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Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 Troubles


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So do we know that CC1H and newer (CC1J) are good?

Stated very clearly and openly on the update page...

* Note: If your drive has CC or LC firmware, your drive is not affected and no further action is required. Attempting to flash the firmware of a drive with CC or LC firmware will result in rendering your drive inoperable.

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So do we know that CC1H and newer (CC1J) are good?

Stated very clearly and openly on the update page...

* Note: If your drive has CC or LC firmware, your drive is not affected and no further action is required. Attempting to flash the firmware of a drive with CC or LC firmware will result in rendering your drive inoperable.

Yes it does; however, people want to have the latest and greatest firmware no matter what. The reason is because

what ever is the newest version must fix something: a bug, make it faster, make it more reliable etc.

I'd like to get newer firmware versions to for my non-SATA seagate, maxtor, western digital drives regardless if they are

3.5 or 2.5 drives. I update my dvd/cd rw drives as soon as they provide a newer firmware fix under the assumption it

must of fixed something - likewise for the HDD drives too.

Note:

the newest firmware is S1B and the various xDxH means the number of disks and the number of heads in the HDD.

Since the filename doesn't mention cache size. One can say either the firmware is independent of it or they are all the

same cache size. for the model numbers listed.

The easiest way is to find a tool that can dump the firmware in the drive and save it to a file from ones current drive.

One could also write the new firmware to the drive, read it back and do a comparison of what got written or do a

checksum, md5 hash too.

Edited by mikesw
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So do we know that CC1H and newer (CC1J) are good?

Stated very clearly and openly on the update page...

* Note: If your drive has CC or LC firmware, your drive is not affected and no further action is required. Attempting to flash the firmware of a drive with CC or LC firmware will result in rendering your drive inoperable.

LOL, and you still believe on them?

Just unbelievable !

Yes it does; however, people want to have the latest and greatest firmware no matter what. The reason is because

what ever is the newest version must fix something: a bug, make it faster, make it more reliable etc.

I'd like to get newer firmware versions to for my non-SATA seagate, maxtor, western digital drives regardless if they are

3.5 or 2.5 drives. I update my dvd/cd rw drives as soon as they provide a newer firmware fix under the assumption it

must of fixed something - likewise for the HDD drives too.

Note:

the newest firmware is S2B and the various xDxH means the number of disks and the number of heads in the HDD.

Since the filename doesn't mention cache size. One can say either the firmware is independent of it or they are all the

same cache size. for the model numbers listed.

The easiest way is to find a tool that can dump the firmware in the drive and save it to a file from ones current drive.

One could also write the new firmware to the drive, read it back and do a comparison of what got written or do a

checksum, md5 hash too.

On old days (back in 2000) I used to hack firmwares for Pioneer burners (DVR-Axx family) as you can see here:

http://gradius.rpc1.org

You're 100% right, they always fix something, improves stability and speed, on newer firmwares.

The biggest issue I'm getting with CC1F is access time, way too high, they're 15.6ms on my 1TBs HDDs, while the normal would be 12.5ms or less (I get that on my 750GBs).

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LOL, and you still believe on them?

Just unbelievable !

Huh? Why not?

You think we should do the direct opposite and flash it anyway?

After you...

You're 100% right, they always fix something, improves stability and speed, on newer firmwares.

Absolutely!

SD15 fixed the non-bricking issue of previous firmware.

SD17 fixed the non-stuttering issue on RAIDed drives or during video streaming.

:-)

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Was it a drive with the busy or LB0 issue?
Ok I successfully flash my ST3500320AS to the SD1A firmware. Hopefully it will work fine until the end of it's natural life cycle.

I have 2 500 GBs, one has the BSY error, the other one still functions. So i flashed the survivor. I'm still looking for the RS232-TTL part to fix my bricked HDD.

