Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB, no BIOS

[Levis]

Hi to all,

I'm new in here, so be kind with me

I'll tell you my "story", hoping to find some hints for resolution.

The poor hdd is a 1TB Barracuda 7200.12, with firmware JC45.

The first problem was the spindle stucked, recognized by the classical sound, an identical video of this problem can ben found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXxtSUwC2wk

So I've taken the hdd to the Clean Room, carefully opened, unstuck the motor with an homemade tool similar to the one that a lot of services sells all over the web.

The hdd was revived, now it spins correctly.

But BIOS doesn't recognized it.

So I've attached the RS-232 and made some tests, spin up & down are working, also with "good sound".

I've thought it's in BSY state, so I made the procedure, but nothing.

If I try to call the Heads with h0 to h3 they answer, so they seems ok, but if I try to make a Measure Throughput at level 2 with T command it gives read/write error.

So here the problem.

The heads and actuator seems ok, it moves, there's no head crash on the platters and now the spindle is ok.

Where is the problem?

I don't know what test to make now, I've finished all my idea and science

Maybe some guru can help me.

Thank you.

[jaclaz]

I've thought it's in BSY state, so I made the procedure, but nothing.

WHICH procedure?

jaclaz

[Levis]

The procedure for BSY problem described here:

[jaclaz]

The procedure for BSY problem described here:

That is for 7200.11 AND NOT for 7200.12 AFAIK.

We don't have a "proper" procedure for the 7200.12 only a single "undefined" (or possibly PLAINLY WRONG ) report:

You may want to TRY this one:

http://computersciencelabs.blogspot.com/2011/02/seagate-720012-sim-error-firmware-fault.html

jaclaz

[Levis]

But I don't receive the SIM error message from the RS232

When I power on, the response at RS232 is:

RST 0x20M

RW: Disc Ctlr Initialization Completed.

(P) SATA Reset

Then, if I send CTRL+Z, it gives the prompt:

F3 T>

So... what can I test now?

[jaclaz]

When I power on, the response at RS232 is:

With the PCB connected or disconnected?

MInd you, this is just :

1. curiosity
   
2. an attempt to have you provide EXACT, DETAILed info
   

As I have NO IDEA whatsoever of what a solution could be, and though there is no actually diagnosis of the actual problem, even if there was one and if it was accurate, we would have no documented cure for it.

jaclaz

[Levis]

The PCB is connected when I receive the message after power on.

Do you think it's better to make a test without pcb connected?

[jaclaz]

Do you think it's better to make a test without pcb connected?

Cannot say if better or even just "good" , I'm only highlighting for you the contents of the referenced method (that I repeat I have NO way to know if it will work for you, nor - more generally - if it works at all ):

http://computersciencelabs.blogspot.com/2011/02/seagate-720012-sim-error-firmware-fault.html

Also, even the "known" BSY fix for 7200.11 needs to have the PCB removed (or either set of contacts insulated) so I wonder HOW you ran that fix.

jaclaz

[Levis]

Ok I'll make a try removing the pcb as described.

Anyway this morning it is recognized now as a model ST_M13FQBL with serial QNR_BFW, any other clue?

[jaclaz]

Ok I'll make a try removing the pcb as described.

Anyway this morning it is recognized now as a model ST_M13FQBL with serial QNR_BFW, any other clue?

You may want to have a try to diagnose the issue with the free version of SEDIV:

http://sediv2008.narod.ru/

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsediv2008.narod.ru%2F&sl=ru&tl=en&hl=it&ie=UTF-8

but cannot say if it is now compatible with 7200.12 or more generally if it can be of any use for the specific issue.

More generally "intermittent" errors are a BIG PITA, and they are particularly difficult to troubleshoot.

While you have removed the PCB do check contacts, just in case:

jaclaz

[Levis]

Ok thank you I'll try this also.

Even if the hdd probably is lost forever really tnx for assistance