Hello everyone

I have a problematic WD drive (it suddenly stopped and not recognizable from BIOS), and I'm trying to find out the kind of problem it has (an internal heads problem? or a PCB or something that can be fixed without opening it?)

I connect it to PC-3000 (UDMA) board and it is powered on (I can feel it vibrating).

The Hard Drive itself has the following info printed on it:
WD 320 GB Caviar SE
------------------------
WD3200AAJS-00B4A0
DCM: EHNNNT2CB
R/N: 701537
LBA: 625142448
WWN: 50014EE05606307E

on PCB:
-------
on Board: 2060-701537-003 REV A
Sticker on board: 2061-701537-G00AC XW6D05 V78F 6 0005430 8435

I run WDC Marvell Family Utility, and it auto-detects it as Pinnacle.
When I run the Utility I get the following information:
--------------------------------------------------
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.................................. : 1311

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

ROM:
Flash Dir reading....................... : Ok
ROM reading............................. : Ok
ROM Data size........................... : 192 Kb
ROM version............................. : 05.6QA
ROM generation.......................... : 05.6QA
Link table version...................... : 04.2K.
Heads configuration..................... : by map
Heads number............................ : 2
Heads number in use..................... : 2
Switched off heads...................... : No
Head map................................ : 0,1

Firmware version........................ : 0005006Q

Service area:
SA dir reading.......................... : Ok
SA Copies avalabled..................... : NONE

Configuration reading................... : No SA copy avalabled

----------
So any-one can guide or 'sniff' what might be the problem? Heads or PCB?

Any suggestions on next steps?

Thank in advance for your suggestions
Costas

Most likely is bad overlay.

If you have updated to new PC3000 update, you cannot work with SA by ID to check it. Check if you have LDR for 0005006Q , if not request it. If you dont know what Overlay or LDR is, outsource it.

Thanks a lot

Agree, pretty common issue with this model.

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

These commonly have irreparable bad sectors in SA as well, a lot of times you have to build compatible SA on another matching HDD and then Smart Hotswap/clone.

Thanks a lot

Bingo!!!

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

Hmmm.

I found a compatible LDR which was loaded successfully, but now I get error on reading the Flash Dir.
I start the utility from HDD (not profile or database).

===

LDR Data uploading...................... : Ok
HDD recalibration....................... : Ok
Techno mode key
Techno mode key......................... : Ok

RAM:

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

ROM:
Flash Dir reading....................... : Access violation at address 023883BC in module 'PCWDCM~1.DLL'. Read of address 00000006
ROM reading............................. : Ok
ROM Data size........................... : 192 Kb
ROM version............................. : 05.6QA
ROM generation.......................... : 05.6QA
Link table version...................... : 04.2K.
Heads configuration..................... : default
Head map................................ : 0,1

Firmware version........................ : Access violation at address 023883BC in module 'PCWDCM~1.DLL'. Read of address 00000006

Service area:
SA dir reading.......................... : Unknown error. Code(0)
SA Copies avalabled..................... : NONE

Configuration reading................... : Module 02 not found
====

Any suggestion how to proceed? I guess there is some 'incompatibility' on LDR and the rest of the flash?

Thanks in advance
Costas