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Hey guys,

...its true the new fix is good...thanx Vinicius, i too was having issues with the hyperterminal....i dont reccomend for others to persue it...though at the time it was necessary as the firmware was not available....this is what i did as did Vinicius

1. swap pcb boards on 2 like hd's ...flash the bad pcb with the new SD1 firmware

2. swap back the pcb's

voila !! full recovery from bsy hd with no LB0.

this post is for real, my brick is fully recovered.....i know you all paid for the rs232, as did i, but it is a real hard fix compared to doing it this way

as far as i know you do need to 7200.11's though .. .

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Hey guys,

...its true the new fix is good...thanx Vinicius, i too was having issues with the hyperterminal....i dont reccomend for others to persue it...though at the time it was necessary as the firmware was not available....this is what i did as did Vinicius

1. swap pcb boards on 2 like hd's ...flash the bad pcb with the new SD1 firmware

2. swap back the pcb's

voila !! full recovery from bsy hd with no LB0.

this post is for real, my brick is fully recovered.....i know you all paid for the rs232, as did i, but it is a real hard fix compared to doing it this way

as far as i know you do need to 7200.11's though .. .

Should I just buy a new 7200.11, try this, then return it and give them an excuse to return it? Anyone here happen to be from orange county, CA? =/

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Has anyone tested the hdd before and after the firmware update to check if the update affects the hdd performance (speed)? I m sorry if I missed a previous post about it. Is it supposed to have no effect on the hdd speed?

I still haven’t updated mine; I am waiting a while to be sure (I hope my hdd will not kick the bucket in the meantime).

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Hey guys,

...its true the new fix is good...thanx Vinicius, i too was having issues with the hyperterminal....i dont reccomend for others to persue it...though at the time it was necessary as the firmware was not available....this is what i did as did Vinicius

1. swap pcb boards on 2 like hd's ...flash the bad pcb with the new SD1 firmware

2. swap back the pcb's

voila !! full recovery from bsy hd with no LB0.

this post is for real, my brick is fully recovered.....i know you all paid for the rs232, as did i, but it is a real hard fix compared to doing it this way

as far as i know you do need to 7200.11's though .. .

Question, after you swap the PCB boards, and then you boot up, does the BIOS detect the HDD?

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Has anyone tested the hdd before and after the firmware update to check if the update affects the hdd performance (speed)? I m sorry if I missed a previous post about it. Is it supposed to have no effect on the hdd speed?

I still haven’t updated mine; I am waiting a while to be sure (I hope my hdd will not kick the bucket in the meantime).

I have found no difference.

ST31000333AS SD15 flashed to SD1B

OS: WinXp SP3

CPU: Intel Q6600, overclocking turned off for benching

HD Tach 3.0.4.0 used

I had no issue with my drive - it was only used as a backup disk. Decided to flash it to the new firmware. After flashing, WinXP detected a hardware change, and a new hard disk.

During the flashing process, the HDD made a few clicking noises (not unlike the click of death I used to hear from my IBM Deskstar aka Deathstar drives years ago), but it finished ok, and the BIOS detected the new firmware as SD1B.

SD15 BIOS

Random access 15.3ms

CPU utilization 4%

Average read: 99.3 MB/s

SB1B BIOS

Random access 15.2ms

CPU utilization 4%

Average read: 98.8 MB/s

There were a few clicks at the start of the test, which I thought the system had hung, but the bench finished ok. That point is seen in the graph (red line).

seagate.jpg

However, lots of clicking sounds from the drive at random times since I've updated the firmware. I'm not sure if that's a good sign. The system almost seems to pause when that happens.

Edited by pksw
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Hey guys,

...its true the new fix is good...thanx Vinicius, i too was having issues with the hyperterminal....i dont reccomend for others to persue it...though at the time it was necessary as the firmware was not available....this is what i did as did Vinicius

1. swap pcb boards on 2 like hd's ...flash the bad pcb with the new SD1 firmware

2. swap back the pcb's

voila !! full recovery from bsy hd with no LB0.

this post is for real, my brick is fully recovered.....i know you all paid for the rs232, as did i, but it is a real hard fix compared to doing it this way

as far as i know you do need to 7200.11's though .. .

Question, after you swap the PCB boards, and then you boot up, does the BIOS detect the HDD?

