Hello,
I've had an unusual case in for recovery, I thought it might be worth sharing. A full recovery was made of the HDD.

Samsung Momentus ST1000LM025 / HN-M101ABB-2AR10001 - USB3 integrated.

Summary: When connected via native USB connection and terminal the HDD reported as having a failure of head 1. Changing the head map to 0,2,2,3 allowed access to LBA values from heads 0,2,3. Wiring into SATA channel of PCB did not easily provide a RDY status. Consequently a PCB swap with serial flash was conducted. HDD entered ready, head 0 was reported as having error in terminal, however ALL data from heads 0,1,2,3 was readable with no bad sectors.

Detail:
Symptoms on arrival: with USB connected HDD would spin up, would not be recognised by computer or PC3000 USB utility. It was making some slight tapping noises to begin with but would become stable. It was possible to access SA via terminal. No LBA values were accessible. It was possible to read the SA. However after about 15 minutes of reading the HDD would spin down. It was necessary to power off-on the HDD for it to reach a ready status again. Given the speed of the terminal connection it proved difficult to read some of the larger modules.

Inspection of the terminal output suggested head 1 had failed (sea output 1 below). Changing the headmap in RAM to 0,2,2,3 allowed data access for head 0,2,3. Once initialised changing the headmap back to 0,1,2,3 allowed access to data from 0,2,3. No data was readable from head 1. The HDD was opened and the head assembly and platters were inspected for damage. Internally the HDD looked OK.

An attempt was made to solder wires into PCB to connect a SATA data connector but it was difficult to get a reliable connection, therefore a matching SATA PCB from a ST1000LM024 was used. HDD reached RDY, the terminal output is copied below (‘output 2’). Note that in this output head 0 is reporting error ("UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:0). The SA was read in full with no errors. A headmap was created in Data Extractor. It then became apparent that it was possible to read data from head 1. All of the allocated data areas of the HDD have been read with 0 bad sectors.

I am still waiting on customer confirmation of the file listing so the HDD has not been reassembled with the original USB PCB – it will be interesting to see if the HDD responds normally when this is back on the HDD?

Does any have any thoughts about why the HDD has responded in this way?
Best regards,
John

Terminal Output 1 – with native USB PCB:

ActiveFW : 00
FWVer : 0001
SATA PLL cal done
DDR size detected = 8MB

DDR size detected = 8MB

*PAUNI_L2957*PA VID=0006 PN=0009 Rev=0002- PA_UNI Found
*PAUNI_L2957*PA VID=0006 PN=0009 Rev=0002- PA_UNI FoundU
S_0SHK NF Cal:19
SO_1
SPU@25C,4951mV
IS=3
CLA ..36/83
HO..OK
HO RPM=3480 OK
AC 920
ST..OK
mS1 00000003
GT:429
SC(L):4093/65
BE.N:12
LD..OK
SK C: 7169 H:0
Boot Sector Error! Take a default.
Loaded FIT ( 0: 0: 1)
CalibTable Loaded. Rev:0x1B
ResoTable Loaded. Rev:0x01
Bump Limit Loaded. Rev:0x01
RRO1xTable Loaded. Rev:0x01
Fw Active 00
Ovly loaded to 0x00014D00
Ovly loaded to 0x1002E408
FdtTable Loaded. Rev:0x02
Reading Serial Num Pass
Up MC

PwrOn RRO1x @ H0
Table) cos = -1084160, sin = -998656
Coeff) cos = 179922, sin = -213282

DiskSlip : 208 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 216 [SrvTrk]

PwrOn RRO1x @ H2
Table) cos = -1151744, sin = -973824
Coeff) cos = 60866, sin = 37731

DiskSlip : 213 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 205 [SrvTrk]
TgtCyl: 832
Hd: 0 Zn: 0 Avg.:- 101
TgtCyl: 268368
Hd: 0 Zn: 1 Avg.: 1007

SVCAL(0080,0000)-->PASS
RecordValid Ok : 0407E47D 0007E41D
ReadyTime = 4451304 us
ENG>mS1 00000003
UF4 1VE
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:1
SK C:153854 H:2
SC(U)..4093/286
UD..OK : 286
PK_4 C: 54 H:2
-------------------------------------
Terminal Output 2 – with matching SATA version PCB:

