Hi everyone, I hope the HDD gurus out there can help me! I have a Maxtor 20GB model 2B020H1 (f/w WAH21PB0) where I'm trying to retrieve files. This all came about when I was using Acronis TrueImage to backup this hard disk, how ironic

Half way through I got read errors, so I rebooted the PC to run scandisk in Windows. The BIOS then showed Maxtor Athena, and using Maxtor PowerMax it showed firmware as WAH21PBZ. After searching the internet, I saw posts mentioning firmware.

I found the free Maxtor Firmware Repairer PRO software which corrects the G-list for Maxtor drives using DSP CPU. I ran this software, after setting the drive into safe mode. It said it repaired table 3 and then the BIOS recognized the drive - woohoo!

Now being a total dumbass I decided to boot into Windows and run scandisk. Bad move, as I should've copied off my files whilst a had a chance. Instead scandisk detected errors and then I got drive unwritable error when trying to repair them.

After this the BIOS didn't recognize the disk again. No problem I thought, I'll just run the tool again! This time it said table 4 was fixed after running it. However now when I boot the PC, the BIOS program hangs and the drive isn't detected at all

So, what are my options? I have a backup from last year, but there are several later files I would like to get my hands on. The drive still has power and there are no clicking noises which leads me to believe there is some type of firmware corruption?

First, DON'T OPEN THE DRIVE.

I haven't used the free firmware repairer, so perhaps someone else can comment in more detail. Does it have an 'undo' function? Did you back up your existing firmware before letting it do it's thing? You might have just gone outside what the free software will do for you.

DIY didn't work anymore, neither google, it's time to fix it seriously , hoping your attempts with scandisk and FR haven't made the things worse. No free software, no emule and no word from any guru here and everywhere will revive the drive from this state nor any board swap. How much $ is the data worth? Ask a pro or buy PC3000 or Salvation, learn and you'll fix it.

G-List overflowed already.
Now time to meet professional. The problem is not like fever, now its like AIDS.

Best of luck to have data back...

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SHAHI
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Thanks for all your responses, I appreciate your comments

@rchadwick: I won't be opening the drive, I don't have the skills/tools for that. The free firmware repairer doesn't appear to have an undo feature, nor the ability to backup the existing firmware.

@BlackST: I'm sure my choice to run scandisk made things worse, but FR initially made the drive accessible. The data isn't worth too much money, as it was a home not work computer.

@shahij: You speculated that the G-List overflowed it's storage capacity, which I guess scandisk probably did. You seem to indicate that data recovery is very slim now - can the G-List be trimmed somehow?

Regarding the software solutions out there, PC3000 and Salvation products were mentioned. I've looked online and it's hard to find out much they cost, PC3000 seems a more expensive product. Salvation has a DATA HD Doctor for Maxtor, but I can't seem to find out how much it costs.

Can anyone give me a ballpark cost for these products? Also for a firmware related problem like this (not disassembly), how much would it cost to analyze? I'm guessing a lot of money, but I'm curious nonetheless. Thanks again everyone.

The best part is that even if you could afford pc3k or sd you have to know what to do (don't expect NOBODY HERE OR EVERYWHERE WILL TRAIN OR GUIDE YOU FOR FREE. When you buy a car the seller doesn't ask you if you have licence or know how to drive). For me, there's always an evaluation fee - not charged if you accept to do the work, then a dr fee depending on what to do and material involved, i.e. carrier for data recovered, shipping and insurance, and TAXES. I knew right from the start your data was not worth any money for dr, as you tried at your own high risk to do the job.

Where are u based i can recover ur data for 200$ .

Good offer!!!

Usually they buy me a cup of coffee when I recover their data...

It's your own fault if you allow it.

the tools you need cost around US$5 to to US$7k. Don't trust anyone using pirated versions. If you need a clean room, that will cost about 10K to set up cheap. (you won't need one in your case)

take the $200 offer, its cheap!