Well... here is a Barracuda ST380815AS with a broken SATA connector (with 6 remaining pins)
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?v ... ee0a0aRCRD

80 Gb
8 Mb Cache
1 plater
SATA 3.0 Gb/s

The Sata L type connector black plastic, was broken and what remains is the 6 of 7 solid hard copper pins.
I sugested to the person to bend de pins down and glue a sata connector to see if it holds with normal functioning. But he broke one of the pins trying it. So he discarded the drive and bought one with double capacity... This happened during a lanparty.
So i brought the disk and did that thing to see if it still works. I checked the missing pin . It was a ground pin so i tryed to glue the connector t osee if it still works.
It does. Eureka! So the drive is not lost.

Problem is that, meanwhile the tryouts, before having proper tools, the person broke one of the pins
The Middle pin - Ground pin does not exist. And the drive is still functioning 100% in windows / HD Tune pro / Seatools - NO ERRORS.

But... there is a strange "very slight" PCB burning smell in the SATA connector in the Motherboard side.

So....

Existent Info:
ST Specs claim 2.8 A of current draw on start up.
Drive is operating at 3.0 Gb/s mode (no jumpers).
14.9 ms access time in HD tune pro....while ST specs claim random read <11ms average
3.0 Gb/s or 1.5 Gb/s = no difference in benchmarks

The drive is worlking flawlessly atm.

Questions?
Is that missing pin, causing a excessive current on the other 2 ground pins (1 and 7) of the sata cable?
Is any of that 2.8 A of startup current draw on the sata data cable?????
From your experience and knowledge, will this be a durable situation?


Thanks

Get a new drive.... 30 Euro to replace that little drive. But remember put it in the computer and leave it alone ;O)

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All went well until I plugged the drive in.

From our little experience and knowledge, NO.

Why buy a broken disk just buy a new one. You will loose in the end when the pcb burns

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Call 1-800-ROUTER-DISK-RESCUE

Hi

I didnt bought the disk... the owner let it go for me to ... He bought the WD 160 Gb by 15 euros in the lanparty of a guy that had a couple of those to sell.
So to me it was the .. "keep it, see what you can do" ... kind-of situation.

The disk serves to test and stuff.
I am learning to do raid setups with it.

Thank you for the replys

Update...

Ok I am done, with this problem.
Found info that allows me to R.I.P. about this. For now.

Page 39(40) of this document: http://www.technick.net/pagefiles/serialata10a.pdf

Thanks.