[Triumf-linux-managers] Important! Problem with new Seagate disks!

Fri Jan 16 19:57:44 PST 2009

Please read this announcement from Seagate:
http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=207931

In the nutshell, they confirm reports circulating on the internet about
problems with latest Seagate disk drives. In addition to the lemon 1.5TB disks,
the "NS" series 1TB, 750GB, etc, are on the Seagate "bad list", as well.
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/374/1050374/seagate-barracudas-7200-11-failing

I do not know what action to recommend. If you just bought any disks on
the Seagate "bad list", (i.e. I have 8 shiny new 1TB "NS" disks) perhaps you should
consider not using them until the dust settles and it is known whether they are safe
to use. If you already have these disks in your machines, maybe it is a good time
to review your backup and disaster recovery plans.

The most likely outcome is Seagate will issue a firmware update and that will
be the end of the story. (Similar to IBM fixing most data loss problems
with the 75GB IDE DeathStar disks, many years ago).

Following is the text of the Seagate announcement grabbed on Fri Jan 16 19:56:51 PST 2009.
The "bad list" is towards the end.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=207931
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Welcome, Seagate hard drive owners.  A number of Seagate hard drives from the following families may fail when the host system is powered on:

Barracuda 7200.11
DiamondMax 22
Barracuda ES.2 SATA
SV35

Once a drive has failed, the data is inaccessible to users.  Seagate has isolated this issue to a firmware bug affecting drives from these families manufactured through December 2008.  Please use the following tools and instructions to determine if you have one of the affected products.  If you do, we recommend that you update the firmware on the disk drive.

To help determine if you need to pursue this any further, you will need to check your model number, serial number and firmware revision.  This can be done in Windows 
Image

In this example above the model number name is ST31500341AS, the serial number 9VS00J20 and firmware revision SD1A.

Click here to download Drive Detect:    Download Flash

Or you can use Microsoft Windows Device Manager to see the model numbers of you disk drive.  At the Windows Start button select Run and type:  devmgmt.msc 

Then expand the Disk Drive branch to see the model numbers.  Like this:

Image

Or you can download SeaTools for Windows which displays all of the needed information.

See if your model number is in this list.

Barracuda 7200.11
ST31000340AS
ST31000640AS
ST3750330AS
ST3750630AS
ST3640330AS
ST3640630AS
ST3500320AS
ST3500620AS
ST3500820AS
ST31500341AS
ST31000333AS
ST3640323AS
ST3640623AS
ST3320613AS
ST3320813AS
ST3160813AS

Barracuda ES.2 SATA
ST31000340NS
ST3750330NS
ST3500320NS
ST3250310NS

DiamondMax 22
STM31000340AS
STM31000640AS
STM3750330AS
STM3750630AS
STM3500320AS
STM3500620AS
STM3500820AS
STM31000334AS
STM3320614AS
STM3160813AS

If you have one of the models listed above, Customers can expedite assistance by contacting Seagate via email. Please include the following disk drive information: model number, serial number and current firmware revision.  We will respond, promptly, to your email request with appropriate instructions.

Or you can call Seagate Support at 1-800-SEAGATE.  Please be prepared to give the serial number of your drive as the solution depends on knowing the exact serial number.

For a list of international telephone numbers to Seagate Support and alternative methods of contact, please access http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/about/contact_us/

-- 
Konstantin Olchanski
Data Acquisition Systems: The Bytes Must Flow!
Email: olchansk-at-triumf-dot-ca
Snail mail: 4004 Wesbrook Mall, TRIUMF, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 2A3, Canada