Is my SATA drive dead?

LHC · Sep 11, 2006, 11:10 AM

I'd need to downgrade the firmware though, does that make it any different?

Basically, my one drive's PCB almost caught fire so presumably just the controller is screwed up. I opted for an advanced replacement, so I have a new drive and an old drive, hoping to swap the PCB's, but the problem is that the one that works has a newer firmware so the computer can't totally recognize it

I need to go from 3.AAH to 3.AAE.. Seagate just sends you an e-mail with a wizard to change the firmware? That's pretty cool

PangingJr · Sep 11, 2006, 11:36 AM

hmm i've never tried to downgrade firmware revision on any drive yet... but i believe you can do so.
i suggest you talk or send an email to Seagate's and then if you're approved that you can do so, you'll get from them the certificate number (12 digits code) that you'll use it to download the firmware files... then you'll need to flash your hard drive firmware via mode DOS by yourself.

LHC · Sep 11, 2006, 11:40 AM

Hmm.. what do i tell them my reason for downgrading would be though? That's a little tricky

PangingJr · Sep 11, 2006, 11:57 AM

it's not easy for making up a fake reason since thay know that your hard drive was came with a certain firmware revision from the factory... this is from its serial number/model number...

otherwise, i can come up with a few reasons that might help you to get both 3AAE and 3AAH, then you can use the 3AAE files to do what you want to do with the drive.

LHC · Sep 11, 2006, 12:01 PM

That would be appreciated

I just need to get the replacement drive down to 3.AAE, thanks

PangingJr · Sep 11, 2006, 12:35 PM

well you need to find a serial number of the drive model number ST3300822AS (which is your drive) that has the original firmware prior to 3AAE,
then you'll give them a good reason that you want that drive to have a 3AAE. or 3AAH, but in the case of using the 3AAH... in order to use it your drive must already have 3AAE on it, so you should get both 3AAE and 3AAH files...

this is all i can help you.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Sep 11, 2006, 05:54 PM

You could ask them for a flashing utility I know you CAN flash drive firmwares.... but then you'd need to find the old firmware too.

Sounds a little risky too... never done it personally but I've seen it done

PangingJr · Sep 11, 2006, 06:29 PM

SeaFlash utility (sf.exe) will be included in the firmware package, but however, while you're in mode DOS you won't directly run the utility...
there will be a DOS batch file (.bat file) which is also included in the firmware package that you'll run it instead,
the batch file will do all the work, it'll execute a series of batch jobs.
name of this file as well as its contains data is vary depend on the firmware package of each firmware revision and hard drive model.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Sep 11, 2006, 08:07 PM

Yeah its a risky proposition to say the least... I know some Maxtor drives had to be flashed when the DiMax 11's had that nF4 write issue

PangingJr · Sep 11, 2006, 08:19 PM

if there is no critical issue with your drive you don't want to flash your drive firmware...
unless you want to and you know what you're doing, and of course if seagate or your drive's maker agrees to help you by providing the new firmware files...

LHC · Sep 15, 2006, 08:06 PM

Oh well, I called and asked if it's possible to just replace the circuit board on the bad drive and the guy was like "No sir, it isn't possible, we can only replace the entire drive"

Oh well, can't say we never tried

I'll be sending the old drive back tomorrow I guess

CDsDontBurn · Sep 16, 2006, 02:27 AM

just hope that if they do use those platters, that they wipe them of any information.

LHC · Sep 16, 2006, 02:48 AM

Ha, yea like that one story of that old man and Best Buy..

He returned his drive to them, they assured them it would be sent to Chicago and have a hole drilled in it, but like 5 years later he got a call from someone in Florida telling him he bought the old man's drive at a flea market

CDsDontBurn · Sep 16, 2006, 02:49 AM

lol....ya, i remember that story. but the guy was a dumbass himself for having that kind of shit on his hard drive. shit like his social security number and CC numbers, and stuff like that

H3X4D3C1M4L · Sep 18, 2006, 05:01 PM

Interesting fact: Running a wipe such as a PRNG stream 20 overpasses or a Peter Gutmann 35 pass wipe is a more secure way of erasting data than physically destroying the drive in ways such as the "Sulfuric Acid Bath", the classic sledge hammer stomp, or subjecting it to extremely high alternating currents/magnetic fields

