I know what you're thinking. Another broken maxtor. I've read countless forums looking for help for this drive but being a total newbie at HDD repair I didn't understand any of it. If someone would be so kind to add me to MSN and walk me through the process of repairing the drive I would be very damn greatful. Info of the drive is....

DiamondMax Plus 8
Size: 40gb
Codes: NAR61590, 6E040L0510605
lba: 80293248

Thanks again guys. My MSN is charlesy006@hotmail.com

To fix something, you need to know what's wrong with it. With the exception of mind readers, none of us know...

Being a practicing mind reader I am opting for firmware fault.

_________________
The last I heard of God he was worshiping me

Yeah, sorry about that. It is, without a doubt a firmware fault. Shows up in bios as N40p, and that seems to be the most common defect with them. My bad.

What recovery software do you have?

A little free application called "HDD repair 2.0". I've been able to use it to load a firmware from a working drive, it then displays the correct firmware (NAR61590). I'm unsure about what to do next. I've tried reading the g list but it gives me an error. Tried writing the working firmware to the disk using the program but I get another error.
The drive is already in safe mode, which is what I've gathered for these, the jumper horizontal over the bottom left 2 pins.

- put drive in master mode on secondary IDE
- fire up the program
- select poker cpu
- select port 170H
- select recalibrate, click on didc ID
On the bottom on the program should see some lighting registers; what do you see?

Why recalibrate , why not load a loader ?

I got the loader loaded and then it displays the correct firmware, but that's all that will work. I can't read the p or g lists or I can't write a ROM. No idea why. If you guys want screenshots of my errors then I'll snap a few.
Thanks for the help everyone . I'll post results when I can get access to a computer that will be able to use the utility. Should be on monday or so.

Just to see what FW version and what status register HD return in normal mode, sometimes it is possible to load loader without safe mode jumper. If that is the case it is very likely he can repair that drive.

Ok, last time I tried it I had the jumper on safe mode. Are you telling me if I put it into master mode on my second IDE, then load that loader I got working I might be able to temporarily access the drive from windows?

to access it from windows, have to repair firmware first..

Alrighty. I want to get this secondary pc working now so I can mess with this hdd some more.Should have the parts I need early this week. Hopefully.

Ok, I got into working with the drive today. All these screenshots were taken with the drive set to master mode on IDE 2. Seems to be the same results as when I had it set to safe mode.
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6968 ... tedug1.jpg This is when the drive is detected. Notice the incorrect firmware number.

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/9708 ... derna1.jpg After loading the loader. I have 2, and the first file that says "error opening...." is the bad one. The second one loaded. Firmware displays correctly now.

What now?

Check structure.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/8753/c ... ureav6.jpg

The err and abrt lights lit up. This is in master mode on ide 2. Should I try safe mode?

Yes.

Dear charlesy006,
Can you share the utility "HDD Repair" with us if its free?

Thank You
Rahad

"HDD repair 2.0"
Can anyone share the utility download link?
Thank You
RAHAD

I agree with rahad.