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Strange behaviour from HDR-FOX T2

Recap. So - the drives used by Humax HDR and old Sky boxes are very similar even down to the model number and the firmware. The only difference being the part number 9GW132-191 (for the HDR), 9GW132-xxx etc found in other places. I wonder if the other drives have DCO set?
Code:
hdparm --dco-identify
If so, maybe try the potentially dangerous option in hdparm to remove/restore factory DCO
This is for a -012 Pipeline connected to a Linux system by USB (which might limit things, I guess):
Code:
root@mint:~# hdparm --dco-identify /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc:
SG_IO: bad/missing sense data, sb[]:  70 00 05 00 00 00 00 0a 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
DCO Checksum FAILED!
DCO Revision: 0x5355 -- unknown, treating as 0002
The following features can be selectively disabled via DCO:
    Transfer modes:
         mdma0 mdma1
         udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5 udma6
    Real max sectors: 33554433
    ATA command/feature sets:
         PUIS 48_bit
         TLC_Reserved_7[10] reserved_7[15]
    SATA command/feature sets:
         async_notification
root@mint:~# hdparm -I /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc:
SG_IO: bad/missing sense data, sb[]:  70 00 05 00 00 00 00 0a 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

ATA device, with non-removable media
    Serial Number:      �@
Standards:
    Likely used: 1
Configuration:
    soft sectored
    head switch time > 15us
    fixed drive
    disk xfer rate <= 5Mbs
    disk xfer rate > 5Mbs, <= 10Mbs
    data strobe offset option
    format speed tolerance gap reqd
    Logical        max    current
    cylinders    17218    0
    heads        0    0
    sectors/track    128    0
    --
    bytes/track: 512    bytes/sector: 0
    Logical/Physical Sector size:           512 bytes
    device size with M = 1024*1024:           0 MBytes
    device size with M = 1000*1000:           0 MBytes
    cache/buffer size  = unknown
Capabilities:
    IORDY not likely
    Cannot perform double-word IO
    R/W multiple sector transfer: not supported
    DMA: not supported
    PIO: pio0
root@mint:~#
Code:
root@mint:~# smartctl -a /dev/sdc
smartctl 6.6 2016-05-31 r4324 [x86_64-linux-4.15.0-54-generic] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-16, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Pipeline HD 5900.2
Device Model:     ST3500312CS
Serial Number:    9VVK4BDF
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000c50 07b24b187
Firmware Version: SC13
User Capacity:    500,107,862,016 bytes [500 GB]
Sector Size:      512 bytes logical/physical
Rotation Rate:    5900 rpm
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   ATA8-ACS T13/1699-D revision 4
SATA Version is:  SATA 2.6, 1.5 Gb/s (current: 1.5 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Sun Aug  2 08:50:06 2020 UTC
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x00)    Offline data collection activity
                    was never started.
                    Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status:      (   0)    The previous self-test routine completed
                    without error or no self-test has ever
                    been run.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection:         (  623) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities:              (0x73) SMART execute Offline immediate.
                    Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
                    Suspend Offline collection upon new
                    command.
                    No Offline surface scan supported.
                    Self-test supported.
                    Conveyance Self-test supported.
                    Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)    Saves SMART data before entering
                    power-saving mode.
                    Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)    Error logging supported.
                    General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   1) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time:      ( 114) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   2) minutes.
SCT capabilities:            (0x103b)    SCT Status supported.
                    SCT Error Recovery Control supported.
                    SCT Feature Control supported.
                    SCT Data Table supported.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 10
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x000f   109   099   006    Pre-fail  Always       -       24373929
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0003   097   097   000    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   084   084   020    Old_age   Always       -       17125
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   100   100   036    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000f   085   060   030    Pre-fail  Always       -       385105960
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   054   054   000    Old_age   Always       -       40758
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0013   100   100   097    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       75
184 End-to-End_Error        0x0032   100   100   099    Old_age   Always       -       0
187 Reported_Uncorrect      0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
188 Command_Timeout         0x0032   100   099   000    Old_age   Always       -       4295032833
189 High_Fly_Writes         0x003a   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022   073   051   045    Old_age   Always       -       27 (Min/Max 19/27)
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   027   049   000    Old_age   Always       -       27 (0 15 0 0 0)
195 Hardware_ECC_Recovered  0x001a   052   027   000    Old_age   Always       -       24373929
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0012   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0010   100   100   000    Old_age   Offline      -       0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x003e   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0