Sep 11, 2006, 11:10 AM	Thread Starter #61
LHC Stingy and Stubborn Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,325 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	I'd need to downgrade the firmware though, does that make it any different? Basically, my one drive's PCB almost caught fire so presumably just the controller is screwed up. I opted for an advanced replacement, so I have a new drive and an old drive, hoping to swap the PCB's, but the problem is that the one that works has a newer firmware so the computer can't totally recognize it I need to go from 3.AAH to 3.AAE.. Seagate just sends you an e-mail with a wizard to change the firmware? That's pretty cool __________________

Sep 11, 2006, 11:40 AM	Thread Starter #63
LHC Stingy and Stubborn Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,325 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Hmm.. what do i tell them my reason for downgrading would be though? That's a little tricky __________________

Sep 11, 2006, 12:01 PM	Thread Starter #65
LHC Stingy and Stubborn Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,325 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	That would be appreciated I just need to get the replacement drive down to 3.AAE, thanks __________________

Sep 11, 2006, 06:29 PM	#68
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	SeaFlash utility (sf.exe) will be included in the firmware package, but however, while you're in mode DOS you won't directly run the utility... there will be a DOS batch file (.bat file) which is also included in the firmware package that you'll run it instead, the batch file will do all the work, it'll execute a series of batch jobs. name of this file as well as its contains data is vary depend on the firmware package of each firmware revision and hard drive model. Last edited by PangingJr; Sep 11, 2006 at 07:41 PM.

Sep 15, 2006, 08:06 PM	Thread Starter #71
LHC Stingy and Stubborn Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,325 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Oh well, I called and asked if it's possible to just replace the circuit board on the bad drive and the guy was like "No sir, it isn't possible, we can only replace the entire drive" Oh well, can't say we never tried I'll be sending the old drive back tomorrow I guess __________________

Sep 11, 2006, 11:36 AM	#62
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	hmm i've never tried to downgrade firmware revision on any drive yet... but i believe you can do so. i suggest you talk or send an email to Seagate's and then if you're approved that you can do so, you'll get from them the certificate number (12 digits code) that you'll use it to download the firmware files... then you'll need to flash your hard drive firmware via mode DOS by yourself.

Sep 11, 2006, 11:57 AM	#64
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	it's not easy for making up a fake reason since thay know that your hard drive was came with a certain firmware revision from the factory... this is from its serial number/model number... otherwise, i can come up with a few reasons that might help you to get both 3AAE and 3AAH, then you can use the 3AAE files to do what you want to do with the drive.

Sep 11, 2006, 12:35 PM	#66
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	well you need to find a serial number of the drive model number ST3300822AS (which is your drive) that has the original firmware prior to 3AAE, then you'll give them a good reason that you want that drive to have a 3AAE. or 3AAH, but in the case of using the 3AAH... in order to use it your drive must already have 3AAE on it, so you should get both 3AAE and 3AAH files... this is all i can help you.

Sep 11, 2006, 05:54 PM	#67
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	You could ask them for a flashing utility I know you CAN flash drive firmwares.... but then you'd need to find the old firmware too. Sounds a little risky too... never done it personally but I've seen it done

Sep 11, 2006, 08:07 PM	#69
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	Yeah its a risky proposition to say the least... I know some Maxtor drives had to be flashed when the DiMax 11's had that nF4 write issue

Sep 11, 2006, 08:19 PM	#70
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	if there is no critical issue with your drive you don't want to flash your drive firmware... unless you want to and you know what you're doing, and of course if seagate or your drive's maker agrees to help you by providing the new firmware files...

Sep 16, 2006, 02:27 AM	#72
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	just hope that if they do use those platters, that they wipe them of any information. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Sep 16, 2006, 02:48 AM	Thread Starter #73
LHC Stingy and Stubborn Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,325 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Ha, yea like that one story of that old man and Best Buy.. He returned his drive to them, they assured them it would be sent to Chicago and have a hole drilled in it, but like 5 years later he got a call from someone in Florida telling him he bought the old man's drive at a flea market __________________

Sep 16, 2006, 02:49 AM	#74
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	lol....ya, i remember that story. but the guy was a dumbass himself for having that kind of shit on his hard drive. shit like his social security number and CC numbers, and stuff like that __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Sep 18, 2006, 05:01 PM	#75
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	Interesting fact: Running a wipe such as a PRNG stream 20 overpasses or a Peter Gutmann 35 pass wipe is a more secure way of erasting data than physically destroying the drive in ways such as the "Sulfuric Acid Bath", the classic sledge hammer stomp, or subjecting it to extremely high alternating currents/magnetic fields