03/04/2018 How to fix bricked Seagate hard disk (with illustrations) | webfoobar

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How to fix bricked Seagate hard disk (with illustrations)

This is an image based tutorial that will show step by step on how to fix bricked Seagate hard
disk (model ST3500320AS). This model ST3500320AS is a 500GB hard disk but it has known busy bug or
BSY error. If the hard disk is hit by this bug, its size will be detected 0 bytes by BIOS. Disclaimer:
webfoobar assumes no responsibility for any data loss executing the following tutorial steps (use
at your own risk).
Requirements:
1. 1 piece USB to UART connectivity bridge (this tutorial uses Nokia CA42 cable) with driver
2. 5 pieces wafer connector
3. 1 piece 2 x AA battery holder
4. 2 pieces AA battery
5. VOM or Multitester
6. COM port terminal software (this tutorial uses PuTTY)
Cable Construction Steps:

Cut the cable into two. We only need the part with USB plug. Therefore, it is logical to cut the wire with
USB plug more longer. We will use the other half of the cable in identifying its pinouts in the next step.
The cable's wire color may vary in different manufacturer so identify the pinouts of your cable using VOM.
I have identified mine as (be sure to add label on each wire):

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Connect the wafer connector at the tip of the cable's wires (the one with USB):

For improvement, add shrinkable tube:

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Connect the battery holder:

Prepare the Hard disk:

Remove the Printed Circuit Board (PCB):

Remember the position of the PCB on the hard disk and where the screws are connected:
Disassembled hard disk
Put an insulation (something like thick paper or calling card) between the PCB and the connector of the
hard disk:

Thick paper on top of hard disk connector

Return the PCB on the hard disk with the paper insulating the PCB and hard disk connector then reconnect
the screw to temporarily hold the PCB on hard disk:
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PCB connected on hard disk with paper

Remove the hard disk jumper:
Hard disk jumper
Connect the customized cable to the hard disk. Here's the pinout of the hard disk:
Hard disk pinout
Connect the SATA power to the hard disk and wait until the motor stops:
SATA power and CA-45 connected
Driver Installation:
Nokia CA42 Driver
Attach the two double A batteries. Connect the cable to the computer. The CD driver may not be needed,
my Windows download it automatically:
Driver installation 1
After it downloads, Windows will try to install it:
Driver installation 2

New window will appear at the back and click that window:
Driver installation 4
Click "Finish" button

Message should appear at your taskbar that the driver has been installed:
Driver installation 6
It is important to identify the port number of your installed USB to UART connectivity bridge. Open your
"Control Panel" and double click "System":
Driver Installation 7
A window will popup. Click "Device Manager":
Driver installation 8
Click "Modems":
Driver installation 9
Double click "Nokia CA-42 USB Modem":

A new window will popup. Click "Modem" tab:

Driver installation 11

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03/04/2018 How to fix bricked Seagate hard disk (with illustrations) | webfoobar

Take note of the port number (mine is COM7):

Driver installation 12
Communicating with hard disk:
Note: Make sure to follow the upper and lower case when typing on terminal.
Open PuTTY terminal. From the "Category" column, select "Serial". Input the port number of your USB to
UART connectivity bridge cable to "Serial line to connect to" field (in my case, I entered COM7), 38400 to
"Speed (baud)" field, 8 to "Data bits", 1 to "Stop bits", select "None" from "Parity" dropdown menu and
also "None" for "Flow control". Click "Open" button:
Setup PuTTY serial options
Hit the CTRL+Z keys and it should display a prompt saying F3 T>:
Communicating with hard disk step 2
Type /2 and hit Enter:

Type Z and hit Enter:

Communicating with hard disk step 4
Remove the inserted paper from the hard disk and tighten up all its screws:

Type U and hit Enter:

Communicating with hard disk step 6
The next commands are just for checking if everything are ok (Note: this test only works for 500GB
7200.11 hard disks with firmware SD15. Type / and hit Enter:
Communicating with hard disk step 7
Type F712 and hit Enter:

Type F,,22 and hit Enter:

Communicating with hard disk step 9
Type F712 and hit Enter:
Communicating with hard disk step 10
This is the end of the checking part. The next steps should be performed.
Type /1 and hit Enter:
Communicating with hard disk step 11
Type N1 and hit Enter:
Communicating with hard disk step 12

