BlouBul

Did you try to reinstall the driver? If you want to use a Nokia cable, here is a good link to get it going and identify the wires http://buffalo.nas-central.org/wiki/Use_a_Nokia_Serial_Cable_on_an_ARM9_Linkstation

Hi Angus212, Welcome to MSFN There is some reports of drives clicking during BSY. See http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/128807-the-solution-for-seagate-720011-hdds/page__view__findpost__p__853090 That particular one was fixed using this method. I do not think it will do any harm trying the fix on a drive with this method even if it is not BSY (unless off course if it is very loud clicks that sounds if something internally is going to break at any time). The rest of the symptoms sounds very much like BSY.

Not that late, drives are still bricking daily. No, that is why everybody is doing it See also http://www.msfn.org/...-read-me-first/ If you really want to pay that much, I'm sure you will find someone Otherwise, try the link three posts before yours or http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item2a0895844a or something similar See Read-me-first point #10.

Yeah, especially if you never opened a hdd before (99% of the victims) and your data is not backed up (98% of the victims). BTW. I got a 2 TB external hdd today (opening special in new store - queued for 2 hrs in and 2 hrs out, but got a couple of good deals). I'll try the image thing with you now that I got more space.

I think that is the latest , so you should be OK.

What firmware version do you have? I can give you A LOT of other links to show that Seagate has been a little less than honest with the drives they admit to be affected by this bug.

Does it open faster now from inside Word? Does it make a difference if you do the same with your big file? Try downloading Seatools - that will tell you the firmware. http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools The other option is to physically take your drive out and see what is written on the label. Some info on 7200.11 series (you do not have to read all the posts!) and the shortened version http://www.mapleleafmountain.com/seagatebrick.html As I suspect you do not really want to go through that , I recommend you update your firmware, before your drive "bricks", but after the image. You're welcome. I won't totally disappear, I will just leave it in the hands of the experts (I will definitely chip in if I feel I can give some useful input). I also got some things that will take some of my time up this week, but I'll try to pop in from time to time. I am also curious how to go about this optimizing, so I will be around.

Hi JorgeA, Welcome back. Hope your project went smoothly. Those results show me something is different between the C# file and your file (maybe graphics). Try highlighting everything and set language to english as PuntoMX suggested. Did you check "mark grammar errors as you type". That turned my animation back on. Failing that, I will let you in dencorso's capable hands to help you to make the image and start the optimising process. I still suspect it will be fixed if you uninstall Norton (although I know you do not want to hear that!). Can you also please check which firmware your hdd has. (nothing to do with this problem, but I noticed you got the dreaded 7200.11 series that can suddenly turn into a brick if you do not update the firmware). Only do that after you have imaged your drive.

That will make a lot of sense if that is true . I just assumed (maybe very wrongly ) that JorgeA's animation and page counting run together in the fast tests like mine. If the animation is not complete, that will explain a lot of things. @JorgeA:When you get your fast results, is the animation complete?

Hi CoffeeCup, Your steps are basicly right. Before you connect the cable to your hdd, you can do a Loopback test to see if Hyperterminal can talk through your converter. That will tell you whether your converter is correctly set up or not. No use to try and connect your converter to the hdd if there is no communication. You do the loopback test as follows: With the one end of the cable in the USB port (and the other end with the six wires not connected to anything)you connect Rx and Tx to each other (just press them together with your fingers or isolation tape). If you now type anything in Hyperterminal, it is transmitted through Tx and Received back through Rx, and you will see what you type on the screen. If you do not see anything, your converter setup is wrong.

No, we do not see the 3 page step in the "English only file" as the numbering is quick (but the checking the same time as previous). In the original the checking and page counting runs together so I "assume" (not sure if correctly) that the page counting is an indication of the checking. And neither of us has Norton. Why is JorgeA's computer scanning the file in 26 seconds from outside Word with Norton?and we scan it in over a minute? But yes, sadly, it might be way above our heads. I just hate to have some "unknown factor" influencing my computer.

The fact that it was recognized is good (not sure if it needs to see it as ttl rs232 or usb). I think the ttl rs232 is better. Maybe try reinstalling the driver . Why did you remove the driver? How did you perform the loopback test. You can't switch Rx and Tx as they should be joined together You do not need the breadboard and other scary stuff as your converter replaces all. Just use the guide for the rest of the principles. See if you can crimp them a little bit. By that I mean take a plier and press hard on the opening to make it smaller and thus a tighter fit. But first get the loopback right, otherwise it won't work.

Hi Coffeecup, Welcome Back First Did you setup the converter in hyperterminal? (eg did Windows recognize the cable when you connected it and can you see the com port there?) Did you try a loopback test? (By connecting Rx & Tx, you should see what you type in Hyperterminal (everything is echoed back) and when disconnected, nothing.) Also, see guide by CarterinCanada http://www.mapleleafmountain.com/seagatebrick.html

Hi PuntoMX, Interesting observation. I also couldn't find the other languages (and BTW, why don't you have Dutch installed? ), but trying what you suggested, I saw what you said. With the newly saved English Only File the page counting (p1 of x)finishes in 20 sec, but the final checking in 110 sec. With the original file both page counting and checking finishes at 105 sec. So only the page counting is faster, but overall time is about the same. The page counting is also now a similar time as for opening without spell and grammer check enabled. (I wonder if this will solve part of JorgeA's problem that he can't work before page counting is finished.) These checks were on my work computer, therefore the slightly different times than before, but still win7 x86 and Office 2010. With the original file, the page counting might offer a guide as to what is taking so long (since the two stops at exactly the same time). I observed the following: 60 sec: Page 1 of 97 90 sec: Page 1 of 130 105 sec:Page 1 of 212 110 sec: Page 1 of 519 Note again: More than half the pages is counted (checked?)in last 5 seconds! Why can't the first half also be checked in 5 sec? What is causing the delay? In this test the time was exactly the same as the English Only version Still the counting in threes is observed.

