Hard drive circuit board - Sata II

[David D]

I agree. I am not sure what the criteria for it working successfully
is.
As far as the search, I have found this on Ebay:

PN:9BJ13E-305
Firmwave:3.AAE

BUT I just don't want to spend $100.00 to find out that the wrong
firmware doesn't work and then have to spend more money to get the
another drive with the exact firmware etc anyways...

And in the computer stores - they have the 3.AAK and the 3.AAE model
as well. Now, someone told me it has to be the EXACT same firmware
etc, but I am not sure anymore. I have seen 200 gig and 80 gig
Seagates with the 3.AAC firmware, but I don't know want to take a
chance and buy it for nothing.(I wish I was made of money)

I am trying Seagate now, but they said, and get this 'any physical
damage to the drive is not under warranty' - isn't that a kicker?

 

[Pecos]

@a35g2000prd.googlegroups.com:

As far as the search, I have found this on Ebay:

PN:9BJ13E-305
Firmwave:3.AAE

BUT I just don't want to spend $100.00 to find out that the wrong
firmware doesn't work and then have to spend more money to get the
another drive with the exact firmware etc anyways...

And in the computer stores - they have the 3.AAK and the 3.AAE model
as well. Now, someone told me it has to be the EXACT same firmware
etc, but I am not sure anymore. I have seen 200 gig and 80 gig
Seagates with the 3.AAC firmware, but I don't know want to take a
chance and buy it for nothing.(I wish I was made of money)

I am trying Seagate now, but they said, and get this 'any physical
damage to the drive is not under warranty' - isn't that a kicker?

Thanks for the update David.

They aren't just referring to any damage you might do by swapping the
cards. Internal damage done if the drive receives an excessive G-force
will also void the warranty. I can understand their policy in regards to
physical damage.

You could always take the drive to a local computer/electronics repair
shop and let them do the swap. Just don't drop it on the way ;-) and put
the drive in an electrostatic bag before transport. It is a small
investment to insure yourself against damage done to the controller card
through mishandling or ESD damage on your part. Find one that has an ESD
safe workbench and handling procedures.

Of course you would have to make two trips to the shop if you want to put
the card back into the new drive after retrieving the data, but maybe you
could get a volume discount?

<snip>

 

[David D]

Volume discount is right! I am hoping the first drive I buy is the
only one I buy because it works! I am still hooked on thinking that
an 80gig drive with the same firmware and P/N might work - it is a
cheap alternative ($50.00), but if it doesn't, I am just adding to my
bill because I will have to pay for a 320 gig anyways...woe is me.
I am ok about removing the card from one drive to another. That is a
piece of cake. About being grounded - what is the best method so I am
ensured that there isn't anything happening static-wise? The computer
store might not do the swap because they would be liable, but I could
ask.
I was surprised by Seagate policy - I have read about drives burning
out, but I guess it has to be internal or they won't honor. Business
is business I guess.
Well, the search for the right drive continues, I will keep you
posted.

 

[Pecos]

About being grounded - what is the best method so I am
ensured that there isn't anything happening static-wise? The computer
store might not do the swap because they would be liable, but I could
ask.

<snip>

I am not an ESD expert but I have seen ISO 9000 ESD safe practices in
action. *Safe* handling procedures requires the tech to use an anti-
static wrist strap and heel straps. They then have to pass an ESD test
on a special electronic testing device to prove they are properly
grounded. The tech connects a coiled cable from the anti-static wrist
strap to a certified ESD safe workbench properly grounded to the floor.
The floor has to be conductive and the workstation has to be tested and
certified at regular intervals.

You obviously don't need ISO 9000 practices for your little project. I
only mention it because it can become complicated and expensive in a real
hurry. Here is a website with some useful info for your project and a
story where someone built his own ESD safe workbench at home (#11):

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=812518

<snip>

 

[Pecos]

About being grounded - what is the best method so I am
ensured that there isn't anything happening static-wise? The computer
store might not do the swap because they would be liable, but I could
ask.

<snip>

I also found this website that is very informative and details what you can
do at home fairly simply:

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-4257.html

 

[David D]

Thanks for that. I will use that info.