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Type / and hit Enter:

Communicating with hard disk step 13
The terminal will clear and it should display:
Communicating with hard disk step 14
Unplug the SATA power of the hard disk, reconnect it and wait for 20 seconds. Type m0,2,2,0,0,0,0,22
and hit Enter:
Communicating with hard disk step 15
Remove the SATA power and the customized cable from the hard disk. Shutdown your computer, install
the hard disk to your computer and reboot. The hard disk should be working by now and be sure to
update the firmware of your hard disk ASAP.
Tags
Computer Troubleshooting
Embedded System
Add new comment
Comments

zafar (not verified)

Mon, 07/13/2015 - 02:45
Permalink

nokia cabel for segate

i m very confused 3.3v bettery wich wair is connected ples help me

Reply

arpeggio
Mon, 07/13/2015 - 07:07
Permalink

Cable pinouts

The 3.3 battery's positive terminal is connected on pin 2 and the negative terminal on pin 6 (please see
illustration bellow):

Reply

Anonymous vince (not verified)

Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:56
Permalink

helpful

thank alot
Reply

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03/04/2018 How to fix bricked Seagate hard disk (with illustrations) | webfoobar

Siddhesh rele (not verified)

Sun, 11/15/2015 - 14:32
Permalink

adding battery

Hi,
How did you add battery?
Reply

arpeggio
Mon, 11/16/2015 - 08:59
Permalink

Re: Adding battery

Hi,
To add the battery:
1. Cut the cable into two (we only need the part with USB plug).
2. Use the other half of the cable with CA42 plug to identify its pinouts using VOM because cable's wire
color may vary in different manufacturer. I have identified mine as:

Note: be sure to add label on each wire.

3. Solder the battery holder on the cable with USB plug attaching the wire based on the pinouts you have
identified. In my case, using the image above I attached the red wire of the battery holder on number
2 (3.3 volts pin) and the black wire of the battery holder on number 6 (Ground pin).
Reply

Javeed (not verified)

Tue, 12/01/2015 - 16:05
Permalink

Sir for 1tb is it same…

Sir for 1tb is it same procedure

Reply

Javeed (not verified)

Tue, 12/01/2015 - 16:07
Permalink

Hey sir for 1 Tb is it same…

Hey sir for 1 Tb is it same procedure

Reply

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arpeggio
Wed, 12/02/2015 - 06:35
Permalink

Model ST3500320AS

The steps were only tested in model ST3500320AS harddisk. Anyway, you may try the procedures at
your own risk.
Reply

Hernan (not verified)

Sun, 09/18/2016 - 02:19
Permalink

Upload new firmware

Hi, I have a drive 7200.11 that failed when updating the firmware. Could I use this method to fix it?
Thanks, Hernan
Reply

arpeggio
Sun, 09/18/2016 - 07:51
Permalink

This fix is for busy bug or BSY error

Hi, the instructions presented above is for fixing busy bug or BSY error of Seagate hard disk. Anyway, if
your hard disk is already unusable, you can always try but at your own risk (expect the worst: you might
break your hard disk more). Good luck.
Reply

Lenni (not verified)

Fri, 09/30/2016 - 13:32
Permalink

Format User Partition

When typing, m0,2,2,0,0,0,0,22 the prompt says format user partition: Is this erasing data??
Will this tutorial wipe the drive of all it's data?
Reply

arpeggio
Fri, 09/30/2016 - 15:23
Permalink

My colleague claimed he was…

My colleague claimed he was able to retrieve data in his hard disk. But in my case, the data were gone.
Anyway, the data on my hard disk doesn't matter to me, I care only of fixing the hard disk. Follow the
tutorial at your own risk.
Reply

teofilo (not verified)

Fri, 04/21/2017 - 16:52
Permalink

standard usb cable

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can i use standard usb cable instead of nokia cable?

Reply

admin
Fri, 04/21/2017 - 19:13
Permalink

The any USB cable that has…

The any USB cable that has UART connectivity bridge circuit in it. Thanks.
Reply

Mike Martin (not verified)

Sat, 12/16/2017 - 14:49
Permalink

Use Prolific USB to TTL

You can also use a Prolific PL2303 USB to Serial (TTL) Module/Adapter and some jumpers. Lots easier than
the old Nokia cable.
Reply

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