Gradius2

I disagree completly when they says 320 log thing is "rare" to happen. Is it NOT, 2 out 4 (750GB) failed, and the other two were reported as "not affected" @ Seagate site (by s/n check). So to my case it was 50%. Super high! 1 failed as soon as I turn on the computer, the drive wasn't there anymore (BSY error). I double checked cables and all, and same thing, so I say "Holy! How come? This thing is NEW!". I used them for less than 5 months, and very few. Of course, a manufacture defect. Going forward (I lost almost 700GB of hard work after all), I started with 3x750, one of them was with Vista, after a M$ update, I was forced to reboot, OK, lets do it, I always do that anyway after a critical fix, and guess what? Another 750GB died from just a reboot (another BSY)! How come this thing to be rare? Isn't rare at all! They're completely wrong with the numbers. Their math is faulty. Gradius

$25 is too expensive though. This one does the same thing for 50% off. http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_dmptZMaga...B&_osacat=0 Depends. If you're getting CC, BSY and/or 0 LBA error, then yes. Gradius

The guide has been updated serevals times, just check here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=128807 Gradius barakaspeed, I'll update the guide (once more) with links for the materials. So far, you'll spend $20 or less in all them. About donation, I created this link Yes, it will. I used a more expensive one, yet more simple: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=449 Includes full pics and schematic. Gradius They sell jumpers (wires), but since I'm on Chile and I couldn't wait too long importing them, I just made them myself. http://www.hobbyengineering.com/H2362.html You only need 4 (four), but they sell 10 (minimum). Includes 20 headers too. Gradius FT232BL will works just fine, the problem it looks like IC only, and not mounted (ready to use). Like this one: http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_dmptZMaga...B&_osacat=0 Gradius

what models? ST3750330AS

I just flashed both drives with the newer SD1A, so far all good. Gradius

My modest PC: Q9450 @ 3.6GHz, Asus P5E w/ Deluxe 0205 BIOS, 4GB RAM, 4x750GB + 2x1TB, ATI HD3870 512MB, LG 22x DVD-R/RW, etc

Connect the HD on terminal, you should be able to see which error is (if CC or not). Gradius

Has anyone tried the update on a PC where the drive is not visible in BIOS? In other words tried the "S" (IIRC) to scan for drives, and see if it appears. Perhaps the firmware updater can see the drive, even though BIOS can't. Is perfectly possible to update, even if the drive isn't begin "seeing" by BIOS. How? ASM (assembly) ! Unfortunately almost nobody do that on nowdays, and very few out there are hardcores. Gradius

Ok, the drives are 100%. I didn't loss anything, it went back to it were before BSY error (and I almost had a heart attack!). This is a direct guide for BSY error, for details and more, check the 1st msg on this topic. I received the stuff at 14:30h today as you can see here: The one circled in red isn't necessary at all. In fact, is so tiny to connect those pins on Seagate, I was forced to give up on those plastics. Here is the kit fully assembled it took me 20min, mounting those cables is really a pain: Another angle: With HDD connected (note I giving up on plastic connectores [circled in red on 1st photo): The whole stuff complete to fire up: And on this photo (above) is the TRICK here, see that little paper card (CR2032) ? Yes! Just unscrew those around, and put a paper card or something to isolate the area (is the spin motor) like plastic, don't use anything that is an electric-conductor, after that you can turn ON everything. You can work with just 1 screw, like on this photo (square in red): On terminal you'll see nothing, just press CTRL+Z. And you'll get F3 T> prompt. With PCB disconnected from HDA with a paper card (or similar), you'll see: On terminal press CTRL+Z: F3 T> F3 T>/2 F3 2>Z Spin Down Complete Elapsed Time 0.147 msecs F3 2> Wait 5sec and remove the paper card, this will connect the PCB to HDA (spin motor), but since is in Spin Down state (from cmd), you'll feel nothing. Now screw just enough to make a good contact between PCB and HDA (be real careful here, don't drop the screw, just be calm, relax!). Then press CTRL+Z again: F3 2>U Spin Up Complete Elapsed Time 7.457 secs (if you get this msg you did everything fine until here) F3 2>/1 F3 1>N1 F3 1>/T F3 T> <<< At this step you'll need to POWER OFF your HD for 10sec, and then POWER ON again. By power off, remove the SATA power (not PCB!). When done, press CTRL+Z. F3 T> F3 T>i4,1,22 F3 T> F3 T>m0,2,2,,,,,22 <<< This command takes a little over a minute to complete! Max Wr Retries = 00, Max Rd Retries = 00, Max ECC T-Level = 14, Max Certify Rewrite Retries = 00C8 User Partition Format 5% complete, Zone 00, Pass 00, LBA 00004339, ErrCode 00000080, Elapsed Time 0 mins 05 secs User Partition Format Successful - Elapsed Time 0 mins 05 secs F3 T> You did it! Congratulations! Just turn off everything, and put your HDD on your lovely PC. Keep in mind TX and RX from Seagate are exactly like that, but on Seagate side. Connect it this way: PC (TX) > RX on Seagate PC (RX) > TX on Seagate The wires was inverted to me and I didn't get nothing, so I just reverted and finally got a terminal answer. Gradius http://www.kwikpiks.com/files/18/MSFN%20Se...%20topic/01.jpg http://www.kwikpiks.com/files/18/MSFN%20Se...%20topic/02.jpg http://www.kwikpiks.com/files/18/MSFN%20Se...c/connector.jpg http://www.kwikpiks.com/files/18/MSFN%20Se...%20topic/05.jpg http://www.kwikpiks.com/files/18/MSFN%20Se...%20topic/04.jpg

