Hard Drives

[satdaveuk]

Hi
I know this is off topic for here but still worth a shout
I got Two Hard drives here in the workshop that works for 5 minutes or so then vanishes, even though the servo keeps spinning, once turned off then back on again works for a further 5 mins, It seems to last longer when files on it via PC are left open.
After doing blind fault finding I'm pretty convinced the fault lies within the logic board on both .
What Id like to know has any of you here actually diagnosed this fault down to component level within the hard drive, or anyone got any leads on it because going through search engines advise has been freeze it, hit it, drop it etc which all relates to hard drives with servo problems, Cant find any tech info relating to actually repairing them.
It must be common because I have got two Seagate Barracudas with identical symptoms although different version numbers.

Thanks in advance
Dave

[Davor]

You can't trust them and there is no point repairing them, so freezing and extracting data while you can is your best bet.

[kt315]

hi Dave, something like 'classic symptoms with barracuda'... do not tell you in details due what... did read a time ago about that... roily remember it is a chip...

[kt315]

speedy found comments. but in russian, can you read in russian? http://pda.pro-radio.ru/computers/6996-12/
sorry, I can not find similar info in english part of global net.

[Koala]

I've swapped logic boards from dropped HDDs onto drives with faulty main logic boards to retrieve data but the price of HDDs today its not worth repairing. Strange that you have two with the same fault "works for 5 minutes or so then vanishes" might be worth trying on a different machine (common denominator). Do the dives have the same file system to the one you are using to read them. I have no DATA but from memory I would say only about 1 out 100 would have a logic faults few more would be corrupt and the vast majority rest would be electrical or mechanical faults. if the heads are damaged or platters damaged you can sometime hear the drive consistently stepping tying to read the next byte. Some HDDs will work until the damaged area of the patters is accessed.

[sinclairuser]

hi dave those logic boards are designed to power down after 5 mins inactivity they are not waking up!, normally the pc keeps the ide bus propped open,clicking on the icon wakes up the drive.
possibly voltage, but it could be loads of things, an ide bus bios setting, a win/motherboard driver issue, or even the drives them selves.
Ive seen old seagate and fujistu drives that would only run as master, others wont run an operating system but formatted as a slave drive they run for years, i even had one that only worked when set to cable select on a single ide cable.
Old drives can be really finicky especially seagates, but the "seagate curse" is a ticking once a second while its running, if you ever find a drive like this get your data of it because, one day it will make a loud "TOCK" noise and die never to run again.

[satdaveuk]

Hi
The mechanics run sweet as a nut
They come from various equipment so its not a computer fault
Running them currently on my test jig which is a converter to usb and workshop pwr supply +5v/+12v
Now trying various settings as Sinclair suggested and see if theres any difference.
Original symptom on at least one of these was no boot up and computer wouldn't see the drive, cant remember which or who PC it was because its such along time ago .
Got it recognized by using a low level format tool which then was able to use windows scan disk which says the hard drive has no errors in its sectors, but as said it only lasts for around 5 mins
Thanks for the feedback with ideas will let you know outcome for future reference.
Regards

[bklein]

I am an engineer at WDC. What you describe is not a common failure that I have seen. Perhaps unique to the Seagate design.
First I would verify that your power supply is good by trying to run the drives off another. (+5V,+12V)
The freezing suggestion may work temporarily as it may force recalibration of data channel enough to work while power remains on.
You could try buying a can of freeze spray and spraying the drive pcb while running as long as you need to get files off.
I really doubt if there is a permanent fix that will work for you.
Verify on another pc you see the same issue - and try another SATA cable. I have had cables that build up a poor contact and have to be pulled and reset to work for awhile.

[Davor]

True. My motherboard has one such SATA channel. At first it seemed as if my hard was failing, few minutes of poor performance and total disappearance. I simply plugged the cable to another channel and it works fine.

[kt315]

hi Dave, give plz model name of Baras. I see NOBODY HERE can not say you TRUE information. I will try to search english net.

[satdaveuk]

hi Dave, give plz model name of Baras. I see NOBODY HERE can not say you TRUE information. I will try to search english net.

Thanks KT315
The Type number is: Barracuda 7200.8
Model: ST3400832A
Part NO: 9Y7485-510
Firmware: 3.03
Its a 400GB Seagate
I know as been said on here there properly not worth repairing but saying that I am from the old school tie and personally want to know what wrong with them to component level.
As said previously its nothing more than problems with the drives as they came out of machines where I have replaced the hard drives many months ago and no call back.
Went on the web site you suggested and although very interesting its related to a newer version drive with different firmware.
In frustrated because if I had circuit to work along side pretty confident the fault can be located over the weekend, I am almost certain it is component failure
I am not trying to get data from these hard drives, did that many moons ago when the kits first came in the workshop, My intension's are to repair them.


Thanks again
Dave

[ivconic]

Try to disable AHCI and see what happens...