Hello,

Can we have a dead read/write head without hearing a clicking or strange sound?

I have a Seagate ST9500420AS that reaches readiness in PC3000 but when I try to run the utility it stuck.

Kind regards.

does it reach DRDY then seem ok, but once you try enter utility it enters BSY state?

Could be problem other than head damage, could be some problem with relocation parameters or SMART could be bad

First, many thanks for your quick reply.

exactly, it reach DRDY then seem ok, but once I try to enter the utility, it enters BSY state?

Could it be a PCB issue?

is there a way to recover data without open the drive and change the read/write heads.

try to enter utility before it reaches DRDY, then as it hits ready utility may open. Otherwise short read channels / isolate PCB depending what is best for you, then inside utility you can disable relocation parameters at terminal, or once inside utility you can try to disable through access to relevant system file.

I could access the terminal by putting a thick paper under the PCB, stop spinning then remove the paper then start spinning.

but when the drive start spinning, I hear a strange sound 11-12 times (not click sound) then the drive continue to spin but I get this error message on the terminal:
-------------------------------------------
Rst 0x10M
ASCII Diag mode

F3 T>/2

F3 2>Z

Spin Down Complete
Elapsed Time 0.135 msecs
F3 2>U

DiagError 00006008
Spin Error
Elapsed Time 19.935 secs
R/W Status 2 R/W Error 84150180
F3 2>
------------------------------------------
any command that I type then, I loose the access to the console and I get the message:

LED:000000CC FAddr:00279573
LED:000000CC FAddr:00279573


For the Logs, the drive is never ready and when I try to edit HDD ID, or any other function, I get:

----------------------------------------------------------
Test : Edit HDD ID
Drive not ready
Rd Sys File: vol = 0, FID = 093, Copy = 000...
Root Sys File Rd Err!
----------------------------------------------------------

when I click on utility status to see the FW, num head...

----------------------------------------------------------
Requesting FW Pkg ver ........
Error requesting FW Pkg ver!

Detecting Phys Sct Size...
Result.................................. : Error
Error obtaining Phys Sect Size!
Drive not ready
Detecting Max Head number...
Phys. heads............................. : Error
Drive not ready
Drive not ready
Detecting Max Head number...
Phys. heads............................. : Error
Drive not ready
----------------------------------------------------------

is It a read/write head that have to be changed

You should swap heads, to be sure heads is not the problem and that you're not even producing more problems.