Hello all,

So I've done quite a bit of reading before connecting my "dead" 7200.11 drive to the serial interface.

I was following the guide here:
https://sites.google.com/site/seagatefix/

Here's the status:

The drive initially failed and is not being recognized in BIOS. It's part of a RAID-0 array (ugh) and the data loss is not much of an impact to me, though there is a single file I would like to get back if at all possible. So here I am

- Following the guide above, the first time I made it all the way to successfully doing SMART erase (N1 in /1), but after that, I hit a busy error immediately on the partition regeneration step.
- The drive clicks, 4 times when trying to spin up, and throws the spin up error (see below).
- BUT the very first time I went through the BSY fix... it actually spun up! As mentioned, I cleared SMART info successfully.
- A BSY error is reported at console (LED:000000CC FAddr:0025BF67)
- I cleaned /deoxidized PCB and motor contacts and made sure they are capable of making contact.

So here's what I get right now:

[PCB disconnected]
- power on drive
- wait ~20 seconds
- issue ctrl+Z in terminal....

F3 T>
(wait ~20 sec)
F3 T> /2

F3 2>
(wait ~20 sec)
F3 2> Z

Spin Down Complete
Elapsed Time 0.146 msecs

F3 2>

(removed cardstock, tighten PCB back down)

F3 2>U

Error 1009 DETSEC 00006008
Spin Error
Elapsed Time 36.027 secs
R/W Status 2 R/W Error 84150180
F3 2>

F3 2>U

Error 1009 DETSEC 00006008
Spin Error
Elapsed Time 30.817 secs
R/W Status 2 R/W Error 84150180
F3 2>

Error 1009 DETSEC 00006008
Spin Error
Elapsed Time 30.814 secs
R/W Status 2 R/W Error 84150180
F3 2>
[/code]

Note: It's clicking while it tries to spin up here. For any musicians out there, the clicking sounds like a metronome count 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and then repeats the series a few times after a short pause between that 4 count.

For what its worth, if I issue CTRL+C at /T, I get a "BOGUS ISR"

F3 T>
Spinning Down

Spin Down Complete
Elapsed Time 9.743 secs
Delaying 5000 msec

Jumping to Power On Reset
Bogus ISR




Any ideas? I'm not afraid to get a donor drive, a head comb tool & learn something new

Update on the sound, it's more like:

CLICK-clack, CLICK-clack, CLICK-clack, CLICK-clack,
1/2 second pause
CLICK-clack, CLICK-clack, CLICK-clack, CLICK-clack,
1/2 second pause
CLICK-clack, CLICK-clack, CLICK-clack, CLICK-clack,
etc.

I'm thinking crashed heads

Probably you have a bad pcb, try to change it from a donor drive and swap the rom from your bad pcb to good donor pcb.

_________________
My firmware database:
https://mega.nz/folder/O01DkBRI

Possible (1%) but unlikely, more like bad head(s) (99%)

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

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

So are head swaps basically just swap the heads in from the working/stable donor drive & done?

I mean, nothing to calibrate or anything special after that?*

*assuming you have proper head removal tool, clean room, etc.

I guess I'm going to spend a couple hundred bucks and give it try if so

I would swap pcb first and do rom transfer, then if still doesn't work means there is a head problem.
If u don't know how to do it u should ship the drive to a pro expecially if data are important.
If is only a pcb problem should not be so expensive.

_________________
My firmware database:
https://mega.nz/folder/O01DkBRI

Don't want to put you down or anything, but the heads have failed.

Here are the facts:

In order to swap heads for these, you need a good tool (500 euros + shipping = 650 euros), approx. 15-20 dummy drives to work on your head swap skills (15 x ~70 euros = 1050 euros), and assuming you have access to a clean room (otherwise, you're wasting your time).

Sum= ~1700 euros (a little more than $2K).

And to top things up, head swap for these models is not too easy. Needs some special tricks to get it to work.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

_________________
http://www.northwind.gr
SandForce SSD Recovery
Ransomware Reverse Engineering - NoMoreRansom! partners

What's this trick about?
Is it a secret?

_________________
My firmware database:
https://mega.nz/folder/O01DkBRI

I have access to a clean room, but I'll probably build one from duct tape, hepa filters, and rubbermaid products -- it likely wont be ISO-5 Class 100 certified . The room I have access to is dedicated for a different purpose and it would really be a PITA to use it for anything other than its intended purpose.

I can get the (plastic) head removal tool for my drive for < $50 USD shipped. If I planned to do this many times and wanted a nice wooden casket to store my tool in, then I might opt for the 500 euro tool.

A friend of mind replaced a HDD head about a year ago after watching a bit of youtube. First try, he had success. He must have been born for brain surgery, or it's not as difficult as you state. Your answers sure aren't in favor of the DIY'er learning the trade

Anyway this data has minimal importance to me. I'm in the IT field and would just like to learn how to do more on my own. I think it's fantastic that so much of this once very tightly held information is being shared with a larger technically minded audience.

Is the ROM transfer as simple as desoldering from the source PCB and resoldering to the donor PCB?

I did actually try a different PCB from same (working 100%) model. Same error, same clicking, but instead of ~30 seconds to error, it was coming up in ~10-15 seconds. I know that's not the best thing to do without ROM swap, so I just tried "U" 2-3 times and that was that.

I usually backup the rom first with my eeprom programmer, then i swap it with hot air soldering station.
This because on pcb 100466725 (which are usually mounted on this drives) u can't write the rom on donor pcb with eeprom.

For example on barracuda 7200.12 pcb i don't need to do any soldering stuff because eeprom programmer works great in reading and writing (but not aòways, sometime i need to desold rom also on 7200.12 pcb).
With eeprom u should check the status register of the rom chip, if it is 00000000 u can write it, but if is not 00000000 u probably will not be able to write it successfully (example if it is 11111111).

_________________
My firmware database:
https://mega.nz/folder/O01DkBRI

Do you use a SOIC8 clip for this while it's still on the board? like this (?)...

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/EEprom-CLIP-SOIC-8-IC-SMD-Programmer-Test-Connector-Universal-w-cable-adapter-/00/s/NzUwWDEwMzQ=/$(KGrHqZHJCYFHR8SuZkmBR7Ol6,Kj!~~60_57.JPG

Do you use a SOIC8 clip for this while it's still on the board?

yes, i use this one:
http://www.drivestar.biz/adapter-sop8-s ... vm03m85ak2

_________________
My firmware database:
https://mega.nz/folder/O01DkBRI

He's going for the HDRC tools..


Successfull head swap on .11 after watching some youtube, on the first attempt. And using cheap plastic tools. OK.

_________________
http://www.northwind.gr
SandForce SSD Recovery
Ransomware Reverse Engineering - NoMoreRansom! partners

If for trick u mean Nicola's tool is not really a trick!!

_________________
My firmware database:
https://mega.nz/folder/O01DkBRI

Yes, I believe it was a 7200.11 as well actually. But he's in another state and I'd like to try it myself

I don't know if they are "HDRC", but you seem to be suggesting that "HDRC tools" and/or the plastic head removal tools will not work. Is that your opinion? or are you stating that as fact? Can you provide more than " " ?

Yes.
Search this forum for "hdrc crap".

_________________
http://www.northwind.gr
SandForce SSD Recovery
Ransomware Reverse Engineering - NoMoreRansom! partners

Good luck with your drive.