Cannot seem to update my HDD's firmware to see if that would fix its issues. Seeking help.

[Danteska]

I'll try to make this as short as I can, but it will probably still turn too long for some, so sorry and np if you tl;dr.

I have a malfunctioning (slow performance, long response times, I/O errors, freezes) 1TB Barracuda 7200.14 HDD (with serial number S1D4FMP3) with 'barely' 15K hours of usage. Before buying a new one, I want to make sure this one can't be fixed, due to income issues.

I first tried using Seatools for DOS to fix some of the errors the long test had found, which it did fix, but that didn't help. Then I performed a low level format and when I saw this failed to fix the issue too, I tried swapping IDE and SATA cables, but that didn't help either.

My last hope was to update its firmware (if you know of any other methods to try and fix the HDD, please tell me). The current one it has is CC4B and typing in its serial number at the Seagate website it told me to download FW CC4H. I first downloaded the windows .exe version as I have a spare HDD I'm running on now; followed the fw loading instructions, but it didn't even start the procedure once it rebooted the pc. Then I tried booting from CD with the .iso image provided by Seagate but it also failed:
http://i.imgur.com/dzyltNi.jpg
stating 'Model matched but firmware version is not compatible'.

Now, I tried googling this message, but didn't find any helpful results (there were some, but they were left unresolved or the solutions given corresponded to other HDDs) and others were in languages I do not speak (not that good at russian, for instance). Then I proceeded to send tickets to Seagate support, but 3 responses later I've only received automated/bot responses ("download CC4H, see if that helps!", "unfortunately, you cannot return to a previous firmware version", stuff like that).

Here's a Crystal Disk Info pic I took with my phone (therefore, sorry for potato quality) when it still didn't take it like 10 minutes to boot up Windows:
http://i.imgur.com/4K3hb3o.jpg
I'm not that familiar with CrystalDiskInfo, so I don't know how to 'read' those errors.

When I still had the patience to wait and hadn't realized I could use my secondary HDD meanwhile, the faulty one used to take a long while to boot up Windows, or load anything for that matter (say, recognize I had typed a letter). After like 30 minutes of usage it would enter some kind of loop and I used to hear *click*, *click*, *click* each of them every 10 seconds or so until I'd shut it down. If I would boot up the pc immediately again, the sound persisted and OS wouldn't boot, unless I waited with it turned off for 15 minutes or so.
For example, a clean Windows install didn't fix this issue, and I do not have these problems with my secondary HDD.

I know this is most likely dead already, just want to be 100% sure it's not salvageable in any way before buying a new one :/ And one way of doing so would be to install the new FW, which I can't.

pd: I posted this on reddit, received 2 responses, one of them saying that due to clicks it's most likely dead, but I'd like to hear more opinions, so posting it here

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to try to help.

 

[Sasqui]

Aside from the inability to flash the firmware (which I have no idea why it won't work), it is very unlikely to fix a hardware error if you can. And it sounds very likey that's what you've got.

Don't get me started on Seagate drives, lol.

 

[qubit]

You have a hardware fault on that HDD so a firmware flash won't help to fix it and that's guaranteed. Don't waste your time on it.

You have sector errors and especially damning some uncorrectable ones, plus all those funny noises and waiting to reboot. Very soon it won't work at all.

Is it still under warranty? If so, RMA it, otherwise just buy another one. Heck, as it's your system drive, just replace it with an SSD. I can recommend the Samsung 850 Pro or 850 Evo series.

 

[Danteska]

You have a hardware fault on that HDD so a firmware flash won't help to fix it and that's guaranteed. Don't waste your time on it.

You have sector errors and especially damning some uncorrectable ones, plus all those funny noises and waiting to reboot. Very soon it won't work at all.

Is it still under warranty? If so, RMA it, otherwise just buy another one. Heck, as it's your system drive, just replace it with an SSD. I can recommend the Samsung 850 Pro or 850 Evo series.

It's out of warranty, but only 15,000 hours, whilst my old SATA II drive (the secondary one) has 30K+ and still working perfectly. Looks like Seagate used to make more reliable HDDs before

I know I should buy an SSD (those Samsung ones are at like 70€ for 250GB), but as I mentioned I only have the SATA II drive, and it's only 400GB and really slow, practically a SATA I drive as it was one of the first ones to appear. So, for the same 70€, I thought of buying this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hitachi-H...103729?hash=item280ca925f1:g:C-IAAOSwHQ9WVz5K
What do you think? It's an ultrastar enterprise quality HDD designed to be on 24x7, so should be way more reliable than those Seagates :S

Don't get me started on Seagate drives, lol.

Yeah, realized it too late...

 

[EarthDog]

Get another drive... don't waste your time trying to flash.

 

[jsfitz54]

Does this video help with firmware flash, see from the beginning:

Example of ST3000DM001 CC4B to CC4H Patch

http://ask.adaptec.com/app/answers/...with-seagate-barracuda-7200.14-desktop-drives

 

[Sasqui]

Looks like Seagate used to make more reliable HDDs before

It's hit or miss/law of averages but some stats do show a higher Seagate failure rate than other makes. I'm a WD stalwart personally.

 

[Danteska]

Does this video help with firmware flash, see from the beginning:

snip

This was the first thing I tried when updating the FW. Mine failed before booting Linux. It showed this error:
Pid: 1, comm: swapper Tainted: G D "2.6.33.3.tcseakernel"
with quite a few lines of code (like a dozen). Stared at the screen for 5 minutes, it did nothing, so I rebooted and proceeded with the .iso.

 

[newtekie1]

It's hit or miss/law of averages but some stats do show a higher Seagate failure rate than other makes. I'm a WD stalwart personally.

And some show higher WD failure rates. Like you said, it is hit or miss, and I've found it is very model dependent more than brand dependent. For example, the WD Blue drives are total garbage, but the Black and Red drives are very solid. The 7200.XX drives were pretty meh from Seagate.

 

[Sasqui]

And some show higher WD failure rates. Like you said, it is hit or miss, and I've found it is very model dependent more than brand dependent. For example, the WD Blue drives are total garbage, but the Black and Red drives are very solid. The 7200.XX drives were pretty meh from Seagate.

Yep... look at the Newegg reviews of the 3TB WD Black (which is incidentally on sale right now for $149). Pretty bad...