Tuesday, 4 December 2012

RE: [Simply Computers] How Best to Test Seagate ST31500341AS

 

Hi Ardell,

I'm afraid I'm going to need a bit more help. I followed your instructions,
and when I ran the HDAT2, I got an error message. It was: Load error: no
DPMI get csdpmi*b.zip.

I'm not sure what is missing, or where I get that .zip file from. Can you
please explain what to do next?

Thanks,

Ellen

From: simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ardell Faul
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2012 4:38 PM
To: simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Simply Computers] How Best to Test Seagate ST31500341AS

I like HDAT2 which is available in Hiren's boot CD. You can download
the .iso file easily and use it to make a bootable CD. Then boot up
with it and go to DOS Tools, Hard Drive utilities, HDAT2 and let it run
a full test of your hard drive. It even can repair bad sectors and make
the drive readable if it is failing so you can clone it whiel the
cloning is still possible.

Ardell Faul
Computer Monitor Service Inc.
Ardell's Laptop and PC Repair
10816 E. Mission Ave.,
Spokane Valley, Wa. 99206
ardell@icehouse.net <mailto:ardell%40icehouse.net>
509-891-5188

On 12/1/2012 3:04 PM, ejhberg wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> My system is a Dell Studio XPS 9100, Win 7 Home Premium, with a
> Seagate ST31500341AS 1.5T Serial ATA 2 HD. A couple of days ago when I
> closed Outlook 2007 a Microsoft Office Diagnostics window opened and
> asked if I wanted to find out why Outlook was crashing so much. I ran
> the diagnostics, and although it could not determine why Outlook was
> crashing, I got information that the hard drive was going to "crash"
> soon (or words to that effect).
> I would like to run some diagnostics tests on the HD to see if the
> hard drive is in danger of crashing very soon. I purchased this system
> almost exactly two years ago, and am hoping that the Office
> Diagnostics are not accurate, but want to be sure.
> What do you recommend? Is Seatools still a reliable way to go? Should
> I run the DOS version over the Windows version?
> Any other suggestions you can give will be appreciated. Please let me
> know if you need more information.
> Thanks,
> Ellen

This email was sent on 12/4/12 at 1:30 PM.

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Sunday, 2 December 2012

RE: [Simply Computers] Re: How Best to Test Seagate ST31500341AS

 

Roger,

Thanks very much. I will make sure I do that if I need to contact Seagate.

Ellen

From: simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of RogerX19
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 11:07 AM
To: simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Simply Computers] Re: How Best to Test Seagate ST31500341AS

Ellen,

One other thing to consider. Your drive is only two years old and is
probably warranted for three years.

In order to return it to Seagate for warranty replacement, you will have to
get an RMA number from them.

To get that, they will ask you to run SeaTools. The results of the SeaTools
test will determine whether an RMA is justified.

You asked if SeaTools is reliable, but it does not matter. As long as the
drive is not completely dead, you will need to run it to RMA the drive.

rogerX

This email was sent on 12/2/12 at 8:03 PM.

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Re: [Electronics_101] Re: DMM, continuity test - on soldered uC

 

Actually, the voltage depends heavily on the instrument used, there is
quite some variation.
Some values I got a while ago:

Fluke 45:
open circuit voltage: 1.5V
display in ohms range on small signal diode: 260k
test current into ammeter: 0.8mA

Agilent/HP 34401:
O/C voltage: 5V (yes, five)
test current: 1mA
reading on diode: 40k

Fluke 79III:
O/C: 0,626V
test current 0.4mA
reading on diode: 1.3M

That said, I agree that the chance to damage anything is almost zero.

ST

On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 6:22 PM, rtstofer <rstofer@pacbell.net> wrote:

> I would put my DMM on the Ohm mode. I just connected the DMM in Ohms mode to another DMM in Volts DC mode and came up with just 0.7V. I like that! Barely enough to forward bias a diode. In the other modes (nS, Buzzer and Diode Test), the voltage across the probes was 5V.
>

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[Simply Computers] Re: How Best to Test Seagate ST31500341AS

 

Ellen,

One other thing to consider. Your drive is only two years old and is probably warranted for three years.

