Question Seagate Archive HDD Failure. No Crash, No Spin, Silent. Troubleshooting Advise…

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needspractice

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I have a Seagate Archive HDD (Seagate (STEB8000100) Expansion Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop). It was in an external enclosure. I have several external hard drives including a WD. I may have accidently used my WD power adapter for my Seagate Archive HDD. Nevertheless, my Seagate Archive HDD is no longer working.

I bought several of these Expansion Drives. I opened another one and it is a Seagate Barracuda instead of a Seagate Archive HDD. I was just hoping to have a Donor for parts but no luck there.

I went ahead and ordered from an online website the exact match PCB boards to see if I can get this hard drive working by myself. I am not looking forward to sending this off to a Data Recovery Service, but I am thinking about it.

If someone could help me troubleshoot this a little beforehand to see if I can get this working without having to send it off that would be greatly appreciated.

Here are my thoughts.

The drive is completely silent, there was never a horrific ending to the drive. Like it is spinning up and crashing, knocking, beeping, whatever. Just one day I plugged it in and nothing.

Now here is the odd part. It seems like something is barely connecting because in keeps connecting and discounting in windows. You hear the Windows Notification that it connects and then disconnects. Sometimes it stays connected and you can see in “Computer Management” under “Disk Management” the drive. It is like it is barely connected on a sub low level.

What will happen is that in “Disk Management” a window will pop up and say you must initialize a disk before Logical Disk Manager can access it. MBR vs GPT. Of course, after doing this, I get the error “The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error”.

Disk 2, red down arrow, Unknown, Not Initialized

Most of the time the partition data or the available space does not show up in disk management, but rarely it does show up, i.e., size of partition and available space to create a disk partition. However, even when that shows up it still gives me the error “The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error”.

My thoughts are that the drive is fully functional, but I may have blown a diode or something. The hard drive was sitting in an enclosure and had an extra PCB Board that was a bridge between the power supply and the hard drive. This other PCB board on the external enclosure is working perfectly. I popped out another Hard Drive from another enclosure used it on the bridge and everything works perfectly. So, I am not sure how the Seagate Archive HDD failed even when the External PCB power supply which held it did not.

This is what leads me to be that somehow the PCB Board is no longer working on the Seagate Archive HDD and this may be a simple solution. I ordered a new PCB Donor Board and was hoping all I must do is transfer the “Bios” and install the new Donor Board and everything works.

My question is troubleshooting.

Before messing around with my vital “Bios” chip. Can I just swap out my Donor Board to just see if power is restored and the drive spins up? I know I will not be able to access the Data however, I would be able to confirm that my other original PCB board is the main culprit. Then proceed to swapping the “Bios” chip on the Donor Board.

Will swapping the PCB board without swapping the “Bios” chip cause any “Data” loss or damage the Seagate Archive HDD?

Troubleshooting Steps

-1 Order Donor PCB Board
-2 Swap Original Board with Donor Board without Swapping Bios Chip
-3 See if Seagate Archive HDD powers on whatsoever, spins, etc.
-4 If powers on and spins up, swap out Bios Chip
-5 If Bios Chip is swapped and drive is still not responsive begin consultation with “Data Recovery Service”.

Another question is do I simply just send this off to a “Data Recovery Service” I would hate to swap out my Bios chip and make it more difficult for them to recover. However, if it is a simple PCB Board Swap and Bios Swap, I would prefer to do it myself.

Please feel free to give me any other pointers. I am just trying to perform some basic troubleshooting tactics before sending this drive off for an expensive recovery. I just have a feeling that this might be as simple as a PCB Board/Bios swap because the drive was never dropped, and in perfect condition. It is not that old either.

Thanks!
 

needspractice

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The drive is behaving as if the ROM is bad or corrupt.

Ask your repairer to give you the ROM dump. I can then check it for consistency.

F3romExplorer:
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2534

I will ask for this information.

If I am unable to get it. What are my options at this point? I feel this drive is in perfect shape however, this bios is corrupted. Is there anyway around this?
 

needspractice

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The drive is behaving as if the ROM is bad or corrupt.

Ask your repairer to give you the ROM dump. I can then check it for consistency.

F3romExplorer:
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2534

Also, may I have gotten lucky? One of the pcb donor boards with a random rom boots up the drive and the drive stays on running nice and smooth. Does this mean something? I can't access it in o/s but I am wondering if there is a way to get to this drive while its running and staying on? I mean is there special software out there that can connect to this drive in some kind of way? Rip the data off RAW?
 
