I have a Samsung Spinpoint MT2 (model HM100UI/Z4) 1TB 2.5" SATA drive that I'm trying to recover the data from. This drive came from an Iomega external USB powered box.

I've included the beginning terminal output after powering the drive. I can feel the drive spindle vibration, as well as see the SPOK message. These S_0AP message continue to count up. I'm trying to determine the root failure cause. I'm not in the DR business, I just help others from time to time. I'm reasonably familiar with drives and am a Unix/Linux kernel file system specialist.

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help interpret this output. BTW, is there any documentation for this Samsung terminal interface?

----

ActiveFW : 00
FWVer : 0001
DDR size detected = 8MB
SATA PLL cal done
*PA VID=0008 PN=0000 Rev=0006
*PA VID=0008 PN=0000 Rev=0006
U
S_0SSC EN
SO_1
SSC EN
IS=5
CLA #36/48
Handoff RPM=830
SPOK
SR:61 SS:00000280
mS1 00000003
A1O=16 A1G=423
O=509 S=-2
SK C: 5156 H:0
Loaded FIT ( 0: 0: 1)
CalibTable Loaded. Rev:0x1B
ResoTable Loaded. Rev:0x01
RRO1xTable Loaded. Rev:0x01
Fw Active 0000
Ovly loaded to 0x00014D00
Ovly loaded to 0x1002E300
FdtTable Loaded. Rev:0x02
Up MC

PwrOn RRO1x @ H0
Table) cos = -307200, sin = 1330176
Coeff) cos = -78587, sin = -165938

DiskSlip : 167 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 151 [SrvTrk]

PwrOn RRO1x @ H2
Table) cos = -305152, sin = 1332224
Coeff) cos = -40056, sin = -258816

DiskSlip : 167 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 151 [SrvTrk]

PwrOn RRO1x @ H4
Table) cos = -305152, sin = 1335296
Coeff) cos = 26477, sin = -97274

DiskSlip : 167 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 159 [SrvTrk]
TgtCyl: 832
Hd: 4 Zn: 0 Avg.:- 1033
TgtCyl: 208736
Hd: 4 Zn: 1 Avg.: 1382

SVCAL(0080,0000)-->PASS

S_0SR:0
AP:1 C:209187->209187 H:4->5 AP Cnt: 0
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
UF6 GE
SK C:108042 H:1
SR:1
AP:1 C:108042->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 0
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C:107469 H:0
SR:2
AP:1 C:107469->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 0
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C:108310 H:0
SR:3
AP:1 C:108310->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 0
SoUL!
PK_1 C:108310 H:5
A1O=15 A1G=423
O=510 S=-1
SoUL!
PK_3 C: 0 H:5
A1O=15 A1G=424
O=510 S=-1
SK C: 10113 H:0

S_0AP:1 C: 10113->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 1
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 65680 H:0

S_2 00000FFF 00000026 00000000 00000000SR:0
AP:1 C: 65680->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 1
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 66427 H:0
SR:1
AP:1 C: 66427->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 1
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 67654 H:0
SR:2
AP:1 C: 67654->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 1
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 70863 H:0
SR:3
AP:1 C: 70863->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 1
SoUL!
PK_1 C: 70863 H:5
A1O=15 A1G=424
O=510 S=-1
SoUL!
PK_3 C: 0 H:5
A1O=15 A1G=425
O=510 S=-3
SK C: 10109 H:0

S_0AP:1 C: 10109->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 2
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 74559 H:0

S_2 00000FFF 00000132 00000000 00000000SR:0
AP:1 C: 74559->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 2
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 75253 H:0
SR:1
AP:1 C: 75253->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 2
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 77558 H:0
SR:2
AP:1 C: 77558->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 2
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 79687 H:0
SR:3
AP:1 C: 79687->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 2
SoUL!
PK_1 C: 79687 H:5
A1O=16 A1G=425
O=509 S=-1
SoUL!
PK_3 C: 0 H:5
A1O=16 A1G=425
O=509 S=0
SK C: 10170 H:0

S_0AP:1 C: 10170->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 3
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 72351 H:0

S_2 00000FFF 0000000D 00000000 00000000SR:0
AP:1 C: 72351->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 3
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 72755 H:0
SR:1
AP:1 C: 72755->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 3
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 73343 H:0
SR:2
AP:1 C: 73343->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 3
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:5
SK C: 74132 H:0
SR:3
AP:1 C: 74132->209187 H:5->5 AP Cnt: 3
SoUL!
PK_1 C: 74132 H:5
A1O=16 A1G=426
O=509 S=-2
SoUL!
PK_3 C: 0 H:5
A1O=15 A1G=426
O=511 S=-1
SK C: 10100 H:0

(continues counting up like this)

Head gone (dropped maybe?) or severe media damage. Or both.

Thanks BlackST for replying. Since I can't afford DR service, I was considering opening the drive to inspect connections and look for any physical damage. Do you ever clean heads?