You're welcome, I agree, but I also think it is more the second option (therefore all the cries for help) The first 3 test should take about 5 min if the previous results are repeatable (30 sec + 3:30 + 30sec). In the C# file it didn't matter if settings were on or off, it still opened very fast from outside Word. This is just to ensure there is nothing else running and the different times are under the same conditions. So just keep it consistent The second test should also take less than 5 min (you can save time by creating the new file after opening it in the test above). I think you only need to test it once to see in which group it falls. But if you are too busy, don't worry, there is no haste. Good luck.

Hi JorgeA, When you get a chance again, Open the C# file again from outside word, see if it still fast. If it is, open the original and then the c# file all from outside Word. If our previous results is repeatable, the times should be about 26 sec, 3 min, 26 sec. (just to make sure nothing else is interfering) That will tell us there is something different between the two files. Then you can test if something is corrupted by opening the big file (whichever way is the fastest) and press CTRL+A (select All) then press CTRL+C (COPY). Create a new blank document by pressing CTRL+N and then paste the document there (CTRL+V). Save the file as test.doc (or test.docx). Close Word and open the doc from outside Word. Once will probably be enough, just to see if it is in the 26 sec or 3min range. If it is in the 3 min range, we should investigate what other differences there are. In the mean time I'll try to figure out why your computer is fast when opening the C# file from outside WORD, or the more relevant question for me and puntoMX, why our computers is so slow. That will probably be a vital link in identifying the actual problem. @puntoMX: Can you please confirm if you also see the phenomenon that while opening a file, the page counting starts slowly (I also noticed the counting in threes) and then the sudden acceleration (normally after page 1 of 210 for me). More than half the pages are being counted in the last 10 sec for me (that tells me that if nothing is interfering, my file should open in 20 sec instead of 100 sec. Can you also see if your time is also much less with those three settings off. @dencorso:If you get a chance (and your wife allows you!), can you please see if you see the same phenomenon on your wife's computer (Word 2007), as this seems not to be a problem with Word'97, but only 2007/2010. Anyone else with an idea why this is happening, your input will be very much appreciated.

Hi Kmuland, Try not showing all the details http://www.tunexp.com/tips/get_started/speed_up_detailed_view_in_explorer/ Also http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?t=123879 For deleting use command prompt http://stackoverflow.com/questions/186737/whats-the-fastest-way-to-delete-a-large-folder-in-windows

OK good luck with your deadline. If you can fit in one test with the original file from outside Word it would be nice... Hopefully, it will only take half a minute. Just to give us something to think about during the rest of the week. Otherwise, see you Monday.

Name: BlouBul Dencorso JorgeA puntoMX BlouBul2 OS: Win7 x86 WinXP Vista x64 Win7 X64 Win XP Processor Core2Duo 1.8 AthlonXP2 2.33 P-dual 2.2 AMDX4 3.8 Celeron 2.4 Memory 3 GB 3 GB 4 GB 8GB 256MB AntiVirus Nod32 AV4 AVG 2011 Norton 360 MSE Kaspersky IS 2010 Office Version: 2010 97 2007 2010 2007 All 3 off (s) 20 (20*) 14(13*) 187(25*) ? 45 Only 2 on (s) 40 13 261(28*) ? 100(90*) All 3 on (s) 100 (90*) X 112(26*) 67(67*) 186(192*) JorgeA's computer is now officially the fastest with all settings enabled from outside Word! Why? Also the average (obviously helped by the 2 good times)of his last test for opening from within Word (112 vs 173)is a lot better and is now just slightly slower than mine (although the median is slightly slower than previous (140 vs 137))Why was only 2 times good? I also noticed this trend. It can take more than 80% of the time to do less than half the pages, and then suddenly it accelerates and do the rest in 20% or less of the time. Something must be interfering in the beginning, and can be the reason for the two good times (less interference).

Hi dsmithh, Welcome to MSFN Did you give your serial number to the tech support? If it is not now officially logged against your serial no. that you tried the "very risky internet fix", I would recommend phoning them again, this time omitting certain irrelevant information (e.g.that you did their work for them and fixed the drive). Also see if you can do the short and long test in SeaTools. If you get an error there, you can RMA the drive. Just be sure to backup your drive before you send it to them, since they won't give you the same drive back. Failing that, just keep your cable, and use the drive as a second backup. If it fails again in a year's time, you can fix it within minutes.

BlouBul, Before I start, and possibly do it the wrong way -- With how many grammar/spelling settings turned ON do you want me to open the original big file from outside Word? There are so many different variables to juggle! --JorgeA It didn't make a huge difference in the test file, so feel free and experiment. I can't remember if we ever tried it with the original file, and since we got such good results with the test file, I thought it would be worth a try. So try it with the settings off(last setting) and then with the settings on.

Try opening your original file from outside Word.

What happens if you run it with those checks off from outside Word?

Making sense of this fruit salad is not easy Maybe medians is better (I actually used both to confirm the trend)So as long as we use the same two for comparisons we can't go too much wrong (famous last words, I know) What remains surprising is that the opening of files from outside Word is normally faster than from inside Word And that for JorgeA it is 10% faster with settings on than off.(both with median and average) @JorgeA. Can you please open the file with first settings on and then off from outside Word.

I just showed the averages 173(on) and 187 (off). You are right Median is 137 (on) and 151 (Off) Compared to values in post 165.