The "ROM" has "adaptive" calibration data that must be restored. Only a few people claim to be able to do this.

If your PCBs have different firmware versions, and if each version has a different response to a particular problem, then that may explain your strange results.

I would start with a ROM dump. If you can get that file from your repairer, then that will tell us a lot.

Read this thread:

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2600
 

needspractice

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The "ROM" has "adaptive" calibration data that must be restored. Only a few people claim to be able to do this.

If your PCBs have different firmware versions, and if each version has a different response to a particular problem, then that may explain your strange results.

I would start with a ROM dump. If you can get that file from your repairer, then that will tell us a lot.

Read this thread:

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2600

Well I hope they give it to me. I will let you know.

However, what do you mean "only a few people claim to be able to do this". Is this drive gone? Donezo? I mean I hope I can get you that data. I will be getting back the original bios chip and pcb board. However, if they bios got corrupted what does that mean? I mean how did this happen in the first place? How does a BIOS get corrupted out of no where? I thought it was the power supply at first but this seems like a much different issue.
 

needspractice

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The "ROM" has "adaptive" calibration data that must be restored. Only a few people claim to be able to do this.

If your PCBs have different firmware versions, and if each version has a different response to a particular problem, then that may explain your strange results.

I would start with a ROM dump. If you can get that file from your repairer, then that will tell us a lot.

Read this thread:

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2600

wow. that is very serious stuff. thanks for taking the time too post that. it will take me some time to read it.

If I get the ROM back myself can I dump it myself and give you the information? What can I hook it up to in order to do this for you and get the information? I also don't mind paying you for your services.
 

needspractice

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The "ROM" has "adaptive" calibration data that must be restored. Only a few people claim to be able to do this.

If your PCBs have different firmware versions, and if each version has a different response to a particular problem, then that may explain your strange results.

I would start with a ROM dump. If you can get that file from your repairer, then that will tell us a lot.

Read this thread:

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2600

Also, you say

"Seagate drives cannot be recovered if the ROM is damaged, at least not easily. There are only a few data recovery shops who claim to be able to do this."

Should I just send this drive to them now? Who are they, who do you recommend?

I would rather just get a pcb board with a working rom without having to send my drive out though if possible.
 

needspractice

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The "ROM" has "adaptive" calibration data that must be restored. Only a few people claim to be able to do this.

If your PCBs have different firmware versions, and if each version has a different response to a particular problem, then that may explain your strange results.

I would start with a ROM dump. If you can get that file from your repairer, then that will tell us a lot.

Read this thread:

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2600

wow, man. you seem like a pro. I feel like an idiot.
 

needspractice

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The "ROM" has "adaptive" calibration data that must be restored. Only a few people claim to be able to do this.

If your PCBs have different firmware versions, and if each version has a different response to a particular problem, then that may explain your strange results.

I would start with a ROM dump. If you can get that file from your repairer, then that will tell us a lot.

Read this thread:

http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2600

So do I need to order this in order to get you the ROM information?

MRTLab-data recovery and HDD repair tool/kit( MRT Ultra offline full version)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/172766769197?hash=item2839b3b02d:g:OM0AAOSw5bFZZJB6
 
You can purchase a cheap reader that will dump your ROM. The cost should be less than US$20. However, if your repairer really has verified your ROM contents, then he should be able to provide you with the file.

PC3000 and MRT Lab cost $$$$. They also have a steep learning curve. In any case, neither tool can reconstruct a missing or damaged Seagate ROM. That requires manual intervention by an accomplished data recovery professional. The one person I know who claims to be able to do this has already told you that he "would need a really encouraging sum to touch such a mess".

That said, until you provide me with a ROM dump, I cannot determine whether you need to pay a really encouraging sum.

Some drives have a feature called Power Up In Standby (PUIS). If this is enabled, then the drive won't spin up until a certain command is issued. PUIS can be disabled with free tools such as HDAT2.

One other feature that may prevent your drive from spinning up inside a PC is SATA power pin #3. This has now been redefined as the Power Disable pin. However this does not appear to be present in your model.
 
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needspractice

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You can purchase a cheap reader that will dump your ROM. The cost should be less than US$20. However, if your repairer really has verified your ROM contents, then he should be able to provide you with the file.

PC3000 and MRT Lab cost $$$$. They also have a steep learning curve. In any case, neither tool can reconstruct a missing or damaged Seagate ROM. That requires manual intervention by an accomplished data recovery professional. The one person I know who claims to be able to do this has already told you that he "would need a really encouraging sum to touch such a mess".

