Solutions for Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDD Common Errors(Part I)

There are two common errors on Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDDs (caused by bugs on firmware):

  • 0 LBA error: it happens when your BIOS can recognize your HDD at POST moment, but as an 0MB drive.
  • BSY error: it happens when your HDD enter on a halt state, or Busy state. In this condition, your HDD will not be recognized by BIOS at POST moment.

Solutions: You’ll need: TTL adapter

Attention: This guide might not be to every case. No responsible for any damage or data loss it can happen.

TX and RX connections from a SATA Seagate 3.5″:

 

TX and RX connections from a SATA Seagate 3.5"Photo with the real drive:

TX and RX connections from a SATA Seagate 3.5"

Connect TX and RX ports with RS232 to TLL adapter, you’ll need something like jumpers in order to do that, or soldering directly to the PCB board. Connect GND and +5V to PC power supply, or similar. Keep in mind those are direct from Seagate sides, so you’ll need to connect in this way:

– From PC (TX) to >>> RX (on Seagate)
– From PC (RX) to >>> TX (on Seagate)

You can use RED wire (+5V) from PC power supply. Blacks are GNDs (yellow is +12V so don’t use it).

If you don’t want to mess with power supply, just use a CR2032 (3V) battery:
https://www.isaleproducts.com/p-7709-3v-lit…ll-battery.aspx

An idea of whole setup (I used an USB to RS232 too):

Solutions for Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDDs Firmware Problem

Run HyperTerminal (or your favourite terminal software).

Configure the RS232 port to: 38400 8 N 1 (like this one):

Solutions for Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDDs Firmware Problem

Solutions for Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDDs Firmware Problem

Solutions for Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDDs Firmware Problem

Solutions for Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDDs Firmware Problem

Read More

Solutions for Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDD Common Errors(Part II)

1. Fixing Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDD 0 LBA error:

Note: All commands are case sensitive!

To correct 0 LBA error, you’ll need to do a quick format in order to regenerate the partition, just with m0,2,2 and the rest can be left blank by putting only commas or filling out with zeros. At the end you need to use a “ValidKey” code, or 22.

Attention: The commands must be used 100% equal as showed here, wrong cmds could lead to data loss or HD loss! Double or triple check the cmd before to press enter!
So we’ll have to enter:

F3 T>m0,2,2,0,0,0,0,22 (enter)

For reference: F3 T>m does:

Level T ‘m’: Rev 0001.0000, Flash, FormatPartition, m[Partition],[FormatOpts],[DefectListOpts],[MaxWrRetryCnt],[MaxRdRetryCnt],[MaxEccTLevel],[MaxCertif

yTrkRewrites],[ValidKey]

Now wait 15~30 seconds until something like this appears (it will vary a bit):

Max Wr Retries = 00, Max Rd Retries = 00, Max ECC T-Level = 00, Max Certify Rewrite Retries = 0000    User Partition Format 5% complete, Zone 00, Pass 00, LBA 00008DED, ErrCode 00000080, Elapsed Time 0 mins 05 secs    User Partition Format Successful - Elapsed Time 0 mins 05 secs

ONLY after the message like above you can turn off everything.

Read More

Solutions for Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 HDD Common Errors(Part III)

2. Fixing Seagate BSY or CC errors aka BUSY (I recommend some practice before trying this):

Note: All commands are case sensitive !

  1. First, make sure you have your hard drive accessible; on a table with open access to the drive is best.
  2. Second, you need to remove the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) from HDA case using a Mini Torx 6 screw driver.
  3. Third, connect RX & TX cables from your RS-232 adapter, verify that all is correct, and then connect the power supply to Hard drive circuit board.

Explanation: The problem with the drive is that the drive is stuck/halt in a BUSY state. This basically locks up the SATA port, causing the BIOS problem (cannot detect the drive at POST). In the terminal, you will see this sort of error (LED: 000000CC FAddr: 0024A051). Once you see this in the terminal, the terminal session to the drive is completely blocked and will not accept any more commands. In order to circumvent this, we’ll need to disconnect the PCB (circuit board) from the hard drive case so that the LED: 000000CC FAddr: 0024A051 command cannot be sent from the firmware of the terminal session.

After you have connected the power to the circuit board, press CTRL+Z in your HyperTerminal session. You should now see a prompt like this:

F3 T>

If you do not see this prompt, check your RS-232 connections to the drive. (you may have the TX and RX flipped).

Now we’ll need to access the Level 2, type:

F3 T>/2 (enter)
F3 2>

And type (to spind down the motor):

F3 2>Z (enter)    Spin Down Complete  Elapsed Time 0.147 msecs (the time will vary here)  F3 2>

Now the tricky part. Pratice a lot without any power before even trying this. You need to make sure that the screws don’t touch the PCB board where they aren’t suppose to or you will fry your PCB board. If you have been practicing and the power is not connected, start at STEP ONE.

With the POWER CONNECTED to the PCB board, as well as your TX/RX terminal wires, mount the board back on the HDA case. You must have the power connected when you do this.

Now type (to start the motor):

F3 2>U (enter)

You should get something like this:

Spin Up Complete

Elapsed Time 7.093 secs

F3 2>

Then go to Level 1 (by typing /1):

F3 2>/1 (enter)

Now lets do a S.M.A.R.T. erase (create S.M.A.R.T. sector):

F3 1>N1 (enter)

————————————————————————————-

G-List step is optional:

Skip G-List step first, if after proceeding the whole BSY fix and the drive still remains under BSY error, then you’ll need to repeat BSY process with G-List command below.

G-List Erase (Fix Defect List):

F3 1>/T (enter)
F3 T>i4,1,22 (enter)

For reference:

Level T ‘i’: Rev 0001.0000, Overlay, InitDefectList, i[DefectListSelect],[SaveListOpt],[ValidKey]

————————————————————————————-

Power OFF/ON the drive (very important!)

Wait 10 seconds and now Power ON your drive.

Press CTRL+Z on terminal and type:

Partition regeneration:

F3 T>m0,2,2,,,,,22 (enter)

For reference:

Level T ‘m’: Rev 0001.0000, Flash, FormatPartition, m[Partition],[FormatOpts],[DefectListOpts],[MaxWrRetryCnt],[MaxRdRetryCnt],[MaxEccTLevel],[MaxCertif

yTrkRewrites],[ValidKey]

You should get something like (in around 15~30 seconds):

Max Wr Retries = 00, Max Rd Retries = 00, Max ECC T-Level = 14, Max Certify Rewrite Retries = 00C8    User Partition Format 10% 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

If you didn’t get the msg above, then you skipped something important, and turning off your drive now will render an unreadable drive, so be careful.

ONLY after the message like above you can turn off everything.

Read More