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Tools for hard drive diagnostics, repair, and data recovery
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what is a firmware?

June 21st, 2007, 17:38

hi there can someone tell me what a firmware is ?

June 22nd, 2007, 14:28

It is simply the device's operating system, and often specific to that unique device.

June 27th, 2007, 11:00

It is effectively the "operating system" for the drive - it is the commands for the microcontroller/processor that controls the voice coil position, PATA/SATA interface, onboard RAM, ECC etc calculations etc

As with any software it evolves, and is quite large. That is why a high percentage is stored on the magnetic platter, with a "bootstrap" or base code on a firmware PROM on the PCB.

scegs
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