Hi all,
I have usb Maxtor 250GB personal storage 3100 (1 year old). Three days ago, it stopped to work. When I power on it makes "click sound" continuously for about 10/15 second. I have open usb box and connected HD directly to IDE port of my Pc: same sound; my Bios showing "MAXTOR SABRE" HD (i think is factory alias). I have used Dload Maxtor utility that show my firmware: BAH42G1Z.
I want to try to recover my data (this HD is/was my backup disk!!). In these days I have read this forum to find a way.......but I don't know how.....

1)Which software can I use to recover my data or fix firmware??
2)Where I can find a tutorial??
3)It's possible to upgrade my firmware, and where I can find/ask it?? (Seagate??)
4)Which jumper setting for "safe mode"??
5)Can I try changing HD PCB??
I have search a lot, but I haven't found a lot informations about this HD.

My HD specifications:

MAXTOR DIAMONDMax 10 250 GB PATA133
Model: 6B250R0
Code: BAH41G10 K,G,G,A
Mfg Date: 15Jul2005 Singapore

Firm??:BAH42G1Z (from Dload utility)
PCB 301956100 SABRE/RC3/RP

Any helps, will be very very appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Marco.

Indeed, you have a firmware problem. This manifests itself by the Factory Alias name and the FW ending in "Z". This usually means it's picking up the FW from the ROM the PCB, rather than the SA on the platter of the drive.

Possible to fix with "Maxtor Firmware repairer pro", but better to use PC3000 PCI (ISA ver will not support a drive of this size).

I've done loads of Maxtor drives with this problem with PC3000, but never used FW repairer, I think it's too expensive for what it does.

Don't know any other methods.

Either way, expensive,

Maxtor/Seagate will NOT support you in this.

Waste of time setting safe mode if you have neither kit to fix!

Hi, thx for your replay.
I have read something about "Maxtor Firmware repairer pro", but i don't known if my HD is supported. (it's only software or SW + HW solutions??)
DO you think it's possible to do a firmware upgrade with Dload Maxtor Utility??
Rgds,
Marco

Not sure if you drive is supported my FW repairer, I don't use it.

It is a SW only product, but VERY expensive, I think, for what it is.

NO, you cannot upgrade with any Maxtor utility, you need specialist product.

Clicking on Maxtors -> either bad heads(85%), bad PCB(10%) or corrupted firmware(5%).
The only thing you can try is to swap PCB from another similar drive.

izzi based on the f/w version you see and combined to the "click sound" it is almoust sure that you have bad head(stack).
I will disagree to pcimage in the part of drive having firmware problem (pcimage just look more carefully, and will understand what i'm talking about)
izzi about your questions:
1. IMHO here the problem is not software but hardaware related. Anyway I'm not sure "Maxtor Firmware repairer pro" will work with this drive and afaik even PCI did not support all SABRE drives.
2. Unfortunately I'm looking for same ....
3. No it is not possible, BTW upgrades are relased for those drives by the manufacture, but it have to be in working state to be able to upgrade it.
4)All pocker drives i have seen use one and same "safe mode" jumper
5)Yes, but if you need the data you have to be more carefull because if the heads are OK(hope i was wrong saying the opposite) you can damage them, you can damage the new board, and probably you can damage the spindle motor. In this case the recover would become even more difficult.
My advice is to take the drive to data recovery company at least for diagnosis.
Greetings

_________________
DataRecovery.bg

Samo

Yes missed the continuous clicking part, but have known this to be FW also.

To be sure, try hot swap with 100% compatible drive, then you will know.

If still clicks on recalibration after "sleep", then almost certainly heads.

Sometimes it can be just write head that is broken, so drive cannot write to SMART or G-list. In that case you can load LDR file and image until bad sector found, then you must reload LDR and continue. Have got 99% image from a drive like this without opening it!

Have had to use PC3000 Data Extractor "virtual translator" facility on the image to get all data back though. LONG process!!!

Sean

pcimage
Yes you are right in some cases can be FW.
I have in mind to pay attention where this f/w version was loaded from.

_________________
DataRecovery.bg

Thx to all,
I'll ask prices to a data recovery company. What I think, is that they are not cheap!!!I don't know if Seagate recovery center is better (My HD is in warranty...discount??) ..maybe I'll try with pcb hot swap..if recovery is very expensive and..if I find a donor.....
Rgds,
Marco