electronicmaji

Where are you based? How much are you wanting to spend? Some results from a fresh search on e-bay: http://cgi.ebay.it/INTERFACCIA-USB-3V-TTL-...=item2c50e23ba9 http://cgi.ebay.ph/USB-To-TTL-Converter-AR...=item53dd53df4e http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320393829874 http://cgi.ebay.it/Cavo-Seriale-USB-TTL-3-...=item1c0dc6fa62 http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-To-TTL-Converter-M...id=380170437518 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-to-TTL-serial-Co...=item4834ba47d9 Some various links: http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/TTL-232R.htm http://www.rs232-converters.com/single_usb...l_converter.htm http://deccanrobots.com/productdetails.asp?prid=29 http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/391 http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/S22...L-INT-CONN.html http://spiffie.org/electronics/archives/ha...0Converter.html http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_deta...199%2C601%2C461 Please note that I do NOT personally endorse ANY of the products listed above, the above list is just an attempt to help you. ANY "USB to TTL" converter will work, most are based on the said MAX232 or on FTDI chips, but no matter which chip is used, a USB to TTL adapter will do. jaclaz USA, If I obtained a simple item like this http://spiffie.org/electronics/archives/ha...0Converter.html would I still need to power it via 5v or 3v?

Were you blindfolded when looking? To re-cap: the HD accepts TTL level signals a USB-to-TTL or a RS232-to-TTL or a USB-to-RS232 AND a RS232-to-TLL interface is what is needed there are commercially available (or it is remarkably simple to autobuild) such interfaces, this thread is FULL of links to various models Most cellular phones, including Nokia ones, are also programmed through a TTL level interface. Thus, if you ALREADY have one of those cellular phone cables around and you don't use it anymore, it costs you nothing to see if it works. Buying a new one is NOT advised because: you have to open it and while doing so there is a probability you will break it there are several types of these cables some work, some DO NOT, some have NOT the "right" drivers, and when you buy one of them there is no practical way to know if it's the "good" type besides, some of these cables get their power from the USB port, whilst some get it (if I may one of the stoopidest ideas I've ever seen in my life ) from the actual phone battery, so you have to connect an additional battery to replace the power normally drawn from the phone There are SEVERAL posts in this thread about this issue, most notably an illustrated one here: http://www.msfn.org/board/solution-seagate...-page-1756.html More generally, the various tutorial are to be used as a cooking recipe should be: if you are a professional cook, or you have some experience in the field, you can use the recipe as a base and change doses and ingredients and vary cooking time, result will probably be edible. if you are not expert at this, you should not change anything and do exactly as it is written in the recipe you chose. This said there are as well SEVERAL reports of success using various original and non-original CA-42, a couple examples: http://www.msfn.org/board/solution-seagate...-page-1805.html http://www.msfn.org/board/solution-seagate...-page-1833.html Common point is that due (generally speaking ) to the lack of experience of users, when there is a report of failure it is sometime difficult to say whether a given cable is the problem or it is the way the user connected it (or failed to connect it) or whatever. jaclaz Well then can you reccomend a usb interface that I can use? I can't use a serial port. Hopefully something I don't need to provide my own 5v too...

You could always make your own using a RS232<->TTL converter, as described in the first post. It's really not hard to do. I don't have a computer to use it on since the main pc had only one hd. The one that died.

NO, he is saying that IF the problem is one of the two detailed and IF the APPROPRIATE equipment has been used following PROPERLY the instructions, it has worked in a few THOUSANDS of cases. Swapping boards CANNOT work, unless a far more difficult procedure is used (involving soldering and desoldering on the board) AND the boards are really identical. You: basically: bought a cable that is not the "best" advised solution, and possibly is also one of the NO GOOD ones either managed to break it or the thingy was DOA: "connecting the tx to the rx cable produces no echo in hyperterminal either" don't want to buy another cable This does not count as a report of the unbricking not working, as you have a DEAD cable/not working equipment. jaclaz Well broski, reccomend me a proper cable then. I've already looked through nearly every page in the thread, I didn't see anyone reccomending anything but the ca-42

[serious] You would have TWO not working drives, and it is even possible that when you return the board borrowed to the drive where it was, you will still have TWO not working drives. DO NOT do it! [/serious] Indeed. The faulty data that causes the BSY error is stored inside the disk (read the explanation in the original post for more info), and simply replacing the PCB with the controller will not fix it. This solution requires you to invest a few $ in equipment, but it's not that hard to pull off, and in my personal opinion it's well worth the satisfaction of fixing something yourself, not to mention getting all your data back. You're assuming that buying the equipment and following the instructions works it hasnt for me.

still trying to figure this out don't really want to spend money on another cable

I bought a ca-42 cable off amazon, followed this guide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29FztWJVxbM no dice no response after ctrl+z the casing for the usb plug of my cable wasn't plastic it was rubber molded over a pcb encased in glue, which i had to cut off to read the port plugs. connecting the tx to the rx cable produces no echo in hyperterminal either i used the drivers that came with the device should I use another one?