Hi,

slightly off topic here, but this seems the best forum for this question.

I have Seagate SATA 7200.7 (ST3200822AS to be precise) which is very loud when seeking, so I would like to turn AAM on to make it quieter.

The problem is that Seagate no longer supports AAM (due to lawsuit with Convolve and MIT over some patent rights), but it's hinted that some 3rd party software could be used to set AAM on these drives. There is also possibility that large OEM buyers can request this tool from Seagate, or even firmware change. However such tool or firmware is nowhere to be found.

I've used MHDD's AAM command, but it reports that AAM is not available. I've tried issuing SET FEATURES command ($EF) with subcommand SET AAM LEVEL ($42), but MHHD reports that command is aborted (the default behavior for unsupported command).

ATA specification says that word 94 of identity command represents recommended AAM level (bits 15:8) and current AAM level (bits 7:0), I've read these values from my drive and the recommended level is $FE (maximum performance and noise), and current level is 0 (vendor specific behavior - probably at recommended level of $FE).

My questions are:

1.Does anyone have tool for enabline AAM form seagate that works on 7200.7 or firmware with AAM enabled?
2.Does anyone knows vendor specific commands for Seagate to turn on AAM?
3.Is the current AAM level recorded on HDD in some sector ("system maintenance cylinder") together with ATA password, serial no..., and if it is how to find that sector and change it with hex editor?
4.If the current AAM level is stored in HDD electronic, is it possible to download the firmware from HDD, change it and then load it back into HDD?

I want only to use software because i want others to use the solution (if the solution is even possible).

Thanks in advance, and sorry for a long read.

If the feature is no longer avalibale in the hard disk, how is possible to hacke hijaak or .... and exam it or add this to the disk ?
What you was thinking when you propose this ? just curious.

Well, these drives have AAM functions disabled. But they probably could be enabled using configuration overlay commands (see ATA/ATAPI-7).

Ok, I really need an explanation, please.
The function is no long suported or the funtion existe and is not avaliable ?
If is not avaliable, can be there, but if is no long supported means that is not there anymore, so we have here a dilema ? or a mistake ?
or a misunderstood ?

Functionality is definitly in drive (PATA drives have this setting to minum noise - minimum performance, while SATA, for some reason, have this setting to maximum performance - maximum noise), but end users cannot change settings because command used to set this are removed - probably there are some non standard commands (vendor specific) to change this settings - but they are not publicaly avaliable.