Basic
principles of operation
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The
PC-3000 software package is a menu-driven set of
utilities where every available HDD operation is
presented as a menu item, resulting either in some
specific actions or acquiring some status
information. Primary HDD diagnostics are completed
by using the universal utility "PC-3000 ј“".
Diagnostic results are displayed on the screen and
can either be saved as a file or printed. The
recovery procedure itself is performed by using
utilities that are specific to each HDD family. The
entire recovery/repair process can be divided into
the following optional steps:
- HDD controller
board & interface diagnostics;
- Flash memory /
NV-RAM firmware review/reload;
- Forced HDD
boot up procedure by using an external loader
from PC (in cases where the HDD cannot boot up
by itself);
- Disk system
area (maintenance track) read/write test;
- Disk system
area (maintenance track) firmware modules
integrity test;
-
Fixing/reloading damaged firmware modules (RAM
or disk);
- G-List &
P-List defects tables and S.M.A.R.T. attributes
review/clear;
- Replacement of
defective sectors or tracks by assign,
reallocation or skipping defects;
-
Restoration/editing of the disk ID module (disk
logical parameters, model, S/N, etc.);
- Servo test and
concealment of tracks with damaged servos;
- Translator
regeneration (Physical Head/Cylinder/Sector into
LBA translation recovery);
- HDD
reconfiguration by skipping defective areas of
disk surface or turning off defective heads;
- Low-level
formatting;
- Media scan -
search for defective sectors and their
concealment by assign, reallocation or skipping
defects. The concealment is achieved by using
the drive's reserved area which is specifically
assigned for this purpose.
- Security
sub-system operations.
- Launch and
monitoring of the HDD self-test procedure;
- and more.
Universal utilities allow quite fast HDD diagnostics
facilitating a decision about possible methods for
its subsequent recovery. The utilities support
operations with ANY 3.5" or 2.5" HDD that complies
with the ATA-3 to ATA-7 specifications.
Specialized utilities allow diagnostics and firmware
recovery in specialized vendor specific mode of hard
drive operation by accessing firmware on PCB and
HDD's system area (maintanance track). That mode
cannot be universal; it is unique for each drive
family. That is why the complex includes individual
vendor specific utilities for each HDD family.
Specialized utilities allow deeper diagnostics of
drive malfunctions and subsequent recovery of its
functionality. Alternatively, if a HDD cannot be
repaired, these utilities in some cases provide an
opportunity to access user data.
The
complex includes a kit of specialized connectors and
adapters for working with the HDD in vendor specific
mode.
Adapter PC-USB-TERMINAL is intended for accessing
Seagate, Toshiba, Hitachi, Samsung HDDs in vendor
specific mode through USB socket of host PC.
Adapters PC-SEAGATE, PC-SEAG.SATA Ц support
Seagate ATA and SATA HDDs through adapter
PC-USB-TERMINAL.
The complex also includes a database of HDD firmware
resources: contents of HDD FLASH ROM, system area
modules and tracks, etc. All the resources are
grouped by families, models, and firmware versions.
You can search for them throughout the database and
add new objects from latest HDD models.
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Which
problems can be solved using PC-3000 for Windows?
Someone may face
minor drive malfunctions, such as BIOS inability to
identify HDD parameters or impossibility to view
partitions containing user data; others may
experience difficulties with corrupted modules in
HDD system area or damaged subsystem of LBA
translation into PCHS.
We often receive a question: "Will PC-3000 help if a
HDD makes clicking sounds?" The question has no
simple answer without preliminary analysis of
malfunction causes, which result in the clicking
sound. Therefore the answer may be both YES or NO
depending upon the situation. However, let us
consider some guidelinesЕ
The features
provided by PC-3000 for Windows can be
conventionally subdivided into two parts according
to their purpose:
- HDD
repair;
- Recovery
of user data.
Please note that
very frequently the second goal cannot be reached
without the first one. That is why PC-3000 includes
tools for both those purposes and it is up to users
to decide which modes of complex functionality may
be necessary in a specific situation.
We shall not go
into detail analyzing possible HDD malfunctions
(such analysis may take several pages) discussing
instead just the features of PC-3000 complex
applicable for detection of malfunctions and
restoration of HDD functionality:
PCB:
Scanning of firmware microcode in ROM; verification
of configuration data in ROM; verification of
firmware version in ROM; buffer RAM test; execution
of HDD self-diagnostics.
Reading and recording of flash ROM containing
firmware microcode and configuration data. The flash
ROM image file can be copied from the resource
database of PC-3000 complex.
SA:
Testing of system area for bad sectors; scanning of
SA modules to detect possible corrupted areas.
Reformatting of system area; restoration of damaged
SA modules or their overwriting with standard
reference data from the resource database of
PC-3000.
User Data
(LBAs):
Surface testing and detection of bad sectors;
executing the internal low-level Format procedure.
Relocation of revealed surface defects updating the
HDD's defect tables; executing the Selfscan
procedure.
