Barracuda XT, Barracuda, Barracuda Green, DiamondMax and other desktop SATA and IDE drives

[fuzzby]

Yes, the firmware issue is fixable. However, the process will void your warranty so if you're fine with that  your options are:

$$$$ Professional Data Recovery

$$$   Repair tool/kit purchase (DIY)

$$     Ship your drive to someone with the repair kit

$       Buy your own RS232 cable and use the guide to unlock yourself. This Seagate Firmware Solution guide is  searchable online.

[nomoreSg]

Best send to Seagate - they recover the data and send you a new HDD with newest firmware.

[AlanM]

That is, send to Seagate Data Recovery.  That requires a special data recovery trouble ticket, don't just send the drive in for replacement, because they'll send you a replacement drive and your data go to the big data-dump in the sky.

[nomoreSg]

but what to do with shipping costs?

Evaluation Fee and Shipping Charges: There is no charge for evaluation. You agree to pay all shipping charges related to evaluation and data recovery. 

[schroed]

i have a ST3500320AS, FW SD15, that is consistantly freezing in windows vista x32, drive has had MBR erased twice on it's own. the drive does not show up as "affected" on the serial checker utility page. i will be contacting phone technical support tomorrow morning, and will let you guys know what the outcome is.

there is no important data on the drive, so just RMA'ing it without 'data recovery' (just seagate flashing the firmware, essentially recovering the data on it's own) will not be required, though it would still be a great option.