Seagate 7200.10 AAK firmware issues - VRForums - SITEX 2009

li_gangyi · 01:06 AM

Hi,
I've had this problem for quite a fair while and honestly speaking, Seagate isn't doing a very good job with it too.

Background info for the guys who don't know what the issue is about
http://www.fluffles.net/articles/seagate-AAK-firmware

Basically I have 4 of these affected harddrives. (500GB) I only came to know about the problem after I tried installing my OS on the drives and was wondering what happenned to my bootup speeds. Harddrives on HDtach were doing a flat 60mb/s. Checked everything inclusing SATA cables and finally after googling about my harddrives did I know what the problem was.

Speaking with technical support didn't quite help. The local support straight away said this was normal and that Firmware updates were NOT to be given out for normal consumers.
Seagate US was alittle more helpful. 2 guys shut me off while the 3rd last guy promised to get back to me within a few days. However it's been at least 3 weeks and still no news from him. He does not reply to his Email. (I've tried)

A kind soul has actually formwarded a copy of a firmware update (AAK to AAM). After updating it actually helped me, and the speeds are now normal (there's a roll off now instead of a flat line).

The aim of this thread is to create awareness, and of course if anyone wants the firmware, please do PM me.
Note that my firmware will only work with 7200.10 500GB AAK firmware drives. I will and cannot be held responsible if you experience data loss after updating with the wrong firmware for your drive.

MacClipper · Dec 12th, 07, 11:31 PM

you have PM.

yongkimleng · Dec 13th, 07, 01:53 AM

Let me check first. I have a bunch of underperforming 320GB SATA2 drives.

li_gangyi · Dec 13th, 07, 06:08 AM

Unfortunately firmware will only work with 500gb drives... AFAIK, unless u wanna try...

yongkimleng · Dec 13th, 07, 11:51 AM

icic. any news if this affects other drives?

li_gangyi · Dec 13th, 07, 11:54 AM

ATM what I know is only the AAK firmware drives for the desktop, their FreeAgent drives reportedly has problems too, but as I don't own one myself I can't comment on that.

yongkimleng · Dec 13th, 07, 03:21 PM

I'm having a 3.AAJ firmware. Do you think its bugged?

li_gangyi · Dec 13th, 07, 04:08 PM

no, you should be ok. the AAJ drives have a different PCB from the AAKs

yongkimleng · Dec 13th, 07, 06:07 PM

Ok thanks. But I still wonder why my drives are slow lol.

li_gangyi · Dec 13th, 07, 06:10 PM

How slow is slow. Like do you have data to backup your claim?

Rodent · Dec 14th, 07, 04:44 PM

how to check the firmware version ?

I have a 500GB one.

Trivolve · Dec 14th, 07, 06:22 PM

it's written on the hard disk label.

OMG i have a 3.AAE and a 3.AAK ARGH.

Anyway did u try getting it exchanged like, for warranty, is it exchangable for a non-AAK firmware version?

pakthedude · Dec 14th, 07, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodent

how to check the firmware version ?

I have a 500GB one.

Just get HD Tune

I got the same 500GB with the same AAK firmware and 2X 320GB with AAC firmware.

Can you provide me with a copy of the firmware?

yongkimleng · Dec 14th, 07, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by li_gangyi

How slow is slow. Like do you have data to backup your claim?

Like TS said, bootup obviously got slower. its a perception thing, sure got benefit of doubt that the problem is elsewhere mah.

Here the catch is the "cap" on hdd access throughput using hdtune. Free then I go run benchmarks

li_gangyi · 02:06 AM

I'm the TS lol, and I do have data on my drives. Lemmi host it somewhere...

Edit : alright here you go

Notice the weird capping effect. And this is with a stripped RAID set. With single drives it gets worse.