That said, until you provide me with a ROM dump, I cannot determine whether you need to pay a really encouraging sum.

Some drives have a feature called Power Up In Standby (PUIS). If this is enabled, then the drive won't spin up until a certain command is issued. PUIS can be disabled with free tools such as HDAT2.

One other feature that may prevent your drive from spinning up inside a PC is SATA power pin #3. This has now been redefined as the Power Disable pin. However this does not appear to be present in your model.

Update:

I got my original pcb board back and my original rom. They did put my original rom on another pcb donor board and the drive does not boot up at all. I do not even think it is allowing power to turn on the drive.

I put my best donor board with a random rom back on the hard drive and get this.

https://ufile.io/45vfe3t3

The drive stays on and sounds great. However, I’m afraid to initialize because I know it will erase my data however, even if I do, I will get an i/o error and it wont do it.



They emailed me back and said they do not have my ROM Dump on file. I guess they do not want to work with me on that.



Please on please let me know what device exactly I can buy to get this ROM dump!!! I will post asap when I download it.



wow. I did not even know PC3000 or MRT Lab could not even fix the problem. What about going around the problem? Can either of these programs help rip the data off the drive RAW?

“Encouraging Sum” I completely and totally understand and respect this. What are we talking here?

I would love to have a healthy ROM Chip on a beautiful new PCB Donor Board.



“Some drives have a feature called Power Up In Standby (PUIS). If this is enabled, then the drive won't spin up until a certain command is issued. PUIS can be disabled with free tools such as HDAT2.”

How do I get this tool and software? Please help me troubleshoot this. I can buy tools and have them shipped to me.



“One other feature that may prevent your drive from spinning up inside a PC is SATA power pin #3. This has now been redefined as the Power Disable pin. However this does not appear to be present in your model.”

Do I need some software or hardware to disable this?
 

needspractice

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You can purchase a cheap reader that will dump your ROM. The cost should be less than US$20. However, if your repairer really has verified your ROM contents, then he should be able to provide you with the file.

PC3000 and MRT Lab cost $$$$. They also have a steep learning curve. In any case, neither tool can reconstruct a missing or damaged Seagate ROM. That requires manual intervention by an accomplished data recovery professional. The one person I know who claims to be able to do this has already told you that he "would need a really encouraging sum to touch such a mess".

That said, until you provide me with a ROM dump, I cannot determine whether you need to pay a really encouraging sum.

Some drives have a feature called Power Up In Standby (PUIS). If this is enabled, then the drive won't spin up until a certain command is issued. PUIS can be disabled with free tools such as HDAT2.

One other feature that may prevent your drive from spinning up inside a PC is SATA power pin #3. This has now been redefined as the Power Disable pin. However this does not appear to be present in your model.

HD-Front

https://ufile.io/lk1a7uhh

HD-Back

https://ufile.io/c3svwk11

Repair – Front

https://ufile.io/ez3jou40

Repair – Back

https://ufile.io/h77bd47a

Granted please note they said that the original rom was too damaged to transfer. They did this as a courtesy. I have another pcb donor board that has supposedly a new rom with my original bios information transferred over to it. However, you can see here the "condition” of the original rom. I am hoping all the information can still be transferred from this rom. Its not beat up too bad right?

Both pcb donor boards; the one with the original rom and the new transferred over with the information rom do not power up the drive at all. Zero, zilch, nada.

I can post photos of the new rom and new board if needed as well however, it looks good I believe. If the information was transferred over properly.
 
Are you now saying that you have two donor PCBs, each with your original ROM contents? If so, then we can't proceed until we verify that the contents are valid. Since your repairer refuses to give you the ROM image file, one would have to wonder whether the job was done correctly.

As for HDAT2, use a search engine. BTW, "tool" can refer to software tools or hardware tools. HDAT2 is software.
 
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needspractice

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Are you now saying that you have two donor PCBs, each with your original ROM contents? If so, then we can't proceed until we verify that the contents are valid. Since your repairer refuses to give you the ROM image file, one would have to wonder whether the job was done correctly.

As for HDAT2, use a search engine. BTW, "tool" can refer to software tools or hardware tools. HDAT2 is software.

So all I need in order to download this rom contents from the harddrive is this software tool?

HDAT2

??

I thought you said a cheaper reader for $20 bucks, is HDAT2 $20 bucks? Do I need to buy it?
 

needspractice

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Are you now saying that you have two donor PCBs, each with your original ROM contents? If so, then we can't proceed until we verify that the contents are valid. Since your repairer refuses to give you the ROM image file, one would have to wonder whether the job was done correctly.

