Gradius2

The real part of the OS <between> HDD is on SATA controller drivers, keep this always updated with most stable release. The others are hints to keep your computer running fine and responsive. About NTFS and journal, yes: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc781134.aspx

I thought the firmware version out there now was SD1B and not SD1A..... I upgraded my ST31000333AS from SD15 to SD1B although my drives didn't fail before the upgrade. So far it seems a new 7200.11 symptom with SD1A: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=129459 Well, SD1B and SD2B are for other HDDs. SD1B: ST31500341AS: http://support.seagate.com/firmware/Brinks-4D8H-SD1B.ISO ST31000333AS: http://support.seagate.com/firmware/Brinks-3D6H-SD1B.ISO ST3640323AS: http://support.seagate.com/firmware/Brinks-2D4H-SD1B.ISO ST3640623AS: http://support.seagate.com/firmware/Brinks-2D4H-SD1B.ISO While those uses SD2B: ST3320613AS: http://support.seagate.com/firmware/Brinks-1D2H-SD2B.ISO ST3320813AS: http://support.seagate.com/firmware/Brinks-1D2H-SD2B.ISO ST3160813AS: http://support.seagate.com/firmware/Brinks-1D1H-SD2B.ISO From Seagate: Note: If your drive has CC firmware, your drive is not affected and no further action is required. Attempting to flash the firmware of a drive with CC firmware will result in rendering your drive inoperable. Funny enough, they removed LC above. Gradius It seems CC are affected after all: Know issue: Clicking: doesn't read/write while clicking leading to BSOD or other errors.

Important steps to follow: - Always keep your OS updated; - Check your HDD for any possible error (like cmd > chkdsk, or similar); - Keep your drivers updated, specially drivers for SATA controller chipset; - Always use a good anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall, and keep them all updated; - Whenever possible keep a backup of your most precious data; - If using Windows, keep the registry as clean as possible (for example: Registry Booster, or Registry Mechanic, or CClean [is freeware], or other). To speed up a bit: - Clear your browser cache (aka Temporary Internet Files), etc; - Remove programs you don't use or need anymore; - Remove services you don't use or need anymore; - Remove auto-startups (msconfig) you don't use or need anymore; - Use defrag disk like diskeeper (or your favourite tool). Gradius

So far, this applies only to those who just did a firmware update/upgrade to SD1A, without requirement of 0 LBA or BSY fixes. It seems more and more reports are coming from those who just did an update/upgrade to SD1A. I was thinking on possibility on bads (AD14, SD15, SD16, SD17, SD18 and SD19) firmwares didn't write well the "journal sector" (I'll use this term) while those drives were operating before upgrading to the fixed SD1A. If this is confirmed, then it explains why we read more and more reports talking about getting BSOD errors on Vista and unable to perform a new format to re-install Vista, leaving the drive unusable. There are also error reports while using Linux too. From Seagate: http://stx.lithium.com/stx/board/message?b...ing&page=10 More reports: http://forums.seagate.com/stx/board/messag...;thread.id=8569

Well guys, I have bad news for those who just did an update from (for example) SD15 to SD1A, when the drive didn't showed any 0 LBA or BSY symptom. I'll open a new topic talking about it. Edit: ok here is: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=129459

I'll only talk about this part, is the only one "interesting". Valid signals are plus or minus 3 to 15 volts for RS232. From wiki: A common deviation from the standard was to drive the signals at a reduced voltage: the standard requires the transmitter to use +12V and -12V, but requires the receiver to distinguish voltages as low as +3V and -3V. Some manufacturers therefore built transmitters that supplied +5V and -5V and labeled them as "RS-232 compatible." Many adapters also includes an Optocoupler inside on IC or component. This is my last reply for aviko, if you want to continue this flamewar, go to a place like youtube and start putting comments on any video there, I bet you'll get a lot more fun there.

Just wanna to confirm this once for all (specially for those who just found this topic). Thanks to this guide, over 1000 HDDs were 100% repaired without any issue, or data loss until date. There are innumerables "Thanks" here as evidence, so this just reaffirm the guide is flawlessly (as far the user understand every step of guide and is able to following them). I'll just say that: In which you'll trust?, in someone who came here for flamewar, caos, and Confucius's thing (using untested cmds and doubtful methods), or those who really wants to help? Well, I don't even need to answer that, right? Gradius PS: 6 years is nothing, specially when you pass over 20 years into this stuff.