SMART Error Log Version: 1
No Errors Logged

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining  LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
# 1  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40718         -
# 2  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40671         -
# 3  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40639         -
# 4  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40598         -
# 5  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40551         -
# 6  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40503         -
# 7  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40455         -
# 8  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40406         -
# 9  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40359         -
#10  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40312         -
#11  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40262         -
#12  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40215         -
#13  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40168         -
#14  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40131         -
#15  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40093         -
#16  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     40047         -
#17  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     39998         -
#18  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     39952         -
#19  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     39903         -
#20  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     39862         -
#21  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     39832         -

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
 SPAN    MIN_LBA    MAX_LBA  CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
    1          0  150994944  Not_testing
    2  825778223  976773167  Not_testing
    3          0          0  Not_testing
    4          0          0  Not_testing
    5          0          0  Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
  After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.

root@mint:~#
 
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These are the results of a standard 500GB drive ( -191 suffix ) within the Humax

Code:
humax#  hdparm  --dco-identify /dev/sdb
/dev/sdb:
DCO Checksum verified.
DCO Revision: 0x0001
The following features can be selectively disabled via DCO:
    Transfer modes:
         mdma0 mdma1 mdma2
         udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5 udma6(?)
    Real max sectors: 976773168
    ATA command/feature sets:
         SMART self_test error_log security PUIS HPA 48_bit
         (?): streaming selective_test conveyance_test write_read_verify
         (?): WRITE_UNC_EXT
    SATA command/feature sets:
         (?): NCQ interface_power_management SSP

humax#  hdparm  -I  /dev/sdb
/dev/sdb:

ATA device, with non-removable media
    Model Number:       ST3500312CS                             
    Serial Number:       
    Firmware Revision:  SC13    
    Transport:          Serial
Standards:
    Used: unknown (minor revision code 0x0029) 
    Supported: 8 7 6 5 
    Likely used: 8
Configuration:
    Logical        max    current
    cylinders    16383    16383
    heads        16    16
    sectors/track    63    63
    --
    CHS current addressable sectors:   16514064
    LBA    user addressable sectors:  268435455
    LBA48  user addressable sectors:  976773168
    Logical/Physical Sector size:           512 bytes
    device size with M = 1024*1024:      476940 MBytes
    device size with M = 1000*1000:      500107 MBytes (500 GB)
    cache/buffer size  = 8192 KBytes
    Nominal Media Rotation Rate: 5900
Capabilities:
    LBA, IORDY(can be disabled)
    Queue depth: 32
    Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard, no device specific minimum
    R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 16    Current = ?
    Advanced power management level: 192
    Recommended acoustic management value: 254, current value: 0
    DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5 *udma6 
         Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns
    PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4 
         Cycle time: no flow control=120ns  IORDY flow control=120ns
Commands/features:
    Enabled    Supported:
       *    SMART feature set
            Security Mode feature set
       *    Power Management feature set
       *    Write cache
       *    Look-ahead
       *    Host Protected Area feature set
       *    WRITE_BUFFER command
       *    READ_BUFFER command
       *    DOWNLOAD_MICROCODE
       *    Advanced Power Management feature set
            Power-Up In Standby feature set
            SET_FEATURES required to spinup after power up
            SET_MAX security extension
       *    48-bit Address feature set
       *    Device Configuration Overlay feature set
       *    Mandatory FLUSH_CACHE
       *    FLUSH_CACHE_EXT
       *    SMART error logging
       *    SMART self-test
       *    Media Card Pass-Through
       *    General Purpose Logging feature set
       *    64-bit World wide name
            Write-Read-Verify feature set
       *    WRITE_UNCORRECTABLE_EXT command
       *    {READ,WRITE}_DMA_EXT_GPL commands
       *    Segmented DOWNLOAD_MICROCODE
       *    Gen1 signaling speed (1.5Gb/s)
       *    Gen2 signaling speed (3.0Gb/s)
       *    Native Command Queueing (NCQ)
       *    Phy event counters
            Device-initiated interface power management
       *    Software settings preservation
       *    SMART Command Transport (SCT) feature set
       *    SCT Read/Write Long (AC1), obsolete
       *    SCT Error Recovery Control (AC3)
       *    SCT Features Control (AC4)
       *    SCT Data Tables (AC5)
            unknown 206[12] (vendor specific)
Security: 
    Master password revision code = 65534
        supported
    not    enabled
    not    locked
    not    frozen
    not    expired: security count
        supported: enhanced erase
    94min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT. 94min for ENHANCED SECURITY ERASE UNIT. 
Logical Unit WWN Device Identifier: 5000c50027e19621
    NAA        : 5
    IEEE OUI    : 000c50
    Unique ID    : 027e19621
Checksum: correct


