I am in need of expert advice and help. The hard drive is a
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB ST3500820AS P/N 9BX134-568 Firmware SD81
I have a sound file so you can hear the sound that it makes, and I have 2 pics I made from using
Victoria for Windows 4.3
Can anyone diagnose and tell me what the problem is and how to fix it. I don't have $400-$2400 to pay the experts cause i'm unemployed and that was the amount giving to me when I called a data recover center in my area. Wow that's pricey. Actually I'm a stay at home dad taking care of the baby girl and my wife so desperately wants me to recover this data to get the hospital pics and movies back of the baby. If anyone can help me I have no problem paying for it. We just don't have enough money to fork out $1,000/ A Grand to get the data back cause were not rich. Thanks

I could EASILY be wrong, and and unable to listen to the audio, but based on what I see in the pictures I'm thinking you might need to check this out:

tutorial-resolve-lba-seagate-7200-bios-don-recognize-t11040.html

If you want any chance of getting your data back you need to send to a pro. This does not sound like a firmware fault. The only advice i can give is keep the drive safe in a draw and save for professional help. You can easily loose your data for good attempting d.i.y.

Eventually I'll get one right

That drive is seized (or possibly stiction, 5% chance), it's NOT a firmware or PCB issue.

Unfortunately (for you) this is a PRO ONLY case, you are not going be able to "DIY" this one no matter how much guidance, sorry.

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I was just able to hear the audio, if I could delete my post original post I would, pcimage is 100% correct. This is the other issue the new Seagates are famous for, we get a TON of them

Victoria is showing the model number, firmware version (SD81), and serial number (9QM4321W). Is this information stored in the serial EEPROM or on the platters?

As the platters are not spinning / accessible, I would assume on the PCB / EEPROM

That's the obvious conclusion but AIUI drives report some other generic model number and serial number if they can't access the platters. Furthermore, stiction faults or spindle seizures cause the drive not to report anything at all, or am I mistaken?

It varies

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

7200.11 and other F3 architecture drives store the serial number in the ROM, like Toshiba.

This can be proven by connecting the PCB alone and getting an ID.

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Yes, seized spindle drives can ID via PCB!! Some of them even show you 0LBA with all proper identification, making average computer user believe the FW Bug.

make sure it's seized. and don't try to done by self.

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