Hello, I'm very happy now because I figured this out. :) :) :) :)

When you swap the boards the "old" board should boot the new drive with 0Mb. Since the disk is not made for that PCB. Will be normally detected on BIOS.

After this fireup firmware update. You'll some errors like Cylinder 0, assuming 63! Something like this. But just ignore and flash the drive.

After the power cycle reswap PCB's and use the old drive. It should be fixed from BSY and from LBA=0!

See details of what I've done in the Solution Thread.

[]'s

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Hey guys,

...its true the new fix is good...thanx Vinicius, i too was having issues with the hyperterminal....i dont reccomend for others to persue it...though at the time it was necessary as the firmware was not available....this is what i did as did Vinicius

1. swap pcb boards on 2 like hd's ...flash the bad pcb with the new SD1 firmware

2. swap back the pcb's

voila !! full recovery from bsy hd with no LB0.

this post is for real, my brick is fully recovered.....i know you all paid for the rs232, as did i, but it is a real hard fix compared to doing it this way

as far as i know you do need to 7200.11's though .. .

Question, after you swap the PCB boards, and then you boot up, does the BIOS detect the HDD?

Hello, I'm very happy now because I figured this out. :) :) :) :)

When you swap the boards the "old" board should boot the new drive with 0Mb. Since the disk is not made for that PCB. Will be normally detected on BIOS.

After this fireup firmware update. You'll some errors like Cylinder 0, assuming 63! Something like this. But just ignore and flash the drive.

After the power cycle reswap PCB's and use the old drive. It should be fixed from BSY and from LBA=0!

See details of what I've done in the Solution Thread.

[]'s

I'm wondering if one can get away with not even attaching the PCB to the disk of the 2nd drive. The reason being is that when they make these at the

factory, they probably just attach the PCB to a test machine which flashes the PCB and runs electrical tests on it. This would be easier

to make these in mass and then ship a box of these to another site that attaches the PCBs to the actual disk that some other factory

site made in mass. Then both are run through another test machine to make sure the PCB and drive heads and platters work together.

Thus, for those with the PCB having LBA=0 and BSY, try just removing the PCB from the drive, attach the PCB to the power and

IDE/SATA cable, and then reflash with the new firmware. It'd be interesting to see if this works. Maybe the BIOS doesn't need to

detect them. This will also eliminate the possible damaging of the disk heads and platter of the drive that is incompatible since there isn't one.

The most that will happen is there is no spinup, 0 heads, 0MB/GB, 0 cylinders etc or this method won't work. The only thing that will happen

is that you are SOL!

The other possiblilty to bypass the BIOS is to attach just the PCB to an external SATA or IDE to USB adaptor cable (see sabrent adaptors or equiv)

and power cable ,then plug in the USB and flash thru the USB port. I'm not sure if one can flash thru the USB even if updating working drives, but

without any knowledge about it working or not, the only way to attain knowledge is to experiment.....and hopefully the BIOS is too stupid.

Edited by mikesw
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Hey guys,

...its true the new fix is good...thanx Vinicius, i too was having issues with the hyperterminal....i dont reccomend for others to persue it...though at the time it was necessary as the firmware was not available....this is what i did as did Vinicius

1. swap pcb boards on 2 like hd's ...flash the bad pcb with the new SD1 firmware

2. swap back the pcb's

voila !! full recovery from bsy hd with no LB0.

this post is for real, my brick is fully recovered.....i know you all paid for the rs232, as did i, but it is a real hard fix compared to doing it this way

as far as i know you do need to 7200.11's though .. .

Should I just buy a new 7200.11, try this, then return it and give them an excuse to return it? Anyone here happen to be from orange county, CA? =/

i happen to have 3 barracuda st300320AS, it would probably work on any two different models, when you swap the bad pcb to a good disk it is seen in the bios and that gets you half there.....flash the new firmware and your done....remember to flash the other hard disk as well when you swap back.. i used PowerISo to make the firmware cd....

as a note i've been swapping that pcb back and forth and tinkering with it so much with that dang rs232 that it should be broke but it isnt, dont be scared of it use torx6 screwdriver , but dont break it either ....good to have my hd back

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