IBM AVVA 80Gb problem

[ccc]

Hi guru's
I need a little advice from you.

I have an IBM AVVA 80GB with some clicks at start up but in max 10 sec. it initializing ok....i can read the SA area and it's ok (i think), some clicks, no bad modules... in my opinion i think that it's some bad sectors in SA or garbage in one module (i believe in P-list) because in LBA the hdd can read almost nothing, 90% of surface looks like have bad sectors....but i could be wrong...of course the G-list is allready full...

The problem is that i need some data (a bunch of photos) from it....I tryed some recovery programs, even Linux, but no luck, at first try to access it, the hdd start to make the usual IBM noise when found bad sectors and never stop from this...

I have saved all from the SA area ....should i format SA and than rewrite all firmware?...is the data safe after that?

Any hints?

Thanks

[pcimage]

Could be weak heads, I had one like that.

[ccc]

Hi
Thanks for reply.
Please look at this picture...do you think that can be a weak head there?...indeed the head 0 is a little weaker than other heads but this is a 5 years old hdd and i think is normal....What do you think?

Thanks

Attachments

[pcimage]

Hmm, they look fairly healthy.

You say 90% corrupted?

Where is the good 10%? Front, back, or all over?

[ccc]

Hi

It was an estimation...if i try to read in LBA mode it stops at approx. 5000 LBA and shows bad sectors from there...if i try to read from another (than 0) LBA still the same: it stops randomly at some lba and start to find bad sectors from there...i did't have the patience to let him until the end...it will take too long...

I found another interesting thing...when i try to read P-list it start to click only at first copy (and, despite that, the software(PC3k ISA or HRT) says that it's OK) ...and is the only place where start to click...all other modules can be read without any click...i tryed to rewrite the first copy of P-list (from the other copy) but the error is still there...that's why i was thinking to format the SA and then rewrite the firmware again....

Thanks

[pcimage]

Take a look at the Plist, see if there is any dodgy looking entries.

[ccc]

Hi pcimage

You may be right about P-list entries...please take a look at this file, is an export of P-list entries:

Code:

http://www.mytempdir.com/1373178

There are some strange things in the list but maybe i'm wrong...

Thanks

[rchadwick]

I'm sorry if I'm interrupting, but what program were you using that shows the heads like that?

[pcimage]

Looks like HRT to me

[pcimage]

Hmm, not so much strange entries, but a lot of them!

Mainly head 0, I notice. This HDD obviously wasn't too well when it left the factory.

Maybe worth a head swap, but surface degradation is my bet.

All IMHO of course.

If you have DeepSpar Disk Imager, it may get a lot of the sectors given a few days. I had one just like this, took a week to get a 98% image, enough to get nearly all clients photos.

But don't hammer it with s/w based clone tools.

If you're in or near UK, I can try and help.

[ccc]

Hi

To rchadwick, Yes is HRT 2.1....

If you have DeepSpar Disk Imager, it may get a lot of the sectors given a few days. I had one just like this, took a week to get a 98% image, enough to get nearly all clients photos.

I can't affort a PC3K PCI here in my country ,as for DeepSpar Disk Imager no way i can touch it...

But don't hammer it with s/w based clone tools.

That's i was thinking too...a software solution probably will take months....

Thanks anyway

[Amarbir[CDR-Labs]]

Hi Mates ,
This was indeed a very useful discussion .Keep it Up