In order to return it to Seagate for warranty replacement, you will have to get an RMA number from them.

To get that, they will ask you to run SeaTools. The results of the SeaTools test will determine whether an RMA is justified.

You asked if SeaTools is reliable, but it does not matter. As long as the drive is not completely dead, you will need to run it to RMA the drive.

rogerX

--- In simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com, "ejhberg" <ejhcolo@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Bill, Ardell and Mike,
> Thanks for responding so quickly, and for your advice. I will get on it first thing tomorrow.
> Ellen
>
> --- In simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Aycock" <billaycock@> wrote:
> >
> > Ellen--
> > Ardell's advice, below, is very sound, as usual. However, Let me add
> > something. As soon as possible, get (Or use, if you have one) an extra HDD
> > to use as a back-up, and make an Image of your system, just in case. (You
> > should have one, anyway) This way, is the drive IS bad, you can replace it
> > and reload the system, and be where you are now.
> > Bill--W4BSG
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ardell Faul
> > Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2012 5:38 PM
> > To: simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [Simply Computers] How Best to Test Seagate ST31500341AS
> >
> > I like HDAT2 which is available in Hiren's boot CD. You can download
> > the .iso file easily and use it to make a bootable CD. Then boot up
> > with it and go to DOS Tools, Hard Drive utilities, HDAT2 and let it run
> > a full test of your hard drive. It even can repair bad sectors and make
> > the drive readable if it is failing so you can clone it whiel the
> > cloning is still possible.
> >
> > Ardell Faul
> > Computer Monitor Service Inc.
> > Ardell's Laptop and PC Repair
> > 10816 E. Mission Ave.,
> > Spokane Valley, Wa. 99206
> > ardell@
> > 509-891-5188
> >
> > On 12/1/2012 3:04 PM, ejhberg wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > > My system is a Dell Studio XPS 9100, Win 7 Home Premium, with a
> > > Seagate ST31500341AS 1.5T Serial ATA 2 HD. A couple of days ago when I
> > > closed Outlook 2007 a Microsoft Office Diagnostics window opened and
> > > asked if I wanted to find out why Outlook was crashing so much. I ran
> > > the diagnostics, and although it could not determine why Outlook was
> > > crashing, I got information that the hard drive was going to "crash"
> > > soon (or words to that effect).
> > > I would like to run some diagnostics tests on the HD to see if the
> > > hard drive is in danger of crashing very soon. I purchased this system
> > > almost exactly two years ago, and am hoping that the Office
> > > Diagnostics are not accurate, but want to be sure.
> > > What do you recommend? Is Seatools still a reliable way to go? Should
> > > I run the DOS version over the Windows version?
> > > Any other suggestions you can give will be appreciated. Please let me
> > > know if you need more information.
> > > Thanks,
> > > Ellen
>

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RE: [Electronics_101] Re: DMM, continuity test - on soldered uC

 

Flux is - or used to be - rosin dissolved in alcohol. You can take a bottle
of Radio Shack Flux and dilute it as you like with alcohol. I take it
straight. Tough guy! I use a spent syringe with the needle removed to
squirt flux on my boards. Then a tuna can with plastic top with more
alcohol in it to flush the board flux off.

You should be just fine. I would recommend getting into SMD stuff. You
sure can make a large schematic in a small board! I am now all SMD and
boards are much smaller. Except I have lots of LM324s that eat up board
space!

Larry

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics_101@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Electronics_101@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Banibrata Dutta
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 12:41 PM
To: Electronics_101@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Electronics_101] Re: DMM, continuity test - on soldered uC

Thank you, Larry and Richard. That is very reassuring. The flux variety I
have is the fairly thin liquid kinds, and not the more gel (probably thicker
/ more viscous) type ones seen in many videos. Could this matter ?

Since the uC in question is only available in TQFP, I'd to take the SMD
route. I hope to use through-hole components for everything else on the
board. Hoping that it works.