It worked, the part about spin down is INDEED necessary, but is a hell of tricky! I'll post some photos and the entire process on next msg. F3 1>/T F3 T>i4,1,22 F3 T> F3 T>m0,2,2,,,,,22 Max Wr Retries = 00, Max Rd Retries = 00, Max ECC T-Level = 14, Max Certify Rewrite Retries = 00C8 User Partition Format 5% complete, Zone 00, Pass 00, LBA 00004339, ErrCode 00000080, Elapsed Time 0 mins 05 secs User Partition Format Successful - Elapsed Time 0 mins 05 secs F3 T>

I'm getting this error: F3 1>N1 LED:000000CE FAddr:0028E24B LED:000000CE FAddr:0028E24B So far I'm stuck with that CE error (sigh).

Seagate's stock were almost $30/share back in 10/13/2003. Today, is as low as $4.11/share !! The HDD problems started around July 2008, look this incredible conscience! It started to drop in 6/2/2008 from $22.27: http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/chart...p;CP=0&PT=7 Meanwhile at Seagate:

This is the "new" one. I'm not responsible for any damage it can happen. New Firmware

I have the yesterday one at home. I can share it whenever i get home. Is there a new one ? New one is dated from today, 20th. A data de hoje (dia 20) é o "novo", mas eles removeram, portanto... é arriscado.

This is the NEW philosophy begin applied at Seagate: You might laugh, but is trully real life there !

Old firmware hash: File: MooseDT-32MB-SD1A.ISO MD5: F47E8927D241FAE6A5C85C249A57D1A1 SHA1: CE0ABB95B0A8350959DD43212A7455EA41A02782 CRC16 (ITU X.25/T.30): 3324 CRC32 (ISO 3309): 7E7F3886 CRC64 (ISO 3309): C3D44AFF55604A83 "New" one: File: MooseDT-32MB-SD1A(2).ISO MD5: 2C48FC21925FB2C56219AF524E3CE8A4 SHA1: 3E5CC22E03486D72BF5187287F2F473F510B6C1C CRC16 (ITU X.25/T.30): D839 CRC32 (ISO 3309): CAD01127 CRC64 (ISO 3309): CDF9A1C717B7170E

Actually, they removed the firmware from site again. Gradius

I have two drives on BSY state, I'll fix them as soon the RS232 to TTL adapter arrives here. Gradius

This is very odd then. Always when flashing you need to config your BIOS to IDE Enhanced/Extended (do NOT use RAID or AHCI on flashing process!). Also, disconnect every drive, except the bad one and CD/DVD drive in order to booting from CD/DVD disc. Boot from CD/DVD disc and try to flash (following the instructions). Burn this firmware at 4x max and try it. Trying fw AD14 will crash your drive, I know because I did with 750GB and I lost the access to my datas. Originally was SD15 and went for AD14, and bang! I managed to recovery thanks to fw SD1A (link above). Gradius

Thanks for the explanations, the other guy got me confuse on this matter. Gradius

I already answered in your topic. Gradius The last try is by doing the same thing as BSY step, but instead use the cmds from 0 LBA step. It could be the motor or head is stuck so isn't able to write the new data on service sectors. Update: This is rare to happen, but the same drive can have both symptoms (BSY and 0 LBA errors). Gradius

Let me guess. Your fw drive was originally a AD14 ?! Gradius

Yes, but since it was a ST3750330AS and originally a SD15. I have been flashed with AD14, and got error after POST (drive not ready), it was like that for days, until $eagate put SD1A on site and managed to flashing correctly. Gradius No it was working fine, but I got scared by the others two begin bricked (SD15 from August), so I decided to flash to AD14 and was a big mistake. I have 4 (four) 750GB, all them are SD15, the only difference are the Date Code (2 from July, 2 from August). I have 2 (two) 1TB too with CC1F, so far those are working fine, but the problem is the cache bug on HD Tuner it reports them all (750GB & 1TB) as N/A on buffer, this worry me. Gradius i do not know for sure but i doubt it? if the drive cannot be detected then it is pretty hard to apply firmware.... It detected fine on BIOS, but at the end of POST, it returned "drive not ready", and I couldn't access my datas anymore. I knew all along if I managed to firmware again with the right fw, I could recover my drive. Gradius No need to buy any kit, except RS232 to TTL, or USB>RS232>TTL adapters. They costs $15 or less. The entire solution is here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=128807 Gradius

Here is the datasheet: http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/DS_FT232BM.pdf Site: http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/FT232BM.htm It will works as soon the IC is a FT232BM (on photo on eBay I read as B on IC, but on title he used BM/BL, perhaps the photo is old). Gradius

If you re-brick, they will just send the same stuff back to you, the only difference it would be flashed by them. Why I know? I read someone sent the drive and he got the same thing back, they just flashed with guess what? Yep!, with the very same SD15. Btw, after RMA you'll have just 30 (or 90 days, I don't remember now) of warranty left ! Even if the drive had been used for couple days. Goodbye to the so called "5 years of warranty". Gradius