Code:
humax# smartctl -a /dev/sdb
smartctl 6.4 2015-06-04 r4109 [7405b0-smp-linux-2.6.18-7.1] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-15, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Pipeline HD 5900.2
Device Model:     ST3500312CS
Serial Number:   
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000c50 027e19621
Firmware Version: SC13
User Capacity:    500,107,862,016 bytes [500 GB]
Sector Size:      512 bytes logical/physical
Rotation Rate:    5900 rpm
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   ATA8-ACS T13/1699-D revision 4
SATA Version is:  SATA 2.6, 3.0 Gb/s (current: 3.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Sun Aug  2 10:05:04 2020 BST
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
See vendor-specific Attribute list for marginal Attributes.

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x00)    Offline data collection activity
                    was never started.
                    Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status:      (   0)    The previous self-test routine completed
                    without error or no self-test has ever
                    been run.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection:         (  623) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities:              (0x73) SMART execute Offline immediate.
                    Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
                    Suspend Offline collection upon new
                    command.
                    No Offline surface scan supported.
                    Self-test supported.
                    Conveyance Self-test supported.
                    Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)    Saves SMART data before entering
                    power-saving mode.
                    Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)    Error logging supported.
                    General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   1) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time:      ( 111) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   2) minutes.
SCT capabilities:            (0x103b)    SCT Status supported.
                    SCT Error Recovery Control supported.
                    SCT Feature Control supported.
                    SCT Data Table supported.
 
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So I found this (SeaChest)
https://www.seagate.com/gb/en/support/software/seachest/
http://support.seagate.com/seachest/SeaChest_Combo_UserGuides.html#_smart
there is this nugget of info. One of the arguments is
Code:
...
    --phySpeed [0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5] (Seagate Only)
        Use this option to change the PHY speed to a new maximum value.
        This change persists over power cycles and resets. On SAS, this
        option will set all phys to the specified speed unless the
        --sasPhy option is given to select a specific phy.

        0 - allow full negotiation (default drive behavior)
        1 - allow negotiation up to 1.5Gb/s
        2 - allow negotiation up to 3.0Gb/s
        3 - allow negotiation up to 6.0Gb/s
        4 - allow negotiation up to 12.0Gb/s (SAS Only)
        5 - allow negotiation up to 22.5Gb/s (SAS Only)

Maybe someone with one of those drives can try it out? I assume it should be on SATA attached to PC.
Obviously I don't know if it will work, how dangerous it is, how easy it it. So be careful and only try it on a drive you don't mind losing data/scrap etc.
But it does look interesting.

So try something like
Linux
sudo SeaChest_Basics -d /dev/sdb --phySpeed 0
Windows
SeaChest_Basics -d PD0 --phySpeed 0

If zero doesn't work, try 2 - ie --phySpeed 2
 
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I would think the right person to try it out is somebody who's tried installing a -012 into a HDR-FOX and discovered it doesn't work...
 
So I found this (SeaChest)
Why didn't I find that last night.

I've got a couple of -012 drives with nothing on them so I'll have a look later.

[Edit] Hmm. The Windows version is 64-bit and the machine I feel safe running it on is only 32-bit. Looks like the Linux bootable USB drive option is the way to go.
 
Last edited:
I've dug out a 250GB version of this drive which IIRC came from a non-Sky box. Date code 10455, Firmware SC13, P/N 9GW131-193.

SMART reports maximum transfer mode as SATA II 3.0Gb/s.

Is there a pattern here? Could -0nn indicate factory set to 1.5Gb/s, -1nn indicate full speed?
 
