I have a WD800BB-00JHC0 drive just in with exactly the same problem that I had with the same drive 3 weeks ago. I haven't been able to fix either drive. Any help would be appreciated.

The drive ids as Sabre. SA verification is ok. SA structure test ok, All service tracks read, all service modules read ok, heads test ok. Service area surface and write tests ok.
Transferred rom to an identical donor - Now it still Id's as Sabre.

Customer confirmed that it has the original pcb.
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This is the error message seen as the drive id's itself:

Techno mode key
Techno mode key......................... : Ok

RAM:
Zone allocation table................... : HDDs RAM reading error - Device Error Detected: "VSCE PERM OVL NOT LOADED"
SA SPT.................................. : 533

Head number reading..................... : Ok
Heads number............................ : 2

ROM:
ROM reading............................. : Ok
ROM Data size........................... : 128 Kb
ROM version............................. : 08.8FC
ROM generation.......................... : 08.8FC
Link table version...................... : 01.B0.
Heads configuration..................... : by map
Heads number............................ : 2
Heads number in use..................... : 2
Switched off heads...................... : No
Head map................................ : 0,1

Service area:
SA dir reading.......................... : Ok (Copy 0)
Configuration reading................... : Ok
Master Password......................... : has not been set
User Password........................... : has not been set
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When I try to regenerate the translator using Plist I get the following error:

Heads number............................ : 2
Heads number in use..................... : 2
Switched off heads...................... : No
Head map................................ : 0,1

Service area:
SA dir reading.......................... : Ok (Copy 0)
Configuration reading................... : Ok
Master Password......................... : has not been set
User Password........................... : has not been set

SA surface verification
Cyl: -1 Head: 0 Break................... : Ok

SA surface verification
Cyl: -39 Head: 0........................ : Ok
Cyl: -40 Head: 0........................ : Ok
Cyl: -41 Head: 0........................ : Ok

SA surface verification
Cyl: -39 Head: 0........................ : Ok
Cyl: -39 Head: 1........................ : Ok
Cyl: -40 Head: 0........................ : Ok
Cyl: -40 Head: 1........................ : Ok
Cyl: -41 Head: 0........................ : Ok
Cyl: -41 Head: 1........................ : Ok

Translator regeneration
Regeneration method..................... : Use P-List only
Translator regeneration error - Device Error Detected: "VSCE PERM OVL NOT LOADED"
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On comparison to an identical drive, there is a slight difference in startup sound. It is pretty subtle but the good drive seems to have 3 different phases ... spin up,
head move then track seek. The patient has similar noise with a weaker third stage.
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Below is the drive id listing. There are differences in the "logical cylider count" and "current logical parameters" between the bad drive and an identical good drive.

HDD parameters-BAD DRIVE

CONFIGURATION GENERAL INFORMATION:
ATA device
Fixed device and/or controller

Logical cylinders count..................................... 24071
Logical sectors per track................................... 63
Logical heads count......................................... 16
Model............................................. .......... WDC ROM MODEL--SABRE--
Serial number............................................ ... WDC-ROM SN# XYZ----
Firmware.......................................... .......... 05.01C05

Maximal block size for READ/WRITE MULTIPLE commands......... 16

Features
Stop Timer Value
IORDY............................................. Supported
LBA Mode.......................................... Supported
DMA Mode.......................................... Supported

Current Logical Parameters
Cylinders......................................... 24 071
Heads............................................. 16
Sectors........................................... 63
Capacity.......................................... 24 263 568 Sectors (11 847.4 Mb)
Capacity available in LBA Mode.................... 156 383 137 Sectors (76 359 Mb)
Capacity available in LBA 48 Mode................. 156 383 137 Sectors (76 359 Mb)

Available DMA Mode
Multiword DMA Mode 0
Multiword DMA Mode 1
Multiword DMA Mode 2
Active DMA Mode............................................. Multiword DMA Mode 2

Active UDMA/33 modes
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 0
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 1
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 2
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 3
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 4
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 5
Current UDMA/33 mode........................................ [none]

Current PIO mode
Supported Enhanced PIO Modes
PIO MODE 3
PIO MODE 4

Minimal multiword DMA cycle time............................ 120 ns
Recommended multiword DMA cycle time........................ 120 ns
Minimal multiword PIO cycle time w/o stream control......... 120 ns
Minimal multiword PIO cycle time with IORDY................. 120 ns

Supported standards
ATA - 3
ATA - 4
ATA - 5
ATA - 6

Supported Command Sets
S.M.A.R.T functions

Security system............................................ . Not supported
condition flags :
password set...................................... NO
HDD Locked........................................ NO
HDD Frozen........................................ NO
wrong password count exceeded..................... NO
security erase support............................ NO
security level.................................... HIGH
Master code.............................................. ... 0000







HDD parameters- GOOD (DONER) DRIVE

CONFIGURATION GENERAL INFORMATION:
ATA device
Fixed device and/or controller

Logical cylinders count..................................... 16383
Logical sectors per track................................... 63
Logical heads count......................................... 16
Model............................................. .......... WDC WD800BB-00JHC0
Serial number............................................ ... WD-WMAM97734248
Firmware.......................................... .......... 05.01C05

Maximal block size for READ/WRITE MULTIPLE commands......... 16

Features
Stop Timer Value
IORDY............................................. Supported
LBA Mode.......................................... Supported
DMA Mode.......................................... Supported

Current Logical Parameters
Cylinders......................................... 16 383
Heads............................................. 16
Sectors........................................... 63
Capacity.......................................... 16 514 064 Sectors (8 063.5 Mb)
Capacity available in LBA Mode.................... 156 301 488 Sectors (76 319.1 Mb)
Capacity available in LBA 48 Mode................. 156 301 488 Sectors (76 319.1 Mb)

Available DMA Mode
Multiword DMA Mode 0
Multiword DMA Mode 1
Multiword DMA Mode 2
Active DMA Mode............................................. Multiword DMA Mode 2

Active UDMA/33 modes
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 0
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 1
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 2
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 3
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 4
Ultra DMA/33 Mode 5
Current UDMA/33 mode........................................ [none]

Current PIO mode
Supported Enhanced PIO Modes
PIO MODE 3
PIO MODE 4

Minimal multiword DMA cycle time............................ 120 ns
Recommended multiword DMA cycle time........................ 120 ns
Minimal multiword PIO cycle time w/o stream control......... 120 ns
Minimal multiword PIO cycle time with IORDY................. 120 ns

Supported standards
ATA - 3
ATA - 4
ATA - 5
ATA - 6

Supported Command Sets
S.M.A.R.T functions
Security control

Security system............................................ . Supported
condition flags :
password set...................................... NO
HDD Locked........................................ NO
HDD Frozen........................................ NO
wrong password count exceeded..................... NO
security erase support............................ NO
security level.................................... HIGH
Master code.............................................. ... FFFE

Thanks
Gordon

try to use loader

There doesn't seem to be a loader create feature in PC3K. Where else could I get a loader fro this drive?

Thanks

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Thanks,
GB

mod 11

kinda RTFM...

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Adatmentés - Data recovery