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 À̉". 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 – 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 guidelines…
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.
PC-3000 for Windows kit
PC-3000 PCI card
PC-3000 software application
Adapter PC-USB-TERMINAL
Adapter PC-2 (for 2.5" HDDs)
Adapter PC-SEAGATE
Adapter PC-SEAG. SATA
IDE interface cables
PC-USB-TERMINAL cable
HDD-10 cable
User Manual
ACEDRE technical support
Access to Online Forum
Software Updates
FTP Access to Database with Firmware modules and Loaders
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.
With PC-3000 Workstation you receive:
Fully configured and functional computer with the actual
PC-3000 PCI card (see the details below).
PC-3000 PRO Workstation
PC P4/up to 3GHz/512Mb/120Gb/DVD/CD-RW (w/o monitor)
Windows XP Home Edition
Includes: 1 year warranty with 7 business days turnaround
Technical support for 3 months after delivery
Supports: 2.5", 3.5" ATA/SATA HDDs larger than
120Gb.
Comprehensive user manual.
Full technical support for three months, which is enough
for the user to easily master the PC-3000 workstation.
Access to the online forum. This is a closed type forum
designed for ACEDRE customers only. This forum has step
by step procedures for repairing certain hard drive models
as well as other tips and tricks. This forum is also used
for information exchange and for requests of new firmware
modules or loaders for different HDD models.
Access to the FTP. ACEDRE FTP has valuable information
for PC-3000 users. It took us years to build the library
of the firmware modules and loaders for each hard drive.
As a customer of ACE Data Recovery Engineering you have
the luxury of using these modules for hard drive repair.
ACE Data Recovery Engineering Inc offers various financing
options to better accommodate your budget.
Click here to request pricing information.
Click here to view the list of drives supported by PC-3000 PCI.
Dowload the PC-3000 PCI and Data Extractor Brochure.
Download the PC-3000 Demo Video.
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