Does anyone know if there's a way to get this model/family into kernel mode?

Thx

Such models have a safe mode but it works differently comparing to other models

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SAN, NAS, RAID, Server, and HDD Data Recovery.

OK I figured there had to be something. Two things, will you tell me how to initiate this safe mode and can I change the head map in this mode?

The safe mode can be initiated exactly as on any 3.5" WD drive
You can change heads map if drive initialized properly

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SAN, NAS, RAID, Server, and HDD Data Recovery.

Doomer,
I appreciate your responses but so far they have been very cryptic. I know how to initiate Safe/kernel mode on 3.5" PATA and most SATA drives. So far the methods by which I normally initiate safe mode have not worked.

I have come to respect the opinions of the people on this site if nothing more than the fact that everyone is entitled to one, though most the time I have found myself disagreeing (but I will stay away from that subject). With that said, if this is one of the topics that you feel is "industry" information then I'll be happy to leave it at that and I won't push the issue. But, if it is not then I could really use just a straight-forward answer on jumper settings to get this thing in safe mode.

I can promise you that I know the "normal" methods for getting these drives into safe mode. I am only refraining from posting how I do it as a way of trying to show that I'm respecting your right to hold this information as private, though I feel that it isn't. If you are willing to share what you know in private then I can understand that and would be appreciative of a PM.

The only thing I would point out is that this is not a "normal" WD model, it's a raptor and I have gotten other opinions on this matter so far. I've been told by (well-informed) others that there is no safe mode for these models and I only posted on here to see if someone might be more informed.

No matter what the outcome, thank you for your time.

What Doomer probably wanted to say is that YES, there is a safe mode as there is in other series, the problem is HOW to start it.
And YES again, if the drive is kickstarted in safe mode you can change the head map.
Nothing more nothing less.

Am I right ?

Please read my first post

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SAN, NAS, RAID, Server, and HDD Data Recovery.

To make it easy for you
If your question is
"Can I put this drive in safe mode like I do for other WD drives and then read ROM and patch the map with PC3K/SD/HRT?"
The answer will be NO
Such utilities cannot do what you want

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SAN, NAS, RAID, Server, and HDD Data Recovery.

Thank you. I don't normally want things made "easy" for me but I'm on a very tight timeframe with this particular drive and I don't have the necessary time to go through my normal actions. I take from your statements that the safe mode that this drive offers cannot alter ROM/headmaps in anyway and that I need to initialize the PCB normally through some other means to accomplish what I want. I had this idea but due to the time constraints I don't have time to get another drive that is similar enough to make this happen and I don't have one in stock. If this is not what you meant then I apologize.

As a separate note (I believe I already have the answer that I need for the original question, thx) how is safe mode started on these or at least what does this safe mode offer in comparison to WD's normal stuff? It isn't for this recovery because I've already made the decision on it.

Thanks for your answers in the "easy" format. They are aligned with the other answers I've received and what I've found.