Instructions for checking if your drive is set to BUSY state

[Kai-Pirinha]

Does not work with windows 7: its complaining about a missing driver and can't be switcht to PIO mode

i also tried starting Victoria in Windows XP Mode (Virtual PC under Win7): first it worked but showed virtual devices only. next session it didn't start up any more for unknown reason.

(i tried everything with Win7 Ultimate 64Bit)

Fatlips post is almost one year old so i have two questions:

is there a newer tool available that will work with Vista/Win7

Victoria is one example for tools that can find a hard drive not detected by bios. Is it still impossible to update the firmware without a self-build interface?

[jaclaz]

Does not work with windows 7: its complaining about a missing driver and can't be switcht to PIO mode

i also tried starting Victoria in Windows XP Mode (Virtual PC under Win7): first it worked but showed virtual devices only. next session it didn't start up any more for unknown reason.

(i tried everything with Win7 Ultimate 64Bit)

Really?

....

What you need:

1)- a functioning computer running Windows XP/2K/2003 (not sure if it works on Vista)

....

Fatlips post is almost one year old so i have two questions:

is there a newer tool available that will work with Vista/Win7

Victoria is one example for tools that can find a hard drive not detected by bios. Is it still impossible to update the firmware without a self-build interface?

I don't think the actual problem is Victoria, but rather Windows 7 that has some limits when it comes to "low-level" access.

You would save lots of time if you could borrow a "normal" XP running PC from a friend or the like.

You must understand that this whole "business" of bricked drives has some aspects of "magic" or "hidden secrets", the less variations you introduce, the more the probability that the "spell" works.

You do not need a "self built" interface, you can buy a "real" interface or use a TTL USB cable like the Nokia CA-42.

The main thread:

http://www.msfn.org/board/117-t128807.html

is full of examples on where to find both a "real" converter and how to check/connect several models of "Nokia" cables.

If, from your other post:

http://www.msfn.org/board/seagate-barracud...-page-1180.html

yuor BIOS does not detect the drive it may be a BSY state one.

In any case, you need NO firmware update, or at least not for recovering data, the firmware upgrade is useful to avoid that after another 320 log entries the drive re-locks itself, and is actually STRONGLY advised NOT to attempt a firmware upgrade before having a safe backup opf the data.

You can try UNbricking the drive allright, in the worst case it won't work (because the problem is a faulty PCB), but in any case (unless of course you "fry" it with overvoltage or shortcircuits), NOTHING will happen to your data (meaning that a data recovery company will nonetheless be able to retrieve it), as well switching PCB's with another drive is NOT advised. (and since you need one exactly of the SAME series it is not even easy to put in practice, as finding a compatible donour might become a nightmare).

Check also the CarterinCanada guide:

http://www.mapleleafmountain.com/seagatebrick.html

and this one:

http://sites.google.com/site/seagatefix/Home

they are both extremely clear, besides the "main" thread.

jaclaz