Seagate FreePlay Data Recovery

[Jared]

I'm working on this drive that's acting very strangely. It's a Pharoah family

Model: ST1500LM003
P/N: 9YH148-550
FW: CC9F
S/N: Z11....

When it came in it spins up, sounds like a normal spin up, then just keeps spinning. In utility it ID's as:

Model : ST_M13FQBL
Serial : QNR_BFW
Firmware : 04191200
Capacity : 3.86 GB (8 089 950)

Tried shorting read channel, etc. but coudn't get terminal access no matter what I did. Assuming heads, I brought in a donor (perfect match), replaced heads and I'm now getting exactly the same thing. Can't access terminal, nothing. Any ideas?

 

[Jared]

I've ruled out PCB by replacing it too.. same result.

Anyone know a trick I can use to just get terminal access and attempt to do anything here?

 

[jol]

try if with HDA insulated from PCB (just the heads) you getting anything in terminal log
i suspect its the spindle/motor because in this drive if the motor is not connected you get nothing in terminal log

 

[Jared]

No, it's not with the motor and I've tried blocking the preamp, still no terminal access. It's spinning up fine, I've tried a different PCB, and I've even tried getting terminal access using the original PCB and another HDA with preamp blocked but nothing.