Seagate UltraSlim (Rosewood)1TB and 2TB Technical Reviews

For me I feel Seagate should stop the production of these drives. Users are really suffering. The failure rate is too high. Head Replacement with UltraSlim is so complex and difficult. Even when you have exact match for donor, the chances are like 1:10.

How often do you guys receive UltraSlim requiring Head Replacement ? And what are your success rate ?
 

lcoughey

Moderator
Bankole Oladoja":38mj40ph said:
For me I feel Seagate should stop the production of these drives. Users are really suffering. The failure rate is too high. Head Replacement with UltraSlim is so complex and difficult. Even when you have exact match for donor, the chances are like 1:10.

How often do you guys receive UltraSlim requiring Head Replacement ? And what are your success rate ?
When hard drive manufacturers change things up, it takes time for labs to get familiar with them. As a result, success rates are always a little lower for the first few cases.

Sent from my BBB100-1 using Tapatalk
 

Blizzard

Member
lcoughey":lv43fc9k said:
When hard drive manufacturers change things up, it takes time for labs to get familiar with them. As a result, success rates are always a little lower for the first few cases.Sent from my BBB100-1 using Tapatalk
Exactly, first we had no commercial head tools so we experiment with our own ideas and solutions which could result in lower recovery chances. When commercial tools became available it became easier for everyone to swap heads. Then, for quite some time, the average shop did not have access to terminal. Now that we can unlock the terminal we still have to learn the nuances of this firmware. None of this is really related to build quality or reliability.
Although I have received a number of these that were DOA because of severe platter damage, can I really draw a conclusion that the platters are inferior? Overall my numbers are not enough to warrant any bold statements about quality. For all I know, the damage is from the HDDs being dropped and the fall may have ruined any model HDD. I wasn't there so I can't really know.
I just completed an ST2000LM007 that the heads were stuck to the platter. The drive was recovered 100% with the original heads. Maybe the case numbers are too low to make any broad claims right now.
The first 3 Rosewoods I saw had severe platter damage so I am definitely guilty of jumping to conclusions on these drives. Once the dust settles and we recover from the frustration of being helpless, we have to revert back to logic, reason, and evidence :)
 

lcoughey

Moderator
I've got a 2TB Rosewood with at least 2 of the 4 heads reading and mirroring. Unfortunately, the MBR and BS are not readable and it would appear that this drive is encrypted. Should be interesting to see how we make out with it, assuming that client accepts the quote.
 

lcoughey

Moderator
Just did a 1TB rosewood head change. Patient drive was clicking and not coming ready. With donor heads, clicked a little, came ready and ID's on PC3K. Both heads read, but head 0 is in rough shape.
 
lcoughey":a3nsaw04 said:
Just did a 1TB rosewood head change. Patient drive was clicking and not coming ready. With donor heads, clicked a little, came ready and ID's on PC3K. Both heads read, but head 0 is in rough shape.
Great Job.. Wouldn't mind a little guide on doing head swap on this Rosewood.
 
I have been using HDDSurgery tools for Rosewood, but I feel it's quite heavy considering fragility of Rosewood heads. Just got my ApexTool Version delivered but havent tried it yet...
 

Blizzard

Member
Bankole Oladoja":1uh0yqei said:
I have been using HDDSurgery tools for Rosewood, but I feel it's quite heavy considering fragility of Rosewood heads. Just got my ApexTool Version delivered but havent tried it yet...
You think the tool might be the problem? I have used the HDD Surgery tools on 1TB & 2TB Rosewood's numerous times. I have one 2TB here that we used for practice and making a training video, I bet the heads have been in and out 7-8 times and it still works fine. I don't really feel like the heads are more fragile than any WD 7mm drive.
I know Jared doesn't get along with HDD Surgery so I won't link to it, but their YouTube "Video Guide for Sea 2.5 Slim Set" is pretty straight forward. It's almost the exact procedure we use only the pin on our tool sticks up so we use that to hold the heads.
One difference with Rosewood is that you have to make sure it's resealed properly. If reusing the foil label it doesn't take much for it to be off just enough that it's not completely sealed.
 
Blizzard":1o0p7x2p said:
Bankole Oladoja":1o0p7x2p said:
One difference with Rosewood is that you have to make sure it's resealed properly. If reusing the foil label it doesn't take much for it to be off just enough that it's not completely sealed.
Thank you. Never taught that could be necessary. Also in matching the donor, does the 'WWN' code had anything to with it ?
 
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