Hello friends!

I am novice to this forum and to hdd repairing too!!

I want to know if exist any secret for connecting 7200.11 or 7200.12 hdds to serial port using usb to ttl adapter. I have no problems connecting to seagate 7200.9, but not with 7200.11 or later. I think the unique difference is changing speed from 9600 to 38400 bps. I only use TX, RX and GND serial port pins.

What i am doing wrong??

Thanks in advance,
excuseme for my bad english!!
Oleg.

Perhaps the interface voltage levels are mismatched. Measure the voltages at the Tx/Rx pins of your adapter, and the Tx/Rx pins of the drive. Also measure the voltage at the 4th pin of the HDD jumper header. That pin will be pulled up via a resistor to the Vio rail.

See http://malthus.zapto.org/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=192&p=449

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

Do you see any output ?

Breaking in with ctrl-Z is sometimes problematic on some .11 and .12

but should at least see the initial Rst message etc

Thanks very much fzabkar, i will read your link... . My ttl adapter use 3,3v and 5v output, but i have a doubt, is necessary connect 3,3v to hdd vcc pin?? I have read that it is not necessary, at least in the 7200.9 i have proven it... I use sata power connector from an aditional power supply to feed the hdd..

hi tried the baudrate program, it will find the correct baud for you.

tool called "baudrate" https://code.google.com/p/baudrate/


Very handy, it will cycle thru all the rates and detect the right one.

Some times hyperterminal says "can not open com3 port" and other says Connected but nothing happens, any message...

That's right. All you say has proben but not response. I insist, in 7200.9 i have no problem. I will try with a good known hdd. But is very stranger that it happens me with various 7200.11 hdds.

Thanks!!!

Lets to see if we understand each other:

1: I have and usb to ttl serial port adapter buyed on ebay with prolific driver installed. The adapter has TX, RX, GND, 3.3V and 5v outputs. I test the loop back connection (shorting rx with tx pins of the adapter and responds to terminal).
2. Also i have made succesfully connections to varios 7200.9 hdds (for example hdd seagate sata 80 GB) connecting the tx adapter pin to rx hdd pin, rx adapter to tx hdd and ground adapter pin to ground hdd pin.
3. For the 7200.9 i use succesfully the following configuration on Hyperterminal:
Bits per second - 9600
Data Bits - 8
Parity - None
Stop Bits - 1
Flow Control - None
4. For the 7200.11 i use with no succes the following configuration on Hyperterminal:
Bits per second - 38400
Data Bits - 8
Parity - None
Stop Bits - 1
Flow Control - None
5- Com ports for the adapter are correctly configured and active. But i noticed that if drive is power off or something is wrong in the connection wiring you may receive the message "unable to open com3 port". So i think that may be a common failure in pcb that not permits the access to terminal or there is other trick to get the connection. For example, i have read that in some hdds needs to be shorted a read channel...
6- I assume that RX, TX and GND pins distribution are the same for 7200.9, 7200.11, 12 and all other seagate sata drives.

Resuming, i only have made success connections to Hdd Seagate 80GB sata drives (7200.9), but not for seagate sata 500GB , 1 TB 7200.11 or 12 neither for seagate momentus 5400.6 drives.

Well, I hope that my problem is more clearer now for yours.
thansk to all for replies.
regards,
Oleg.

Don't do it!

I believe the +5V output comes from the USB +5V supply, and the +3.3V output is probably generated by the +3.3V linear regulator inside the bridge IC.

The bridge IC has a TTL RS232 I/O section that can either be powered from the chip's own 3.3V regulator, or it can be externally powered. That's why I asked you to measure the Tx/Rx voltages.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

Yes , what is the adapter?

I have good success with a cp2012, but there are later versions with a better chipset. I think it is the FTDI ones that I have had issues with.

search on this forum and HDD Oracle for a thread where myself mentioned adapters and fzabkar mentioned that there was a newer chipset... I cant remember specifics, but you'll find it.

you don't mention trying other comport values
you don't mention trying the baudrate program.
you don't say what your adapter is

these are relevant info

Hi HaQue:



I tried com3 and com4 changing adapter to another usb port, but nothing...



I haven't access to your link, i'm sorry, i am cuban, access forbidden... "that's all we know", said google!!!



Here is a picture of my adapter.

Hi,
I cant see the cip but looks to me like a PL2303 I had issues with one of these, but I think it was related to drivers, cant remember now.

I would buy a different one, something like "USB to TTL Converter Module Adapter with Built-in CP2102 Chipset" or a CP2103.

Also, you shouldnt need to "try different Com Ports" You should plug in your device, go to device manager, see what the com port actually is, and use that. If you want to continue with this adapter, make sure you have latest drivers. Windows might guess a driver and install it, and it may work with some things, but go to the driver page of the chip manufacturer and download the correct one. Re-Install, and make sure you uninstall the old driver first, and choose "also delete current driver software" or whatever that option is.

I would strongly suggest:

1. get CP2102, cp2103 adapter
2. Install drivers for this
3. check the com port in device manager
4. get the correct baudrate for the drive and setup software correctly.

PS, I will put the baudrate program in the files section and link to it in a minute...

Hi HaQue!

My adapter name according to ebay is USB To RS232 TTL PL2303HX Auto Converter Adapter Module for arduino. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-5PCS-USB-To ... 4637wt_827)

I use the following prolific driver: http://www.prolific.com.tw/UserFiles/fi ... v1_7_0.zip.

I will try to search in google and updated driver for that chip. But i think that if work with 7200.9 would work with 7200.11 too.

Another track: I have read that when serial connection is established you can type some characters in Hyperterminal, if thats right, i can do it, but no any message from hdd.

About com ports i agree with you, but i think thats is not the problem.

thanks very much!!!

Hi,
What about link to baudrate program?