Momentus XT, Momentus, Momentus Thin, MobileMax, and other notebook drives

[compstuff]

Certainly excellent information but my drive has the SD22 which is called out in the txt file

"Clearly, only version SD22 is called out in the update matrix."

[fzabkar]

SD22 is the overall firmware version. Within that overall version are many different combinations of firmware modules which consitute a "package version". This means that your SD22 drive has a different package of modules than what is called out in the update matrix, ie your SD22 package does not match "AN150C.SDM2.AP049N.SD22.C025".

By way of example, here is the update matrix for Seagate's Brinks family:
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/BR-SD1B.TXT

Notice that model ST31000333AS has 4 entries with an overall version of SD15, but each has a different package version.

ST31000333AS BR120B.SDD1.BP040A.SD15.B09C
ST31000333AS BR120B.SDD1.BP070A.SD15.B09E
ST31000333AS BR120B.SDD1.BP0P0A.SD15.B0A3
ST31000333AS BR120B.SDD1.BP0V0A.SD15.B0A8

In your case you should still be able to force an update to SD23 by using the FreeDOS command line method in my previous post.

[macstar]

@fzakbar

THANK YOU for your very detailed instructions and interest on that matter!

I'm very tempted to just try it... but I'm going to give Seagate Techs some more days or return the disks (if I can) rather than experiment with a 140euro drive... unfortunately.

However... if there's no other option.. it's nice to know there's one last thing to try! THANK YOU!

Andreas

[stefimke]

---

fzabkar wrote:
If you want to forcibly update your firmware to SD23, then run the CD ISO version. Wait for the message "The system will power off after pressing any key...", and then type Ctrl-C or Ctrl-Break to abort the batch.

Then type the following line:

FDL487A -m Anak -f ANSD23.LOD -i ST9nnn5620AS -s -x -b -v -a 20

Replace the "nnn" in the model number with 250, 320, or 500 as appropriate.

Power cycle your machine after the update. Do not use Ctrl-Alt-Del.

---

I can confirm that this method works on my MacBook with Momentus XT which I could not update from SD22->SD23 with the standard method.

Thanks!

Still one question remains: what are the exact changes from SD22 -> SD23 ?

[yuwen]

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stefimke wrote:

---

fzabkar wrote:
If you want to forcibly update your firmware to SD23, then run the CD ISO version. Wait for the message "The system will power off after pressing any key...", and then type Ctrl-C or Ctrl-Break to abort the batch.

Then type the following line:

FDL487A -m Anak -f ANSD23.LOD -i ST9nnn5620AS -s -x -b -v -a 20

Replace the "nnn" in the model number with 250, 320, or 500 as appropriate.

Power cycle your machine after the update. Do not use Ctrl-Alt-Del.

---

I can confirm that this method works on my MacBook with Momentus XT which I could not update from SD22->SD23 with the standard method.

Thanks!

Still one question remains: what are the exact changes from SD22 -> SD23 ?

---

Hi stefimke,

Could you please confirm if SD23 solve the "auto spin down" problem on your MBP? Thanks.

Regards,

yuwen

[fzabkar]

stefimke, you asked "what are the exact changes from SD22 -> SD23 ?"

Sorry, I don't know, but FWIW the package version changes from ...

AN150C.SDM2.AP049N.SD22.C025

... to ...

AN150C.SDM2.AP0D9N.SD23.C025

I know that "C025" is the servo firmware, but I have no idea about the other components. In any case, it appears that the "AP049N" component is the one with the problem. Perhaps there was a bug or a performance issue with that particular module???

I just wish to add that, if you are interested in the other command line options for FDL487A.EXE, you can unpack this compressed file with UPX.

UPX: the Ultimate Packer for eXecutables:
http://upx.sourceforge.net/

Embedded within the EXE is the documentation for the command. It should be similar to the docs for SeaFlash:
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/sf_usage.txt

Also, if you wish to use the Windows version of the firmware updater, try editing the config.xml file. I would remove the "-h AN-SD23.CFS" option from the FDL487A line near the end of the file, and add the -f, -i, and -m options, as in my FreeDOS command line.

[stefimke]

---

yuwen wrote:

Could you please confirm if SD23 solve the "auto spin down" problem on your MBP? Thanks.

Regards,

yuwen

---

No, I can't  . I didn't notice the beachballing on my MacBook, neither did I see strange behaviour on Win7. I must say that I've been using the drives in my MacBook for about a week, in my Win7 notebook for just about a day.

What I do notice, and I'm not sure if it's caused by the firmware update, it that both my notebooks seem to make more whining noise now, quite present in a quiet home environement. Not sure if it are the fans or the spinning harddisk, I -think- the noise if coming from the fans.. I'm quite sure the XT generates more heat then the 5400rpm drives which were in before, causing the fans to be more active.

[Samplex]

Also tried a HP dc7900 desktop computer to update the Firmware but still no luck.

@ stefimke:

When you do nothing for some minutes on your Macbook you can feel also that the drive isnt spinning anymore.. Start an application and you will notice a beachball will occure because the platters first need to start up from sleep..

[stefimke]

---

Samplex wrote:

Also tried a HP dc7900 desktop computer to update the Firmware but still no luck.

@ stefimke:

When you do nothing for some minutes on your Macbook you can feel also that the drive isnt spinning anymore.. Start an application and you will notice a beachball will occure because the platters first need to start up from sleep..

---

Also not successfull with the boot-CD workaround describe above?? Strange.

My MacBook is on whenever I'm at home, sometimes I check my mail quickly or refresh my browser window or whatever, I've never seen any beachball which could be caused by the XT needing to spin up.

[Samplex]

Oke got it updated. Have to try tonight if it works in my Macbook! Tnx for the command line solution.