal after power on
- drive still has correct ID with full capacity, SA access but no DA access
- upload fixed MCMT to RAM
- C>U4 shows all the extents as expected
- no DA access

[Zero Alpha]

I would first clone the drive without MC and check the quality

This is what I would like to do, but when I disable media cache in SMP the drive still prints scratchpad restore error and I do not have DA access.

Is there a better approach to cloning without MC?

[pepe]

what error do you get (in ata regs and on terminal)?

[Zero Alpha]

what error do you get (in ata regs and on terminal)?

ATA regs OK, get DRD DSC. Drive ID has correct capacity

can access service error via ATA with no issues
get ABR error when attempting to access data area

terminal output is

Code:

Boot 0x80MMD45010001   
SpinUp
TCC:0016

Trans
Tech Unlock Handshake: 0x582B0758
Reply:
Rst 0x80MMD4501001   
(P) SATA Reset

RAW OFF
PASSChannel Tracing Offset Value load............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
MCMainPOR: Start:
Media Cache Data Base  02463B71D8
Check MCMT Version: Current
Both copy is same!
SP213: Restore: EXCEPTION: Scratch Pad Restore Failed, the MS may contain errors
MCMainPOR: MediaCacheDiscStateFlags 0000002A  MCStateFlags 00020041
6Gb Max Speed lowered to 3Gb for Intel bug
Send Status: COMRESET seen
FIS34

behaviour has been the same with cleared and fixed MCMT and with MC on and off

[fzabkar]

I'm probably demonstrating my ignorance, but what is the FLASH_PAD segment in the ROM?

[pepe]

can you upload sa backup somewhere?