Heads:
Head testing (for some drive families only).
Isolation of malfunctioning heads (HDD capacity
decreases in such cases but the drive may become
fully functional).
Universal:
Resetting SMART parameters of a HDD.
Ccorrecting drive ID.
Unlocking USER and MASTER passwords.
Wiping user data.
New function
implemented for use with Data Extractor:
Functionality to read user data from a HDD, which
cannot operate in accordance with its logical
parameters (LBA). The reading routine in that case
uses physical parameters (PCHS) taking into account
actual drive translation tables or, if they are
damaged, their virtually reconstructed copies.
Main
differences between PC-3000 ISA (DOS) and PC-3000
for Windows
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One basic
difference is in the PC-3000 tester board:
DOS version uses PC-3000 PRO board for ISA bus while
Windows version is working with PC-3000 PCI board.
PC-3000 ISA (DOS)
complex allows operations with a single connected
drive. PC-3000 for Windows (together with the
PC-3000 PCI board) allows simultaneous work with two
HDDs.
DOS version
functions in LCHS or LBA28 mode and the capacity of
HDDs it can test is limited to 120 GB. PC-3000 for
Windows, on the contrary, supports LBA28 and LBA48
and it can test hard drives greater than 120 GB, but
it does not work with HDDs in the LCHS mode.
Therefore the lists of specialized utilities used
for HDD support in those two versions are different.
Furthermore,
software core of PC-3000 ISA (DOS) was built in 1993
on the basis of graphical environment available in
DOS and designed for 640 Kb of RAM. Contemporary
tasks, such as operations with HDD firmware images,
fast search of HDD resources in database require
completely different tools, that is why all those
requirements were taken into account during
development of software core in PC-3000 for Windows.
Why do you
use PC-3000?
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What else could we
use? HDD manufacturers do not offer specialized
software for HDD repair or data recovery. All known
software products distributed by HDD manufacturers
(available from the technical support sections of
their respective web sites) allow just general drive
diagnostics, and surface testing for bad sectors.
These utilities do not repair the drive and do not
care about user data.
Testing and
repairing software used at the manufacturing
factories is generally very complex. It is designed
for hard drive developers and not intended for HDD
restoration being able instead to identify the
causes of defects in the technological process or to
control the whole HDD assembly cycle.
owever, versions of
such software with limited functionality are
sometimes available from HDD resellers. Here belong
such well-known programs as DDD/DFT of IBM and Vtool
for Samsung drives. The main problem of work with
such software is not its complexity but rather lack
of accompanying manuals and methods for HDD
restoration, absence of resources (HDD ROM contents,
various loaders, burn tests and scan test files).
All those aspects make its purchase useless.
There is also free
software, e. g. MHDD, LHDD, etc. It is available
from the Internet and it can be downloaded at no
charge. Being free is its only advantage, but there
is a serious drawback, too. Developers of such
software design it just for personal pleasure when
they have time for it. Thus we cannot speak about
technical support, scheduled releases of new
versions or any serious research in the sphere of
HDD repair and data recovery.
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Can users
add new custom modes on their own?
Yes, if the user is
quite proficient and familiar with programming
basics! PC-3000 complex for Windows has a built-in
script machine, which allows independent extension
of utility features. Of course, the task may be
daunting for newbies, but after some experience
someone who has mastered the complex perfectly may
attempt to enhance its functionality. Open interface
of the PC-3000 for Windows provides a wide range of
opportunities for that purpose. Besides, users of
PC-3000 for Windows can exchange the resources and
ready scripts for new vendor specific modes.
Does
PC-3000 for Windows support 2.5" HDDs?
Yes, the package of
PC-3000 for Windows includes a special PC-2" adapter
for connection of 2.5" HDDs to the PC-3000 PCI
board. The software portion of the complex includes
specialized utilities for 2.5" drives manufactured
by Hitachi, Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Seagate. On-going
development of specialized utilities for IBM and
Samsung 2.5" HDDs is under way.
Examples of
application
Case 1.
A Western Digital WD1200PB-00FBA0 drive cannot be
identified in computer BIOS, we need to recover user
data.
In the first place
it is necessary to power-up the HDD and listen
carefully to check whether the spindle motor spins
up and the drive produces recalibration sounds
(PC-3000 is not necessary during that stage). If the
spindle motor spins up, check the settings of
configuration jumpers, they should set the drive to
be Master Only (in WD drives the mode is on when all
jumpers are disabled), then you can connect the
drive to the PC-3000 PCI tester board.
That can be
accomplished using a flat IDE cable connected to
port 0 or 1 and a power cable. Then it is time to
run the software (PC-3000 for Windows), power-up the
HDD and launch the PC-3000 universal utility.
If the universal utility is unable to read ID from
that HDD and reports error 04h (ABRT), then you
should launch a specialized utility for Western
Digital HDDs. It will switch the drive to factory
mode and attempt to read firmware header in ROM and
the configuration sector in service area on disk.