Went with the Linux option.

Both 500GB drives and the 250GB one that runs at 3Gb/s come back with 'Operation not supported by this device.'
 
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a third party seller and this looks the most likely:
Seagate Pipeline ST2000VM003 2TB SATA 6.0Gb/s [...] for £42.99 (described in "Host Interface" as "Serial ATA III")

These would appear to be my best options now.
If Pipeline really is best then I'll have to risk a third party seller. I suspect this is what @MattAnorak bought in this thread: (post 16) and his seems to have been OK (so far!).
If Skyhawks are OK then I'm more tempted to buy direct from Amazon.

Yep, mine came from a 3rd party seller, fulfilled by Amazon. Just bought another one - no issues with them (touch wood!) - straight in the Humax and recognised without any additional legwork!

I can’t post links, but if you search Amazon for:

Seagate ST2000VM003 Pipeline HD 2 TB 3.5-Inch Internal Hard Drive - Black

Mine cost £48.96, says it should be £71.44.

Matt
 
Yep, mine came from a 3rd party seller, fulfilled by Amazon. Just bought another one - no issues with them (touch wood!) - straight in the Humax and recognised without any additional legwork!

I can’t post links, but if you search Amazon for:

Seagate ST2000VM003 Pipeline HD 2 TB 3.5-Inch Internal Hard Drive - Black

Mine cost £48.96, says it should be £71.44.

Matt
That looks like the one I got at the end of March. Worked straight off, no problem.
Currently says 13 left and "Dispatched from and sold by Zephyr UK." but when I got it it came from WEB-NF | Preise inkl. MwSt. in Germany.

This is my link to it, though as I'm logged in it might not work for others:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008B0RQ1C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
Shouldn't be a problem. The only limitation is newbies posting anything which parses as a URL.
I meant logged into Amazon - I got to it via my order history. As such the link might include something connecting to my account and thus throw a 'not authorised' type of error if used by someone else. Hard for me to test for.
 
I meant logged into Amazon - I got to it via my order history. As such the link might include something connecting to my account and thus throw a 'not authorised' type of error if used by someone else. Hard for me to test for.
Don't worry we won't order too much using your credit card details ;)
 
I meant logged into Amazon - I got to it via my order history. As such the link might include something connecting to my account and thus throw a 'not authorised' type of error if used by someone else. Hard for me to test for.
Ah, right. What I would have done is truncate the URL from
Code:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008B0RQ1C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
to
Code:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008B0RQ1C

Ditto with eBay etc - kill anything including and after a "?".
 
Well, unless the OP's name is is the same as mine and he lives in the same postcode, there does not appear to be a problem.
 
Thank you. I do intend to try to return the drive to Farnell.
I feel rather guilty about this.

I've been dealing with CPC for years and in cases like this I find posting on their Facebook page gets a good response. Explain what the problem is - that these drives with an -012 and, as in your case, an -018 P/N suffix appear to be locked to SATA I 1.5Gb/s speed and not the SATA II 3Gb/s given.

If you don't want to then let me know and I'll do it.

[EDIT] I've taken the liberty of posting about this on CPC's Facebook page.
 
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Both 500GB drives and the 250GB one that runs at 3Gb/s come back with 'Operation not supported by this device.'
A thought: As the problem with the original HDR drive is on the mechanical side, what happens if you swap the PCBs from the original to the SATA I 1.5Gb/s-limited drive? It seems to be a standard data recovery thing.
 
what happens if you swap the PCBs from the original to the SATA I 1.5Gb/s-limited drive? It seems to be a standard data recovery thing.
Neat idea, although when I tried to do something similar some years ago the PCBs were not physically compatible due to a redesign (even though it was nominally the same product).
 
I feel rather guilty about this.

Thank you, but there's no need for you to feel guilty, as far as I can see. This is CPC/Farnell's fault, not yours. I requested a return, which they accepted, and I've sent it back to them. I don't think I have the money back yet, but I hope that will come....
 
While I'm here I'll let you know that I've bought a Seagate Skyhawk from Amazon (see attached image). It was recognised immediately by the HDR-FOX-T2 and I was given the option to format it. So far everything has gone well. I will update here if I have any issues but it's looking good as an altenative to the Seagate Pipeline.
 

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