Bad sectors in service area solution

[Igor]

Hello

If HDD has bad sectors in SA and we can not rewrite modules (but we have good modules),
for example PSHT module in copy 0 is bad, but copy 1 is good or both copies are readable by halves and we have repaired it via hex editor, we can write SA modules to other platters and initialize HDD from that platters.
Let's examine one case

HTS548080M9AT00
All modules except PSHT module copy 0 are ok. First of all we should make backup and try to rewrite PSHT module from copy 1 to copy 0. But copy 0 has bad sectors and we can not rewrite it. In this case we can try to write SA to other platters.
So, here is what we have to do
1. Edit head map in nvram
Current head map is 00 01 02 03

nvram original.JPG (26.15 KiB) Viewed 11301 times

We should change heads by pairs, so we set 02 03 00 01

nvram corrected.JPG (26.22 KiB) Viewed 11301 times

And correct checksum
Press ok.
2. Write SA modules
Restart the power
Restart utility and load resources from Profile

utility start.JPG (46.1 KiB) Viewed 11301 times

Then select modules that have been saved before

offline start.JPG (40.81 KiB) Viewed 11141 times

Then go to menu WORK WITH SA - MODULES WRITING
And select saved modules
At first we should write marker of SA - RSVD module

modules writing.JPG (57.76 KiB) Viewed 11301 times

Then restart the power and write the rest of modules
3. Edit head map in RAM
After restarting HDD should show good ID (if modules are good and write procedure executed ok)
And we should set native head map in RAM because HDD will not read user data with head map 02 03 00 01
So, select
TOOLS - UTILITY EXTENSIONS - SERVICE INFORMATION OBJECTS
Click on RAM/NV-RAM tab and check RAM
Set initial address 0x0
Block size 0x40000
And press OK

object selection.JPG (38.87 KiB) Viewed 11141 times

Now we have to find head map in RAM
Press CTRL+F and type data example 02 03 00 01 (current head map)

search.JPG (23.37 KiB) Viewed 11301 times

Press OK
We will find head map by address 0x3D610 in NV-RAM image and by address 0x3D9A0

head map 1.JPG (41.38 KiB) Viewed 11301 times

We have to change head map by address 0x3D9A0 (in case if we work with 3.5" Hitachi IBM, we should change head map in image of nv-ram (0x3D610))

head map 2.JPG (35.02 KiB) Viewed 11301 times

And write data to HDD

write data to hdd.JPG (26.74 KiB) Viewed 11301 times

Finnaly we've got access to user data!
Press ALT+V to check it.

[slack]

It works perfect I tested on HTS541080G9AT00 MLC:DA1175 with the same problem.

Thanks.

[dataLAB]

Thank You Igor

I have just used this process succesfully to recover data from a HTS721010G9SA00.
The drive was showing errors in several modules, both copy 0 & 1

I have found that re-powering drive after reverting head map back to original means lost access to SA - the process needing to be repeated and Data Extractor run after last step.

[Igor]

You are welcome
Yes if you restart power head map will be 02 03 00 01 (like is set in nvram),
but for normal work head map should be 00 01 02 03.

[ici_lemmy]

Works very well in my case. Copying user data now !
Thanks Igor for this solution and thanks to Roustam who showed it to me !

[300ddr]

Can this work if original head map is: 01 02 03 FF?

I have a 5450B9 here with that head map, and if heads must be changed in pairs, does that mean this solution will not work for this drive?

[digital]

What about the case of an HTS541040G9AT00 with a head map of 00 01 00 00 which appears to be a one head drive? What to do?
Ok, switched the heads to 01 00 00 00 and got an ID, but when I go to the last step and edit the RAM at location 0x3D9A0 there is no data there, I also looked in location 0x3D610 with no luck. I have no access to user data. Please help me.
Thank you anyone!

[hhddrec]

Any way to Write sectors in IBM-ARM Architecture if secs in SA badly

I have a HTS727550A9E330 with PSHT copy1 badly, i tryed to write form PSHT copy0 witout success.

Any way

[arvika]

I have similar problem, any solution?