Maxtor disk failed. Controller replacement?

[Jaz]

A have a Maxtor 20GB 2B020H1 which is doing the spin-up then spin-down
thing. The controller says ATHENA ATA2-PLUS, FBII 301430100.

I found this site http://www.hddtech.co.uk/MaxtorFailureSymptoms.htm
and my symptoms match precisely. So I bought a working 2B020H1 used.

I swapped the contoller but the drive isn't recognized at POST. I
swapped the controller back to the spare-parts drive and that one
works fine. Worth noting is that with the spare controller, the
original drive no longer spins down after spin up.

Then I noticed that the spare controller part number is slightly
different. The new one reads "ATHEN II/POKER". What's interesting is
why this controller would not be detected by the BIOS when attached to
the old platter assembly. I verified that the geometry and the Maxtor
part numbers are both the same.

Anyway, aside from trying to find another spare controller that
matches exactly, and before I resort to an $800+ professional
recovery, is there anything else I should try?

Thanks.
Jaz
(Please excuse the 'burp' when replying (b))

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

A have a Maxtor 20GB 2B020H1 which is doing the spin-up then spin-
down thing. The controller says ATHENA ATA2-PLUS, FBII 301430100.

I found this site http://www.hddtech.co.uk/MaxtorFailureSymptoms.htm
and my symptoms match precisely. So I bought a working 2B020H1 used.

I swapped the contoller but the drive isn't recognized at POST. I
swapped the controller back to the spare-parts drive and that one
works fine. Worth noting is that with the spare controller, the
original drive no longer spins down after spin up.

Then I noticed that the spare controller part number is slightly
different. The new one reads

"ATHEN II/POKER".

Apt name. Describes the process of recovery very neatly.

 

[Jaz]

Oops, I meant "ATHENA II/POKER"

Apt name. Describes the process of recovery very neatly.

Should have been named "ATHENA II/CRAPSHOOT"

Well, on ebay I found a "ATHENA ATA2-PLUS, FBII 301430100" 2B020H1
drive, which is 'tested' -- Fingers crossed!

PS, the folks at the link above were very helpful, and given me an
incentive to send them as a last resort. Very nice blokes.

(Please excuse the 'burp' when replying (b))

 

[Todd]

Apt name. Describes the process of recovery very neatly.

Have you tried the freezer trick yet? It didn't work for me, but other
people have had success with it. When I tried it, the drive did respond
faster, even though it ultimately still did not get recognized properly by
the BIOS.

Put the drive in the freezer for an hour, then hook it up to the computer
and see what happens.

Todd

 

[Peter]

Have you tried the freezer trick yet? It didn't work for me, but other

people have had success with it. When I tried it, the drive did respond
faster, even though it ultimately still did not get recognized properly by
the BIOS.

Put the drive in the freezer for an hour, then hook it up to the computer
and see what happens.

You may put it on a block of dry ice instead. It works faster.

 

[John]

A have a Maxtor 20GB 2B020H1 which is doing the spin-up then spin-down
thing. The controller says ATHENA ATA2-PLUS, FBII 301430100.

I found this site http://www.hddtech.co.uk/MaxtorFailureSymptoms.htm
and my symptoms match precisely. So I bought a working 2B020H1 used.

I swapped the contoller but the drive isn't recognized at POST. I
swapped the controller back to the spare-parts drive and that one
works fine. Worth noting is that with the spare controller, the
original drive no longer spins down after spin up.

Then I noticed that the spare controller part number is slightly
different. The new one reads "ATHEN II/POKER". What's interesting is
why this controller would not be detected by the BIOS when attached to
the old platter assembly. I verified that the geometry and the Maxtor
part numbers are both the same.

Anyway, aside from trying to find another spare controller that
matches exactly, and before I resort to an $800+ professional
recovery, is there anything else I should try?

You might try a local small computer shop that can give you a realistic
price. It's called competition. I have dealt with some that allow you to
wait and watch if you tell them you have someone else that is willing to do
the same. Works for me.

 

[Geo]

Have you tried the freezer trick yet? It didn't work for me, but other
people have had success with it. When I tried it, the drive did respond
faster, even though it ultimately still did not get recognized properly by
the BIOS.

Put the drive in the freezer for an hour, then hook it up to the computer
and see what happens.

I left mine in for 24 hours and was able to retrieve the data I needed /but/ had
to keep spraying the chip with a freezing spray to keep it going for long
enough...

Geo

 

[Michael Kennedy]

In my experience computer shops don't do any work like this.. They only can
change entire drives..

- Mike

 

[John]

In my experience computer shops don't do any work like this.. They
only can change entire drives..

I have been in some shops that are no more than automobile mechanics.
There are also some that are owned by very knowledgeable individuals. Data
recovery specialists are more and more in demand and is a worthwhile
endeavor. Local corporations that do not have a specialists on staff are
more and more inclined to use these for quick turn around. I learned this
first hand in desperation needing to recover a project due ASAP. Computer
Geeks from Bestbuy is an example of the house call needs of more than small
businesses.

 

[Michael Kennedy]

What? are you saying Geek Squad does data recovery?!

Oh by the way.. I think the auto mechanic anaology is kind of a good / bad.
There used to be auto mechanics that would rebuild break calipers,
mastercylleders, alternators, starters, etc rather than replace the entire
part. Now days this isn't usually cost effective and any big business like a
dealership won't have any knowledgeable mechanics working for them.. I feel
the same is true with comptuer repair. It used to be if you went in to a
computer shop they'd have an oscilloscope, soldering station, crt tester,
etc.. I think it is just the advent of throw away equipment, cars and
electronics.