On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 10:52 PM, rtstofer <rstofer@pacbell.net> wrote:

> **
>
>
>
>
> --- In Electronics_101@yahoogroups.com, Banibrata Dutta
> <banibrata.dutta@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Wanted to check if it is okay to check for good solder contacts, by
> > doing the standard DMM continuity test between the uC pins, and the
> corresponding
> > breakout board header pin ? Or can it damage the IC in some way ?
> >
> > cheers,
> > BD
>
> I would make certain that the RED lead of my DMM went to the pin and
> the BLACK lead went to the trace. At least this would keep the
> polarity straight.
>
> Most uCs have pin voltage protection using Schottky diodes between the
> pin and ground as well as between the pin an Vcc. I wouldn't want to
> reverse bias them.
>
> I would put my DMM on the Ohm mode. I just connected the DMM in Ohms
> mode to another DMM in Volts DC mode and came up with just 0.7V. I like
that!
> Barely enough to forward bias a diode. In the other modes (nS, Buzzer
> and Diode Test), the voltage across the probes was 5V.
>
> I could see drag soldering a 64 pin device, it's pretty easy. But if I
> had other 0805 components, I would use solder paste and a hot plate.
>
> Make sure you have plenty of SolderWick in a couple of sizes. I
> usually apply even more flux if I have to break up a solder bridge with
SolderWick.
>
> Richard
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Re: [Electronics_101] Re: DMM, continuity test - on soldered uC

Thank you, Larry and Richard. That is very reassuring. The flux variety I
have is the fairly thin liquid kinds, and not the more gel (probably
thicker / more viscous) type ones seen in many videos. Could this matter ?

Since the uC in question is only available in TQFP, I'd to take the SMD
route. I hope to use through-hole components for everything else on the
board. Hoping that it works.


On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 10:52 PM, rtstofer <rstofer@pacbell.net> wrote:

> **
>
>
>
>
> --- In Electronics_101@yahoogroups.com, Banibrata Dutta <banibrata.dutta@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Wanted to check if it is okay to check for good solder contacts, by doing
> > the standard DMM continuity test between the uC pins, and the
> corresponding
> > breakout board header pin ? Or can it damage the IC in some way ?
> >
> > cheers,
> > BD
>
> I would make certain that the RED lead of my DMM went to the pin and the
> BLACK lead went to the trace. At least this would keep the polarity
> straight.
>
> Most uCs have pin voltage protection using Schottky diodes between the pin
> and ground as well as between the pin an Vcc. I wouldn't want to reverse
> bias them.
>
> I would put my DMM on the Ohm mode. I just connected the DMM in Ohms mode
> to another DMM in Volts DC mode and came up with just 0.7V. I like that!
> Barely enough to forward bias a diode. In the other modes (nS, Buzzer and
> Diode Test), the voltage across the probes was 5V.
>
> I could see drag soldering a 64 pin device, it's pretty easy. But if I had
> other 0805 components, I would use solder paste and a hot plate.
>
> Make sure you have plenty of SolderWick in a couple of sizes. I usually
> apply even more flux if I have to break up a solder bridge with SolderWick.
>
> Richard
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Posted by at No comments:

[Electronics_101] Re: DMM, continuity test - on soldered uC

 



--- In Electronics_101@yahoogroups.com, Banibrata Dutta <banibrata.dutta@...> wrote:
>
> Wanted to check if it is okay to check for good solder contacts, by doing
> the standard DMM continuity test between the uC pins, and the corresponding
> breakout board header pin ? Or can it damage the IC in some way ?
>
> cheers,
> BD

I would make certain that the RED lead of my DMM went to the pin and the BLACK lead went to the trace. At least this would keep the polarity straight.

Most uCs have pin voltage protection using Schottky diodes between the pin and ground as well as between the pin an Vcc. I wouldn't want to reverse bias them.

I would put my DMM on the Ohm mode. I just connected the DMM in Ohms mode to another DMM in Volts DC mode and came up with just 0.7V. I like that! Barely enough to forward bias a diode. In the other modes (nS, Buzzer and Diode Test), the voltage across the probes was 5V.

I could see drag soldering a 64 pin device, it's pretty easy. But if I had other 0805 components, I would use solder paste and a hot plate.

Make sure you have plenty of SolderWick in a couple of sizes. I usually apply even more flux if I have to break up a solder bridge with SolderWick.

Richard

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