Fire damage: help me ID this drive model!

[cragv]

Hi guys, interesting one for you. Can you identify the model of this drive? I've been investigating options based on the observable text on the label surface but there's still a lot missing unfortunately.

Entire front
Entire back
Zoomed label

Observable text from the label:

?????W50??-258
HDA P/N: 10034??54.............................Product of Thailand
Config: VHI-01
Firmware: 9.51.....................................E-H011-03-0087(B)
Date Code: 06134.................................Site Code: TK

Caution. Product warranty is void if any seal
or label is removed, or if the drive experiences
shock in excess of 350 Gs.

Any help in nailing this one down would be really appreciated. I'm rather hoping your particular knowledge of Seagate drives from this era will be good enough that you can pick it to within say, 2 or 3 possible models, or even better, if one particular HDD expert can say "only X particular model had part number ending in -258 with that particular firmware version", etc.

Of course, if I manage to work it out, I'll let you know, too!
Thanks all

[Alexii]

ST3160022ACE
ST3120025ACE
ST380012ACE

IMO.

Where did the drive come from ? Computer or DVR /Tivo?

[lcoughey]

Have you opened the drive yet? My guess is that the platters are toast...punn intended. Can you post a pic of the interior, too?

[cragv]

It came from a DVR (security system). There were two drives, a Hitachi and a Seagate. The Hitachi's label is still readable, whilst the top of the Seagate is gone, as you can see. They'll be opened in my lab today or Monday depending on workload - I'll post back with Seagate interior photo/s ASAP. Thanks for weighing in!

[cragv]

I've lifted the lids of both drives in my clean lab. I'll save my observations for my client, except to say the Hitachi's platter appears to have warped from the heat slightly (has slight up/down variation when rotated). Likely unrecoverable. However, the Seagate drive appears to be straight, although I won't rotate this one until I know its clear of debris (ie. I'll transplant to a new chassis before testing platters for integrity). I suspect damage to the platter surfaces as there is a lot of debris in here and the heads are a mess. Without further ado, here are the internal pics:

Lid seal appears intact
Platters are soiled but not too bad - I've recovered from worse (although that was admittedly lower data density)
Heads are severely damaged
A good reason not to rotate the drive 'just to see'

As you may note, this drive has been inspected by another DR company (much bigger than my one-man operation) and declared 'unrecoverable'. The top magnet has been removed already (supplied separately along with the drive, looks nicely charred).

Given the bottom three heads are in use and the top one was not installed, I'm thinking this was probably a 120GB HDD - so maybe the ST3120025ACE as Alexii suggested...

Thanks all

[cragv]

Can't edit my post to say the rest of the lid seal was left on the drive chassis when removed (you can see it in the second pic on the RHS), so while the lid was on it would have hopefully done its job.

[hddguy]

The top magnet has been removed already (supplied separately along with the drive, looks nicely charred).

Was there any strength in the magnet?

[cragv]

I'm moving home and office today, tomorrow and Sunday. Will come back to this thread at that point, including testing the magnet. Thanks again for your interest, all, I'm looking forward to working on this drive more and discussing it here. Thanks guys.

[cragv]

Thanks for bearing with me, folks. I'm in my new office and back up to speed.

The top magnet has been removed already (supplied separately along with the drive, looks nicely charred).

Was there any strength in the magnet?

I've just had another look at the magnet (photo here). Not as charred as I recalled (memory distorted by the charred outer hard drive shells, no doubt), although the magnet has shifted a little on the bracket and the attached plastic has melted somewhat. After testing with a screwdriver against the magnet itself I'd put magnetic strength at approximately 15% of original. Doesn't bode too well for the data on the platters, but I think it's still worth a shot given donor drives won't be overly expensive.

Any thoughts or comments most welcome at this stage. Thanks all!

[cragv]

ST3160022ACE
ST3120025ACE
ST380012ACE

Thanks again for weighing in with a guess at the drive model, Alexii. My donor drive has arrived. Looks like a match, front and back. I have doubts about the ROM chip being intact but we'll move it across after the platter swap anyway.