ActiveFW : 00
FWVer : 0001
SATA PLL cal done
DDR size detected = 8MB

DDR size detected = 8MB

*PAUNI_L2957*PA VID=0006 PN=0009 Rev=0002- PA_UNI Found
*PAUNI_L2957*PA VID=0006 PN=0009 Rev=0002- PA_UNI FoundU
S_0SHK NF Cal:21
SO_1
SPU@26C,5038mV
IS=5
CLA ..36/89
HO..OK
HO RPM=2902 OK
AC 1131
ST..OK
mS1 00000003
GT:409
SC(L):4088/-4
BE.N:16
LD..OK
SK C: 7518 H:0
Boot Sector Error! Take a default.
Loaded FIT ( 0: 0: 1)
CalibTable Loaded. Rev:0x1B
ResoTable Loaded. Rev:0x01
Bump Limit Loaded. Rev:0x01
RRO1xTable Loaded. Rev:0x01
Fw Active 00
Ovly loaded to 0x00014D00
Ovly loaded to 0x1002E408
FdtTable Loaded. Rev:0x02
Reading Serial Num Pass
Up MC

PwrOn RRO1x @ H0
Table) cos = -1084160, sin = -998656
Coeff) cos = 144964, sin = -196256

DiskSlip : 208 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 212 [SrvTrk]

PwrOn RRO1x @ H2
Table) cos = -1151744, sin = -973824
Coeff) cos = 80171, sin = 54603

DiskSlip : 213 [SrvTrk]
DiskSlip : 201 [SrvTrk]
TgtCyl: 832
Hd: 0 Zn: 0 Avg.:- 99
TgtCyl: 268368
Hd: 0 Zn: 1 Avg.: 1005

SVCAL(0080,0000)-->PASS
RecordValid Ok : 0407E47D 0007E41D
ReadyTime = 4454647 us
ENG>mS1 00000003
SK C:154891 H:0
SC(U)..4088/121
UD..OK : 121
PK_4 C: 25 H:0
mS1 00000003
GT:408
SC(L):4090/19
BE.N:15
LD..OK
SK C: 7260 H:0
mS1 00000003
SK C:160077 H:0
SC(U)..4090/120
UD..OK : 120
PK_4 C: 67 H:0
mS1 00000003
GT:409
SC(L):4084/-16
BE.N:16
LD..OK
SK C: 7060 H:0
mS1 00000003
UF 3 1stGrayErr Hd:0
SK C:169072 H:1
SC(U)..4084/291
UD..OK : 291
PK_4 C: 40 H:1
mS1 00000003
GT:407
SC(L):4078/-17
BE.N:16
LD..OK
SK C: 7343 H:1
SC(U)..4078/111
UD..OK : 111
PK_4 C: 32 H:0

---------------------------------------------

_________________
CDR - Manchester Data Recovery Services
0161 408 4857
http://www.cheadledatarecovery.co.uk/

Interesting case, thank you for sharing!

_________________
$300 Data Recovery - Los Angeles Data Recovery

I have same case，Trying……

Hello. I'm sorry for my english, i beg your pardon in advance. I've got an ST1000LM025 HDD that does not give any life sign. No spin, noise, led, nothing. The PCB externally looks OK, so i think there is no apparent physical damage and i guess the PCB is to be replaced. While looking for a donor, i casually stumbled in an interesting announce, offering a bad-sector damaged ST1000LM024 and i thought it might be a good idea to swap an USB HDD to a SATA one, so an enclosure would have eventually made it functional again. I want to try and do the replacement, and this seems possible now that i've read your post, but i'm really a newbie. What diagnosis tool could i use to read the input, if after the operation the hdd doesn't work properly? Is there any particular attention to pay while operating (except for a general slight touch and patience ).
Thank you in advance and again sorry form my english and my basic questions...

