The TLL adapter basically emulates COM port on USB right? If so, can I just connect the seagate drive interface directly to a COM port on my PC? I'm planning to use a PC with Windows XP or 7.

that would suck

COM port uses +-12V signaling, which would kill the pcb instantly...
you need to match IO voltage to that of the pcb.

pepe

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Adatmentés - Data recovery

Do you know the IO voltage of the Seagate ST310014ACE drive by any chance? I'm new to unlocking by TLL adaptor.

Measure it. I'm guessing it will be 3.3V.

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A backup a day keeps DR away.

On the EEPROM or somewhere else on the PCB? I couldn't find any info of where to measure it.

Just measure the Tx/Rx pins. One or both will be sitting at the Vio supply rail.

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A backup a day keeps DR away.

Pins 8,6,2 are sitting at 5v. Pin 4 is the only 3.3v and pin 3 (the pin above it) sits at 5v. Rest show 0 volts. Will the pin 4 be the i/o voltage?

I wasn't expecting to see 5V.

The ROM's Vcc pin would be the Vio voltage. I would use a 3.3V TTL adaptor.

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A backup a day keeps DR away.

Just making sure I pick the right one. I found some TLL adapters. One is a MAX232 without pins for 3.3v and 5v that plugs directly to COM (description says it supports voltages from 3.3 to 5v) and an PL2303 based one with seperate pins for 3.3v and 5v (USB interface), which seller listed as UART USB TLL RS232 adaptor. Which one is the correct one?

I would purchase a USB-TTL adaptor, but either should work. You can also find adaptors with multiple selectable I/O voltages (1.8V, 2.5V, 3.3V).

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A backup a day keeps DR away.

Found this TTL adaptor. Pictures are in attached folder. Also measured what I belive Tx Rx pins on the fujitsu drive. AO is 3.3v while AI is 3v. Will it do the job for the seagate and fujitsu drive?

That should do it, although I think that this particular IC is often counterfeited. AIUI, the official driver detects these fakes and refuses to work with them.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/note-how-to-not-get-scammed-with-prolific-(pl2303)-usb-serial-adapters/

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A backup a day keeps DR away.

There are drivers that will work with the fake ones, right? Looking closer on the chip itself, it seems like manufacturer sanded down the markings. In the meantime Ill look for other alternatives.

Bought an PL2303HX TTL adaptor with markings on chip, so I shouldn't have problems with it being a fake. I am able to unlock both of them with Sediv and with TTL adaptor right?

I don't have Sediv. If you can find a user manual, please let me know. It's hard enough trying to find someone who is selling the product, let alone supporting it.

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A backup a day keeps DR away.

Do you recommend any software to unlock drives with TTL adaptors?

There is ZU, but that didn't work for you ...

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A backup a day keeps DR away.

Guess I'm using PuTTY as my terminal. Hope the PL2303HX will work as all the tutorials use MAX232 chips. Also, do you know what happened to hddunlock website?

Also found an ZT232LEEN chip in my parts bin. Reading datasheets for it it seems like I could use it to make an TTL adaptor, but thats a big maybe.

Can anyone explain to me how to select voltage for the TTL adaptor? I got the same one as I posted above, although this time with markings on chip (so I should have bought an legit one). There are 3.3v and 5v pins on it. Am i supposed to short them with ground pin?