As for HDAT2, use a search engine. BTW, "tool" can refer to software tools or hardware tools. HDAT2 is software.

Will this work?

https://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

It has HDAT2 built in.
 

needspractice

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Are you now saying that you have two donor PCBs, each with your original ROM contents? If so, then we can't proceed until we verify that the contents are valid. Since your repairer refuses to give you the ROM image file, one would have to wonder whether the job was done correctly.

As for HDAT2, use a search engine. BTW, "tool" can refer to software tools or hardware tools. HDAT2 is software.

How do I extract this ROM data from this ROM? Do you have a step by step guide?
 
HDAT2 can disable/enable PUIS. It has nothing to do with reading ROMs.

ROM readers are hardware & software tools. This is what some professionals use:

https://www.reveltronics.com/en/products/revelprog-is-serial-memory-programmer-usb

You can get cheapies on eBay, but you seem to have plenty of money to throw at this job, so you may as well get something better. If you buy an additional SOIC-8 clip, you should be able to read the chip in-circuit without desoldering it.
 

needspractice

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HDAT2 can disable/enable PUIS. It has nothing to do with reading ROMs.

ROM readers are hardware & software tools. This is what some professionals use:

https://www.reveltronics.com/en/products/revelprog-is-serial-memory-programmer-usb

You can get cheapies on eBay, but you seem to have plenty of money to throw at this job, so you may as well get something better. If you buy an additional SOIC-8 clip, you should be able to read the chip in-circuit without desoldering it.

Which one do I get?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/302344821214?hash=item466527d9de:g:acAAAOSwjVVVp-Gd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/301689765851?hash=item463e1c7fdb:g:acAAAOSwjVVVp-Gd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3023448095...4bb2bf7e208404bf60b6|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524

https://www.ebay.com/itm/301984133071?hash=item464fa82fcf:g:acAAAOSwjVVVp-Gd

...

I can get this and dump the rom and give it to you.

When and why do I need to diabled/enable PUIS? Should I disabled it and see what happens?
 

needspractice

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HDAT2 can disable/enable PUIS. It has nothing to do with reading ROMs.

ROM readers are hardware & software tools. This is what some professionals use:

https://www.reveltronics.com/en/products/revelprog-is-serial-memory-programmer-usb

You can get cheapies on eBay, but you seem to have plenty of money to throw at this job, so you may as well get something better. If you buy an additional SOIC-8 clip, you should be able to read the chip in-circuit without desoldering it.

Or this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R5LPTYM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3S807LE0L63AP&psc=1
 

needspractice

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HDAT2 can disable/enable PUIS. It has nothing to do with reading ROMs.

ROM readers are hardware & software tools. This is what some professionals use:

https://www.reveltronics.com/en/products/revelprog-is-serial-memory-programmer-usb

You can get cheapies on eBay, but you seem to have plenty of money to throw at this job, so you may as well get something better. If you buy an additional SOIC-8 clip, you should be able to read the chip in-circuit without desoldering it.

Also, when I have the donor board and a random bios on the hard drive and I plug it in directly to the motherboard and boot into Ultimate Boot CD. I think it can see the disk everything says: zero, zero, zero, i.e. clusters, size, etc. Not sure if I can enabled or disable PUIS when the drive is in this state. I mean None of the programs can read the drive or do a scan.

If I plug in a new board with original bios information the drive is dead and doesn't even spin up or turn on.

How is this happening, can a corrupt rom leave the drive completely dead and powerless and not even turn on?
 

needspractice

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If Windows is detecting a SATA connected drive (not USB connected) with a capacity of 7452.04 GiB (= 8TB), then the ROM must be OK.

HDAT2 FAQ:
https://www.hdat2.com/hdat2_faq.html#q19

Well the drive spins up with a random pcb board and random bios. So when I run HDAT2 /W, is that a command to change a setting on the pcb baord with my transferred bios on it? I will try however, when I have that board connected to the hard drive and I boot up with ultimate boot cd and go into HDAT I can't run any commands because HDAT2 does not see the drive properly. I will try to make sure though.

If I put the random pcb board with random bios HDAT2 will see the drive but still can't read it because the bios is wrong.

I did order a rom reader/programmer, so lets see about that as well.
 
You need to spin up a PUIS enabled drive using HDAT2's /w option (w = wake up). After the drive has woken up, you can then disable PUIS using HDAT2.

That said, it would be very unusual for PUIS to have been enabled without user interaction, so we're just clutching at straws and eliminating possibilities.

I'm assuming that your drive is now connected via SATA, not USB.