Can you point me to a guide that describes how to interpret this output? I can't tell which H parameter is the head number, 0 or 5 here.

Thanks again,
-Dax

No I can't give more details (not allowed). Sorry.

The terminal output does indeed, as others have mentioned, point to head trouble (damage/fault with head or damage/fault with media), which could be due to one or more things. The details, though, don't really make a difference in this case. Opening the drive to 'inspect' is just asking for disaster unfortunately and won't fix anything.

If the data is important to you then you should take it to a data recovery company. It's not what you want to hear, but you won't really get any better advice that will change things

_________________
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Hi Franc,

Here's a picture of my test setup. The little red circuit board is a RS232 to TTL level shifter circuit, which outputs 3V TTL since I've powered it with two AA batteries. I purchased this level shifter from Sparkfun for $13.95 (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/449). The white connector plugs into the 4 pin diagnostic port just beyond the SATA data port. I used a short cable taken from a scrapped VCR since it's four linear pin connector matched the drive. I used 3 of these 4 pins: the closest to the SATA connector is Tx (red), the middle is Rx (white), and the furthest away (black shield) is Ground. Since I was testing from Linux I used the minicom terminal emulator at 57600 baud mode with 8 data bits, no parity or flow control. (Had to experimentally determine the baud rate.) Hopefully this will be enough for you to interface to the terminal port.

It's a shame to come all this way and fall short by not finding any info on the Samsung terminal interface!

Hi Dax,

as u were told, your problem is not wether H0 or H5 is damaged. In either case this job is beyond DIY scope. If u want to experiment with your data, just go on, u have some chance though it is very slim without knowledge and technology.
Please do understand that pros will not help in such situation, because of 2 reasons (at least):
1. They would assist in killing data, not recovering,
2. It would be against their or other's business, like it or not.

Briefly: it's up to you what u will do in this case (of course), but condemning anybody or even the forum is not appropriate in this case.

Personal oppinion: BlackST was pretty much on the point, gave the right answer in short. Please do appreciate it.

pepe

_________________
Adatmentés - Data recovery

I don't see an SpinUpOk anywhere. Also, your head 3 is shot. UF = 3 1stGrayErr.
edit: Oh nevermind, there's the 'SPOK'. Definitely lab bound.

BTW, it seems that at this point there is a chance of a partial recovery on a lower rate.
At least I usually offer...


pepe

_________________
Adatmentés - Data recovery

hey dax,
did you recover your data on samsung hm100ui harddrive?
I have the same harddrive with firmware problem so I can not reach my data on it.
what do you recommend except taking it to a data recovery company and pay a lot of money?

How did you determine you have FW problems on this one? Or is this just a guess from reading posts in other forums and then thinking it is the same as my drive. Let me say this you can have drives that come in you think it is one problems becasue it acts like this did but in the end it is something else. Before determining this is really a FW issue go to a DR company and have them diagnose this for you.

_________________
Iorana Haraharaini

DR people charge a lot of money.

I am sure it is a firmware problem because DR company could reach at my data on hard drive without replacing heads etc.
But they offered very high price for recovery so I did not let them do recovery.

And so you came on HDDGURU in order to have your data for free, right ?

(IF it was so simple find someone else who will "FIX THE FIRMWARE" for free or for how much you are willing to spend, no ?)

So if they could reach at your data with out replacing heads you automatically think it is a FW issue. Sorry wrong. They have special tools that cost in the 10k to 20k range depending on what is in their shop and they can do things you will never be able to do for free.

_________________
Iorana Haraharaini

come on folks, stop trying to show this process like "it is a very hard or nearly impossible process"
There is a PCB part, heads part and platters on all hard drives and a smart person can fix it without paying hundreds of dollars! Not everybody is rich on this planet, so stop thinking in a capitalist way and help others who does not have enough money to save their data ok?
I am sure there is a simple solution for a firmware fix without paying hundreds of dollars to companies, they have earned enough money for years, they still want a lot of money. There are a lot of free tools on internet for especially seagate products, DIY hardware solutions etc.
Seagate has owned samsung hdd division so I hope they will release simple solutions for this kind of failures but it will take time and I have no much time, it is urgent!

You are WRONG.

There is NO MAGIC FIRMWARE FIX (even if it IS a firmware issue).

Just because you WANT a free solution doesn't make it exist.

Sorry to be blunt, but it's as simple as that.

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

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

Don't panic buddy, there is always a second way
And I WILL FIND IT then I will inform you.

Fine, have it your way.

Its not that "secrets" are being hidden or withheld, but it's impossible to remote fix a problem on a drive like this, especially without the required (expensive) firmware manipulation tools.

There is no magic wand.

Your attitude stinks, but I wish you Good luck.

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

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Just a quick note to the OP.

Id move your set up off the carpet to a desk and would suggest an anti static mat if you are going to carry on tinkering.

Such as this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTI-STATIC-R ... 27c38ac4ea


Good luck.

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DataWreck Data Recovery Services
www.DataWreck.co.uk