If the utility succeeds and outputs drive
information to a report on display, then it starts
service area structure test taking several minutes.
Then the test results will be displayed. They will
likely inform about damaged firmware modules 20h,
21h and 25h. The cause of HDD malfunction becomes
evident. Using the "service modules" wizard one can
tell that the modules belong to translator; modules
20h and 25h at that will be able to recover without
assistance when the "regenerate translator"
procedure is performed, but module 21h has to be
overwritten. To do so, you will have to select from
the database of the PC-3000 complex for Windows
module 21h, having specified model WD1200PB-00FBA0
and firmware version 15.05R15 as search criteria.
Use the list of suggestions to pick any module 21h
and select the "write to drive" option. Then you
will have to select the "regenerate translator"
option and the default menu item; the program will
also display the "recommended for data recovery"
tip. Then switch the drive's power supply off and on
again to make it initialize itself with new
parameters and ensure than the drive is functional
and user data can be accessed. Now you can connect
that HDD to a computer normally and copy necessary
data from it.
Case 2.
A Fujitsu MHS2020AT is identified normally in
computer BIOS, but during the startup procedure you
receive a message about HDD malfunction. We need to
recover user data from it.
To connect that 2.5" HDD to the PC-3000 complex for
Windows, you will have to use the PC-2" adapter
included into the package. Then power-up the HDD and
listen carefully to check whether the spindle motor
spins up and the drive produces recalibration sounds
(PC-3000 is not necessary during that stage). If the
spindle motor spins up, then you can connect the
drive to the PC-3000 PCI tester board and launch the
PC-3000 universal utility. At the start the latter
will attempt to read identification parameters of
the HDD and display the information in its report.
In that case the utility would read drive
description, but it would also output the following
message: "WARNING! Security locked drive". The cause
of HDD "malfunction" becomes evident.
You may not know the password defined for that HDD,
so you should start a specialized utility for 2.5"
Fujitsu drives. Then select the "Security disable
password" mode from the "Security subsystem" menu of
the utility. The operation will take only a couple
of seconds and the password will be disabled. Then
switch the drive's power supply off and on again to
make it initialize itself with new parameters. Make
sure than the drive is functional and user data can
be accessed. Now you can connect that HDD to a
computer normally and copy necessary data from it.
PC-3000 Features:
Х Support for 3.5" and 2.5" PATA/SATA HDDs
Х User friendly Windows XP/2000 interface
Х Database of Firmware modules and Loaders
Х Ability to unlock password protected hard drives
Х Uses vendor specific commands as opposed to standard ATA
commands to switch HDD into factory mode to access firmware and
perform read/write operations
Х Allows full read/write access to the controller board's ROM
and firmware modules on the disk system area (negative
cylinders), such as Microcode Overlays, HDD Configuration
Tables, Defects Tables, SMART Attributes, Security Subsystem,
and Adaptive
Х Ability to develop data recovery scripts to enhance the
capabilities of the system
Х Advanced System Area recovery utilities (module regeneration,
read modules from factory copy, etc.)
Data Extractor Software Features:
Х Logical File recovery - has automated scripts for correcting
file system structure corruptions
Х Raw file recovery independent of disk Operating System (sector
by sector search for header files)
Х Ability to ignore ECC error codes and access data from "Bad
Sectors" (Accomplished by working through the PC-3000 hardware.)
pc3000-pci v2.4 contains:
PC-3000 PCI card
PC-3000 software application
Data extractor pci application
PC-USB-TERMINAL adapter
PC-USB-TERMINAL cable
Password reset probes
Adapter PC-2 (for 2.5" HDD)
Adapter PC PATA-SATA
Adapter PC-SEAGATE
Adapter PC-SEAG. SATA
IDE interface cables
HDD-10 cable
Two Y-Cable
SATA power cable
SATA data cable
Two dongles
USB Extension cable
F-M com cable
Com extension cable
Two dvd software
Intel 845gv motherboard
pc3000-pci tool kit
845gv motherboard
pc3000 pci card
IDE interface cables
sata data cable
F-M com cable+ Com extension cable
Y cable + sata power cable
PC-USB TERMINAL adapter + cable
password reset probes
adapter PC-SEAGATE + adapter PC-SEAG. SATA
hdd 10 cable
adapter pata-sata and pc2
dongles and usb extension cable
besides all
above, need Maxtor hard drive, 478 CPU, DDR memory, power supply
to install it.
the pc3000-pci must work on 845gl/gv motherboard.
the system contains:
pc3000-pci windows v2.4
data extractor v2.2
the software contains:
DVD A: system ghost
DVD B: pc3000 English manual + video demo + database + install instruction
the operating system is Windows XP/2000 English, the pc3000
software is English.
the system supported hard drive:
Maxtor 40GB 4D040H2 Code:DAH017K0 (DSP Chip)
Maxtor 80GB 6Y080L0 Code:YAR41BW0 (SN:Y2 head)
click here to view the list of drives supported by pc3000-pci
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