Well, so far I got no report about that, thanks to guide at: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=128807 I estimate it helped to fix over 1000 HDDs so far, w/o any problem, and absolutely no errors were reported. Someone with 150 HDDs with BSY and LBA problems told me he recovered 100% of them, w/o issues or data loss. I'm using 6 HDDs, 2 them were with BSY error, and 1 with wrong firmware, I updated those 4 (SD15) to SD1A and they all are running just fine at this very moment. Gradius

If you shorted them, then you might fried the terminals.

Okay, I decided to continue the code, but I don't vow any ETA. I'll released it for LBA errors first as a beta test.

This would be the design for the software: Unfortunately I really don't know if I'll continue with this project because this sad aviko's episode I lost interest on it. And yes, automation is perfectly possible, without any risk for users and not hard at all, just some hours of hard work would do it. I have around 50% of code done.

If I have time I'll put a software to automate the process, between today or tomorrow this will helps the newbies around.

This one was obviously a sarcastic post.

Enough with this OFFTOPIC stuff.

The commands wouldn't be that different (after all we're just using terminal access to the drive), but he still used datas from PC-3000 & SD guys, proof: http://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/viewtopic.php?p=5876480 Message from 19 Gru 2008 08:51 (penultimate msg there): "500 Gb BSY and Cap 0 solution.rar" "Data Recovery from 0 GB Barracuda 7200.11.rar" The only thing it could be a little bit different would be the arguments used on commands.

Well, if you think that is because you didn't read nothing I posted. That's sad, but true.

I would say the real credits of this are from PC-3000 guys, then SalvationDATA copied from PC-3000 guys and okzo copied from them. PC-3000 costs around $10k, there are pirated China version costing $500 or less, but not always works, or not work at all (with no support at all, of course). So the real credits goes to: http://www.acelab.ru http://www.acelab.ru/products/pc-en/pc3000.html The credits are already there. Those guys deserve it.

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This was already done before and showed here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...8807&st=100 The only difference was I used a paper card, instead plastic.

Sorry to say so , but that's not really a "valid" argument, as I (and some other people) see it : http://homepages.tesco.net/J.deBoynePollar...ess-metric.html jaclaz That study is based from 2005~2007 datas, if google wants to keep on the top of search engine, they should always make better filters to avoid repetitive links. Perhaps they're already doing better than the past (they should), but I know, I cannot trust such engine for metric, it was just a simple and speculative example.

Well, even if they do a copy & paste, it will do probably nothing with that almost indecipherable and incomplete "guide" at yura.projektas.lt It wouldn't appear as hardly now thanks to the guide available on this topic, but before that, the guide @ yura.projektas.lt was very hard to understand and I lost hours to deciphering step-by-step that (no kidding) and confirming the whole process on links I provided on "credits" part. The guy @ yura was so mean that he didn't bothered at all to answer any questions, nor reveal details. If you asked him anything he would just say "if you don't understand, go away!". Of course I didn't need to ask anything in first place. About the software isn't a hard part, I have a simple VB proggie that I can adapt for Seagate and release the source code under GPL/GNU. The lower side is that would me requiere to install VB (ouch!) on my already loaded and full notebook, and using more of my "free" time.

Other people have updated to SD1A and their hard discs continue with LBA 0 problem. Then, they have updated to AD14 for repair the 0GB problem. It is better than you continue with SD15, because you cannot return to this firmware. I don't understand why they are doing downgrade , when a simple cmd like this: F3 T>m0,2,2,0,0,0,0,22, (enter) will fix 0 LBA error even with SD1A.

He has, Pete. Check his first post If appears as "TecTintas", relax, it's me. I didn't changed the name, because PayPal's is too bureaucracy just over a simple name, so I still didn't bothered to change it.

I wonder how you managed to turn on echo since you need to do some steps to achieve that. How to turn OFF: On HyperTerminal select File > Properties > select "Settings" tab, press ASCII Setup, and turn OFF "Echo typed characters locally". Click OK. That should do. It's always safer and better use a simple CR2032 battery, or two +1.5V AA will do, even two +1.2V AA (rechargeable) also will works (they must be fully recharged before using).

Getting a 3V battery like CR2032 (same type used in PCs) is safer and ain't expensive. USB2 is just +5V DC @ 100mA, besides, if you short circuit by accident it can fry your USB port.