Will let you know how it goes! Thanks guys.

[cragv]

Had to call this one a failure unfortunately. Performed a platter swap from soiled source chassis into clean donor chassis and moved the adaptives chip across from source to donor PCB. (Also tested with donor adaptives chip after this, in case the source one was toast due to heat from the fire - unlikely but entirely possible). The rebuilt drive started up when power was applied, sounding normal, but then the ATA register didn't get past 'BSY'. The heads appeared to seek for the SA but either couldn't find it or couldn't read it. A shame!



Thanks again to all for your input, I really appreciate it.

[labtech]

After powering on, what is the terminal output?

[northwind]

I think you've put too much effort to this, to just call it a day. I agree with labtech's question, what is the terminal output?
Does drive make quiet beeps by any chance?

[cragv]

It did not occur to me to attempt to access the terminal, embarrassing as that is to admit. I didn't have an appropriate adapter for my PC3K Portable but certainly could have used my RS232-to-TTL serial adapter that I made a few years back for the 7200.11 bricking issue. I wish I had tried this! To answer the rest of the question, northwind, I had no noises or quiet beeps; the drive simply powered up and sounded just like the healthy donor drive had sounded when I tested it prior to the transplant, but the BSY register remained on.

I regret being now unable to access the drive as it has been returned to the client company for safekeeping. I'm sure they would send it back if I was to request it, but I don't want to waste their time, especially if it amounts to nothing (although it may be worth a shot I suppose). I've been doing drive rebuilds for a few years now and in recent months have (finally) become quite proficient at it. (Of course, my challenge now is finding suitable donor drives for my jobs, which is a present struggle for 6 open jobs I have here - I expect many of you are the same in this regard!)

I would love to have known precisely what the cause of failure was for that Seagate drive. I had expected it was simply heat causing damage to the platters but cannot say for sure. Regardless, thanks again for your help on this one, guys. I'm really sorry I couldn't deliver more interesting results after all the time and effort that went into this one!

[northwind]

Hey cragv

Thanks for the input.

To be honest, I'd give it another shot. It's not a waste of time, since I believe you have already done the dirty job, and now it could be something really simple. Since you say drive spins up, calibrates and doesnt make any horrifying noises... I would give it another shot if I were you.
You could explain that you have another idea that could lead to their data back... or not. Let them decide.

PS. Yes sourcing parts has always been and will always be a GREAT PITA

[cragv]

Thanks for the encouragement! Regarding the terminal, I suppose the next step would be to hook it up and watch the output when the drive powers up. The hope would be that we'd get a clue regarding the problem from there, yes? I'm off to hospital tomorrow morning but will be back in the office on Monday. I'll give it some thought; you're right, it probably is worth spending some more time on it. Nothing to lose except postage to and from the client, I guess!

[northwind]

I suppose the next step would be to hook it up and watch the output when the drive powers up. The hope would be that we'd get a clue regarding the problem from there, yes?

Exactly so.

I'm off to hospital tomorrow morning but will be back in the office on Monday. I'll give it some thought; you're right, it probably is worth spending some more time on it. Nothing to lose except postage to and from the client, I guess!

Indeed. Maybe it is something simple now.
Good luck

I hope that hospital thing is nothing important, get well soon!

[cragv]

Indeed. Maybe it is something simple now. Good luck
I hope that hospital thing is nothing important, get well soon!

Oh it's important, but nothing to worry about - my son will be born tomorrow morning
I'll let you know how this drive goes if I'm able to pursue it when I'm back. Thanks for the insight!

[northwind]

That is fantastic news then

Good luck!

[loki]

my son will be born tomorrow morning

Thats is great news!!!

I remember when my misses had our little daughter (2yrs ago) I was choked up & now I'm a 6' 5" big soppy bugger, but dont tell anyone


Loki