I also found received a file that is the firmware for 3.AAC !! I am
not sure if I can buy a newer drive with newer firmware and rollback
to this one, but I am getting closer.

 

[David D]

Well, I got my drive with the same firmware and same P/N number, but
low and behold - the circuit board is different. This one is smaller
then the other one. So the search continues for the drive. When I
plugged it in, it hung my system. It chirped once, but that was it.
I switched it back and the drive still works.

 

[Pecos]

Well, I got my drive with the same firmware and same P/N number, but
low and behold - the circuit board is different. This one is smaller
then the other one. So the search continues for the drive. When I
plugged it in, it hung my system. It chirped once, but that was it.

Well that's no good. Are there different rev numbers or other different
numbers that distinguish the controller cards as being different?

I switched it back and the drive still works.

<snip>

That's good to hear at least.

 

[Mark F]

The original poster reported lower performance with new
firmware in a Seagate 320GB drive.

Various other forums than USENET have shown that people are
having similar problems with other Seagate drives as well.
(By "similar problems" I mean that the sequential read speed
was lower for the same disk model but with a higher firmware revision
level.)

From my experience with the Seagate model ST3500630AS, P/N
9BJ146-305 and 9BJ146-305, I suggest that people try doing
sequential read tests with both HD Tach and HD Tune using
various disk models.

My tests on Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1
showed that the newer (3.AAJ) firmware does not reach
as great a maximum speed as disks with 3.AAE and older
firmware when using HD Tune version 2.53. However, the
performance with HD Tach RW version 3.0.1.0 is the same
with both the older and newer firmware versions.

Looking in detail, using drives with the older firmware,
the sequential read speed is "staircase" across the entire
disk with both benchmark programs. However, the newer
firmware and HD Tune give a constant rate for about 2/3
of the disk surface, and then shows a staircase.

I reported this problem to Seagate at the end of 2006, but they
didn't seem interested in fixing it.

Given the problems that I see reported now, I am interested
in finding out how many different models show the problem:
. benchmark HD Tune
sequential read speed versus cylinder is not a staircase,
but instead is flat for most of the disk surface.
. benchmark HD Tach
sequential read speed versus cylinder is a staircase
across the entire disk.

 

[David D]

Well, my drive adventure has ended disappointingly. I got a
controller card that is the same Firmware and P/N and alas it still
doesn't work. In the bios it continually tries to read and give me a
HARD DISK FAIL. It then does not get recognized by windows. I tried
Easy Data REcovery and it doesn't find it either. I think I am sunk on
this one. Does anyone have a software package that might work?

 

[Frank McCoy]

Well, my drive adventure has ended disappointingly. I got a
controller card that is the same Firmware and P/N and alas it still
doesn't work. In the bios it continually tries to read and give me a
HARD DISK FAIL. It then does not get recognized by windows. I tried
Easy Data REcovery and it doesn't find it either. I think I am sunk on
this one. Does anyone have a software package that might work?

You might try Spinrite.

 

[Pecos]

Well, my drive adventure has ended disappointingly. I got a
controller card that is the same Firmware and P/N and alas it still
doesn't work. In the bios it continually tries to read and give me a
HARD DISK FAIL. It then does not get recognized by windows. I tried
Easy Data REcovery and it doesn't find it either. I think I am sunk on
this one. Does anyone have a software package that might work?

<snip>

Hi David,

That sounds like the end of the road then, but not because of anything
you did wrong.

Thanks for the update. I am sure that someone will benefit from your
experience even if only to start a regular backup program.

 

[torbengb]

Well, my drive adventure has ended disappointingly. I got a
controller card that is the same Firmware and P/N and alas it still
doesn't work. In the bios it continually tries to read and give me a
HARD DISK FAIL. It then does not get recognized by windows. I tried
Easy Data REcovery and it doesn't find it either. I think I am sunk on
this one.

David, if you are done with the board, can I buy it from you?

Sorry to hear that you weren't successful. I am in the same situation, I just fried one of my drives' boards by a short. I swapped the board from another identical drive and it worked, so I know I just need a new board -- which you just happen to have, I hope?

If you see this post, please contact me at torbengb@gmail-com, perhaps we can figure something out?

Thanks and regards,
Torben G-B