Marco

Marco,

If the HDD is not spinning up then either the printed circuit board (PCB) has failed or the spindle motor is stuck. ST1000LM024/25 has a very high incidence of of failure relating to the motor getting stuck. Usually it is because the read-write heads have made contact with the platter surface and are now parked on the platter surface which prevents the HDD from spinning up. If this is the case then if you listen carefully when the HDD is powered on then you might hear a quiet buzzing noise. For further information please our business' article on the ST1000LM024 / 25 failure:

http://www.cheadledatarecovery.co.uk/20 ... 1000lm024/

If the motor is stuck please seek professional data recovery services in your country, it is not something that you can DIY fix.

Best regards,
John

_________________
CDR - Manchester Data Recovery Services
0161 408 4857
http://www.cheadledatarecovery.co.uk/

Thank you very much. I'll give a try when the sata PCB will arrive. I hope to be lucky... And let you know.
Thanks again
M.

@centosette, please upload a detailed photo of each side of your PCB. Sometimes there is a component (an inductor) that develops a dry solder joint. The fix is to resolder it. That's very easy to do.

Alternatively, if the heads are stuck to the platters (as distinct from a stuck spindle motor), then the drive may respond to some "percussive maintenance". However, this involves significant risk and should only be considered if you have no intention of paying for data recovery.

BTW, your drive is a Samsung model rebadged as a Seagate. The data recovery professionals love Samsung stiction cases. These represent easy money. In nearly all cases they just return the heads to the ramp and start cloning.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

I guess that depends on how professional the data recovery company is. Personally after a drive has had stiction I would never attempt recovery with the original heads. The risk of damage to the platters is too great. Once the drive has been imaged with the new heads you may well end up with two good sets of heads which is a bonus.

_________________
HDD, SSD, Flash and RAID Data Recovery
Founder of The Data Recovery Professionals Group

You are only the second person I have seen who makes this their standard practice.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

Our standard practice on these is to remove the head assembly and examine thoroughly under a microscope. Any sign of bending or other abnormality and we don't use them.

In approx 50% of cases, the HGA's looks slightly bent so we don't even attempt to use them.

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

Here is just one thread where a pro is saying that Samsung stiction cases are straightforward:

https://groups.google.com/d/topic/datar ... WqN-ENPKNI



He doesn't say exactly how he goes about it, but I have seen other threads which suggest that no parts are usually required.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

We treat stictioned heads like any set of suspect heads.

_________________
http://www.datasaversllc.com

Will always change to a known good HSA after a stiction.
After the job is done "leftovers" are checked for damage.
If visual looks ok they ends in a donor for test and reuse if they pass.

_________________
Digitalsupport Data Recovery
https://digitalsupport.dk

Yup...simple case just like Frank said.

https://goo.gl/photos/vB99kXs4chLQxaZB6

I am mirroring another where only 3 of 4 heads read. For those where the heads all work, almost none image without bad sectors.

_________________
Luke
Recovery Force Data Recovery

Hence why I ALWAYS remove the heads completely and throughly examine with a powerful stereoscope.

Often they can "appear" OK but on closer inspection they are ever so slightly bent and cause uneven flying and/or wearing of platter surface.

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

If heads bent, just make them straight and read. Of course If you not so sure in your hea(n)d(s) or eyes - change heads.

You do it your way, I'll do it my way.

I know I get excellent results, so if the method isn't broke I ain't gonna fix it!

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

Hi there,
the donor bad-sectored ST1000LM024 was delivered last week and today i tried and swap the PCB's. It's too bad nothing has changed: the ST1000LM025 is still not giving any vital signs: no buzz, no spin, no tickles, nothing.
I carefully inspected the USB 3.0 PCB and noticed no sign of burnt components or the like.
I need some hints now, but basically i have a doubt: may the lack of spinning be a consequence of wrong firmware settings? or rather should in this case the hdd spin anyway, without - for instance - mounting or allowing data access?
I think that, should it be a PCB issue, and should the PCB's be compatible, now the USB PCB + bad sectored HDD bundle should work, and this i'm going to try next.
Should it be a stuck head problem, scratching over a plate, I should hear a slight buzz, which i don't.
Should it be a spindle motor issue, is there a way to replace it without exposing the plates to open air?
Any suggestion is appreciated!

Thanks in advance, good night.

I spent the last 50 minutes reading about freezing (really, in the freezer) the hdd.... how about it??

Examine the terminal output.

How to connect a terminal cable on a Samsung drive ?
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?t=189&p=455

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.