Seagate Hard Drive Firmware issue

Steve · Jan 18, 2009, 19:47:15

This I think refers to recent manufactures only but if you've purchased one recently may be worth a check

http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=207931

Lance · Jan 18, 2009, 19:54:26

Thanks Steve

kinmel · Jan 18, 2009, 20:17:31

All mine are fine, thanks

Sebby · Jan 18, 2009, 21:46:26

Thanks, Steve. Mine are 7200.10, so I'm okay.

Ray · Jan 18, 2009, 22:16:53

Thanks for that, Steve, I've got one in my main PC.

Ray · Jan 19, 2009, 10:28:37

Well Seagate seem to have got in a mess with this one they have now posted an ISO download for the updated firmware for these drives, I've got 2 ST3500320AS drives with SD15 firmware which are supposed to be one of the models affected. I have just tried running the update on one of them and it fails with the error message "Not found expecting ST3500320AS"

I'm now awaiting a reply from their disk support as to whether my drives are affected or not, I'm not very happy at having 2 drives that are suddenly liable to become inaccessible one in my main PC and one in my Home Server (Sod's Law the operating system is on it as well

)

Rik · Jan 19, 2009, 10:30:25

This is very stupid by Seagate, it will damage their reputation for a long time.

Ray · Jan 19, 2009, 10:35:42

Quote from: Rik on Jan 19, 2009, 10:30:25
This is very stupid by Seagate, it will damage their reputation for a long time.

This is true, Rik, I've always rated Seagate disks and found them to be good and reliable but this makes you wonder, I seem to recall they have had a similar problem with their 1.5Tb disks recently as well. $:-\$

Rik · Jan 19, 2009, 10:36:54

Yup.

I'd certainly be wary of choosing Seagate for a while, Ray, which is a shame as they've always given good service in the past.

Rik · Jan 19, 2009, 11:56:56

El Reg is reporting that Seagate will provide data recovery services if needed.

Simon · Jan 19, 2009, 12:02:05

I have two Seagate drives in my main PC, one being the OS and programs, and the other for data. Going to have to check tonight.

Ray · Jan 19, 2009, 12:29:55

This gets worse, Rik, I think I might be switching over to Western Digital if I fit any more drives. $:-\$

I've got 3 of the affected Seagate drives the one I rma'd last week from my server is one of them as well.

Rik · Jan 19, 2009, 12:31:06

Or Samsung, Ray, I've found them pretty good.

Ray · Jan 19, 2009, 12:33:03

Quote from: Rik on Jan 19, 2009, 12:31:06
Or Samsung, Ray, I've found them pretty good.

Yes I've had one of their 250Gb Spinpoints running in my spare desktop PC for a couple of years now with no problems.

Ray · Jan 19, 2009, 13:21:17

Just been reading some posts on the Seagate forums about this there's an awful lot of unhappy people on there and it seems that no one has managed to get the firmware update to work so far either.

Steve · Jan 19, 2009, 14:20:09

I was doubtful it was worth a mention yesterday (sorry Ray) as the bit I read said only drives made in December 2008,I am unable to view that site at work or its down ,I did use the serial number checker as I have 2 seagate 500Gb and was relieved to be given the all clear which of course they should be as they're pre Aug 08 vintage.

Ray · Jan 19, 2009, 14:36:30

Quote from: stevethegas on Jan 19, 2009, 14:20:09
I was doubtful it was worth a mention yesterday (sorry Ray) as the bit I read said only drives made in December 2008,I am unable to view that site at work or its down ,I did use the serial number checker as I have 2 seagate 500Gb and was relieved to be given the all clear which of course they should be as they're pre Aug 08 vintage.

It's a good job that you did mention it, Steve, there is now an updated page on their site, seems from reading the forums that it goes back to older drives than December 2008 and affects various sizes of 7200.11 drives, also the serial number checker seems to be in doubt as well and has now disappeared from the site.

Steve · Jan 19, 2009, 14:45:04

So I could well be in the "Doggie poo " as well

x5 ,At least the WHS disk management add in gave the serial No.s is it easy to find the firmware version? It should be fun if I have to update the firmware on WHS OS disk and the RAID 0 on the other machine. Mind you been running fine for months maybe tempted to leave well alone.

Ray · Jan 19, 2009, 15:19:30

Quote from: stevethegas on Jan 19, 2009, 14:45:04
So I could well be in the "Doggie poo " as well x5 ,At least the WHS disk management add in gave the serial No.s is it easy to find the firmware version? It should be fun if I have to update the firmware on WHS OS disk and the RAID 0 on the other machine. Mind you been running fine for months maybe tempted to leave well alone.

You can download a tool from the link in your original post to determine model no, serial no and firmware version, Steve, but the site is not accessible again at the moment. There is a link to the new firmware but don't bother downloading it nobody has got it to install yet.

Steve · Jan 19, 2009, 15:37:51

Thanks Ray, I think I will let sleeping dogs lie.

JB · Jan 19, 2009, 17:49:42

Quote from: Sheltieuk on Jan 19, 2009, 12:29:55
This gets worse, Rik, I think I might be switching over to Western Digital if I fit any more drives

Wouldn't recommend that Ray. I had two WD drives go duff at the end of last year.

Both are still under the 3 year warranty and I have RMA'd them both. Despite what they say on their website their turnaround is pathetic. They received the drives on 10th December and I am still waiting. Despite their web page stating that 2 new drives are pending dispatch to me, the web page hasn't changed since last week. You would think that after such a delay they would get their finger out.

I will stick to Samsung in future. WD is now a big No No for me.

Steve · Jan 19, 2009, 18:25:51

Well I've found one drive I purchased last March with an SD15 firmware, the drive detect software doesn't find the Raid O drives so is useless in that regard, in fact you find all the non -raid hard disk details in device manager>disk drives>disk>details>hardware id so not the best software either.

Thankfully the server seems unaffected.

Sebby · Jan 19, 2009, 18:40:26

What a shambles. I hope you all get it sorted.

Glenn · Jan 19, 2009, 18:51:45

Last time I saw something along these lines, it was Fujitsu drives failing, Fuji denied it for a while, but after about 18 months paid out millions of dollars.

Ray · Jan 19, 2009, 19:24:49

Quote from: 6jb on Jan 19, 2009, 17:49:42
Wouldn't recommend that Ray. I had two WD drives go duff at the end of last year.

Both are still under the 3 year warranty and I have RMA'd them both. Despite what they say on their website their turnaround is pathetic. They received the drives on 10th December and I am still waiting. Despite their web page stating that 2 new drives are pending dispatch to me, the web page hasn't changed since last week. You would think that after such a delay they would get their finger out.

I will stick to Samsung in future. WD is now a big No No for me.

Thanks, that's worth knowing, I'll probably go with Samsung in the future as I have already got one of them.