Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 not reaching POST in bios (but works fine via USB)

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reg66

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Nov 8, 2012
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I have a strange query (at least, it is to me). My old Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB drive is read fine and formats fine (slow or quick), also scans as 100% fine with Seatools, SMART health shows as good in Crystaldiskinfo, all this is done via USB connection. The drive spins consistently with no clicks or signs of damage.
BUT, when I attach the drive via sata to mobo, the PC fails to reach POST. The screen turns on as if it's about to show bios access screen, and lights up black as though it maybe trying to show something such as bios, but just stays lit black. I've tried changing from AHCI to IDE, tried only connecting said drive with all other drives disconnected, tried various jumper settings. My best guess is that the drive firmware is not being read by the bios, so the system halts. Trouble is the firmware update can only be done with HDD connected to sata controller, NOT USB. So obviously, the firmware update disc fails to load as the PC fails to reach post.

I'm completely perplexed by this. So, does anyone know how to update seagate firmware via USB?

Cheers
 
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JaredDM

JaredDM

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Jul 8, 2015
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OK, just a few things here. Unless you're having a malfunction with the drive there is no reason to ever update the firmware of a hard drive. It's not like a motherboard where they regularly release updates to add support for newer hardware.

Also your motherboard doesn't "read the drive firmware" it only checks its ID the same as the USB adapter does. Most likey the issue is that your motherboard is new enough it's using a UEFI which is partition aware. Seagate does something rather funny with their external hard drives. This drive uses a native 4K sector size. However, for legacy support with older hardware the HDD's own PCB emulates 512byte sector size (most all drives do this). However, via the USB bridge board it re-emulates it back to 4K size. So what's most likely happening is that your UEFI is getting confused because it's trying to read the partition table as 512bytes (emulated by the PCB) when in fact it was written to the drive as a 4K sector partition table.

There is no way to update firmware over USB, and in my opinion, no reason to update the firmware regardless. However if you're intent on doing it you can simply zero out the first few sectors of the drive while it's USB connected. That'll probably allow it to mount.

Also, just FYI this model is a ticking timebomb. It'll likey fail due to a faulty media cache, and nothing in their firmware updates addresses that issue.
 
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reg66

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Nov 8, 2012
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OK, thanks for the informative response. I had wondered if it was to do with UEFI, so backed my oc settings and reset bios to defaults including IDE mode over AHCI. I thought it required a firmware update as google searches were showing seagate drives not being recognised until FW update, but I'll give up on that avenue then. trouble now is it won't format as NTFS 4096. I've connected direct to sata on a Windows 7 machine and all is fine. It's just my W10/maximus iv gene-Z that has issues with it.

Re ticking time bomb, I was only going to use as 3rd backup option of 2x other 2TB drives, so not too concerned over that. (maybe it's the media cache you mention that's gone already). Would a replacment drive mobo (like for like) fix the issue?

Thanks again for your response


 
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