- Mike

 

[John]

What? are you saying Geek Squad does data recovery?!

No, after I read what I posted I was sure it would appear that way. I meant
to use that as an example of immediate needs at an affordable price. BAD
example.

Oh by the way.. I think the auto mechanic anaology is kind of a good
/ bad. There used to be auto mechanics that would rebuild break
calipers, mastercylleders, alternators, starters, etc rather than
replace the entire part. Now days this isn't usually cost effective
and any big business like a dealership won't have any knowledgeable
mechanics working for them.. I feel the same is true with comptuer
repair. It used to be if you went in to a computer shop they'd have
an oscilloscope, soldering station, crt tester, etc.. I think it is
just the advent of throw away equipment, cars and electronics.

- Mike

I remember well. With the disposability factor these days there are still
things that do not fall into that category. I see the 'Local Data Recovery
Specialists' as the emergency room of computer industry.

 

[Jaz]

What? are you saying Geek Squad does data recovery?!

Oh by the way.. I think the auto mechanic anaology is kind of a good / bad.
There used to be auto mechanics that would rebuild break calipers,
mastercylleders, alternators, starters, etc rather than replace the entire
part. Now days this isn't usually cost effective and any big business like a
dealership won't have any knowledgeable mechanics working for them.. I feel
the same is true with comptuer repair. It used to be if you went in to a
computer shop they'd have an oscilloscope, soldering station, crt tester,
etc.. I think it is just the advent of throw away equipment, cars and
electronics.

Years ago I would make an enjoyable weekend of replacing the 5th
piston in my '63 Buick Wildcat -- it had a cracked cylindar wall and
the rings would eventually get gummed up by watery oil. Much more
recently I drove an '87 Quattro and used to take it to the dealer or
one of the bigger reputible shops because I wanted it fixed right.
After 3-4 visits I realized they didn't know how to fix cars and I
resorted to being my own mechanic again.

So in regards to the this disk drive, I can understand the need for
clean-rooms and delicate instruments. But since I belive this is a
controller problem I'll try tackling it myself before I send it off to
somebody. Here in Boston there is TechFusion, but they want $850 for a
best case scenario. The folks in the UK are a bit cheaper and have a
no-fix/no-pay policy.

I did find a seller of a same-model drive who claims the controller
model # matches, so I'll try this before the freeze spray method.

Stay tuned!

(Please excuse the 'burp' when replying (b))

 

[Michael Kennedy]

That sounds like a good plan. I think it should work since they say most
drive failures are due to electronics not the platters.

Good Luck,
- Mike

 

[Eric Gisin]

Just grab all of them (with same board) you see on ebay.
Don't do the "freezer trick" if you value your data.

 

[Pete]

You may put it on a block of dry ice instead. It works faster.

Dry ice worked for me. I started with the freezer and it showed promise.
Then I got some dry ice and copied like mad until it quit, then I let it
chill back down and did it again. Kept it up, got all 60GB back!

 

[Michael Kennedy]

Don't do the "freezer trick" if you value your data.

Well you could freeze the control board without any worries but I wouldn't
freeze the entire drive.

- Mike

 

[Fabian Fuller]

FWIW, a couple years ago I went through a situation similar to what you're
going through. During my Internet research I learned that firmware versions
of controller boards may vary between otherwise identical looking drives,
and this might result in a compatibility problem. The person I learned this
from commented that after he went through swapping controller boards and
discovered the firmware difference, he made it his practice, when buying a
new hard drive, to always buy a second identical drive at the same time from
the same batch as the first (to ensure matching firmware) so he could
confidently swap the controller boards should he need to.

Hope this helps.
Fabian

 

[Odie]

FWIW, a couple years ago I went through a situation similar to what you're
going through. During my Internet research I learned that firmware versions
of controller boards may vary between otherwise identical looking drives,
and this might result in a compatibility problem. The person I learned this
from commented that after he went through swapping controller boards and
discovered the firmware difference, he made it his practice, when buying a
new hard drive, to always buy a second identical drive at the same time from
the same batch as the first (to ensure matching firmware) so he could
confidently swap the controller boards should he need to.

This in no way guarantees the drives will have the same firmware
version. There's every single chance that they could be from different
batches.

I don't understand why your friend didn't just run the drives in RAID 1
array.

The chances of them both failing together (unless they were both Maxtors
or some other cause) would probably be adequate, coupled with a backup
regime.


Odie

 

[Fabian Fuller]

Agreed, RAID 1 array is a solution. Wasn't my friend, rather someone who
posted on the Internet. I don't recall if he discussed RAID. Some PC's
only have physical space for one internal hard drive. As I recall, he
contacted Maxtor and they informed him what to look for on the packaging to
determine if the drives are from the same batch.

Fabian

 

[Rod Speed]

FWIW, a couple years ago I went through a situation similar to what
you're going through. During my Internet research I learned that
firmware versions of controller boards may vary between otherwise
identical looking drives, and this might result in a compatibility
problem. The person I learned this from commented that after he went
through swapping controller boards and discovered the firmware
difference, he made it his practice, when buying a new hard drive, to
always buy a second identical drive at the same time from the same
batch as the first (to ensure matching firmware) so he could
confidently swap the controller boards should he need to.

Makes a lot more sense to backup properly.