Drive Specs:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 250GB PATA
MODEL: ST3250823A
SERIAL: 3ND0LT75
P/N: 9Y7283-501
Firmware: 3.01
Date Code: 05391
Site Code: AMK

Hi All, I've got an issue on the aforementioned drive. The drive is running very hot as if something on the inside is seized up. I've pinpointed where the heat is coming from: When the drive is connected to power, it makes a very low buzz and heat starts to build up in the underside of the drive; not the PCB, but the motor area. I guess it's seized up? Can this me stimulated to movement long enough for me to image? What could I do do get this drive imaged off to recover the data? All input is highly valued and greatly appreciated. Thanks!

If motor is seized or winding short, the BEST solution is to move the entire paltter stack and the heads to a known good identical chassis. You maybe can be able to apply some "brute force" to free up the spindle, but it CAN rotate with heavy vibration, so you won't be able to read correctly data or drive won't init at all.

NOTE : you can have HEAD STICTION too : the spindle may not have any problem, but you have head stuck to platter, preventing rotation.
Check in clean room.

Just curious : what model was and was by chance a REFURBISHED one ?!?

Thanks for your quick reply BlackST. To my knowledge, this was NOT a refurb. The drive model is ST3250823A, Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 Series. From what I understand, this is a common failure on these drives; but I've seen many other Seagate drives fail for numerous other reasons.

What type of force would be necessary to create motion? Would you suggest some type of drill to stimulate the motor, or apply tangential force to the outside of the platters?

hard-drive-bearing-motor-tool-t11827.html

=)

For me, it would be better to move the platter stack and heads, if good.

PM'd

Moving the platter and head assembly would be a better option than unsticking the motor? Would I have a lower success rate at keeping it running long enough to simply image it? I just want to make sure I have a full range of the variables at play here; please explain.

Hi all. I have one of these drives, same firmware, same model, same site code. I believe I need a logic board replacement so I can recover my data. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Nat.

Why do you believe you have a board problem? Elaborate....

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okay, sorry about that. my first time here. well, i did something stupid a few years ago and hooked the drive up while the pc was on. it sparked a few times. well stupid me again, i tried hooking it up again *this time with the pc off of course* but all the drive did was smoke and.or smell funny. so i sent it to seagate, and they said it had mechanical issues, but nothing specific enough to help me. this was from their data recovery specialists who wanted to charge me $1200 to recover the data. i know the part that sparked was the PCB, so i figured it would not be a bad place to start. any other options would be appreciated!

thanks, nat

Too many people assume that PCB at fault even though its not.
In your case, you should start with replacing PCB first and then proceed from there to see if there is any other problems.
It is not guaranteed that you will fix your drive, but you will be on a right track.
I have a board for your drive. Check your pm.

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