How to recover data from HDD that is not detected?

Recovering Data from Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 Hard Drive Not Detected via SATA Adapter

Recovering data from a Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 hard drive that isn’t being detected through a SATA adapter can be accomplished through several methods, depending on the nature of the failure. For your situation where the drive spins but is detected incorrectly (showing multiple drives without size), the most likely problem is damaged firmware or a microprogram failure.

Table of Contents

• Basic Causes of the Problem
• Self-Recovery Through Terminal Adapter
• Using Professional Equipment
• Software Recovery Methods
• When to Contact a Laboratory
• Step-by-Step Diagnostic Instructions

Basic Causes of the Problem

The Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 is known for firmware issues that can cause symptoms such as:

• BSY state - the drive is in an infinite waiting loop
• System area damage - partition and drive parameter data is corrupted
• SATA interface problems - controller failure

From your description, the drive is detected by the system but incorrectly - this is a typical sign of firmware or system area problems. According to research, such drives can often be recovered without expensive laboratory services.

Self-Recovery Through Terminal Adapter

For self-recovery, you’ll need a terminal adapter (UART TTL Serial Converter) to connect to the drive controller.

Required Equipment:

• USB-to-TTL adapter (e.g., CP2102)
• Small wires for connection
• Computer with terminal software installed

Adapter Connection:

Adapter Pin -> HDD Pin
GND -> GND
TXD -> RXD (inverted logic)
RXD -> TXD (inverted logic)
3.3V -> VCC

Sequence of Actions:

1. Disconnect the drive from power
2. Connect the terminal adapter to the drive controller
3. Connect power to the drive
4. Open the terminal program (HyperTerminal, Tera Term, Putty)
5. Configure parameters: speed 115200, 8N1, no parity check
6. Restart the drive and monitor the logs

For Seagate Barracuda 7200.12, there are special commands to exit the BSY state:

atacmd -d /dev/sdX -p "security disable 0 0"
atacmd -d /dev/sdX -p "security unlock 0 0"

Important: This method requires caution and some technical skills. One mistake can completely damage the drive.

Using Professional Equipment

If you don’t have experience with terminal adapters, there are ready-made solutions:

Ready-made repair kits:

• FW-FXR Firmware Bug Fix Repair Complete Tool Kit - compatible with Seagate Barracuda 7200.12
• PC-3000 - professional equipment for data recovery

What professional equipment does:

• Reads and repairs the drive’s firmware
• Restores the system area
• Extracts data directly from platters if necessary
• Works even with complete drive failure

Software Recovery Methods

If the drive is partially detected, try the following software solutions:

TestDisk:

1. Download TestDisk from the official website
2. Run as administrator
3. Select your drive
4. Choose “Analyze” to find lost partitions
5. If partitions are found, use “Write” to save them

Recuva:

• Useful for recovering deleted files if the drive is partially detected
• Can work with incorrect partitions

DDRescue:

For creating a disk image for later work:

ddrescue -f /dev/sdX image_file logfile

When to Contact a Laboratory

Contact a professional data recovery laboratory if:

• The drive makes unusual noises (clicking, grinding)
• After self-attempts, the drive is no longer detected at all
• The data is critical and cannot be lost

Recovery cost in laboratories usually ranges:

• Diagnosis: $25-50
• Data recovery: $80-400 depending on complexity

Where to look:

• DriveSavers
• Secure Data Recovery
• WeRecoverData

Step-by-Step Diagnostic Instructions

Step 1: Check basic things

1. Try a different SATA cable
2. Check the power adapter on another drive
3. Connect the drive to another computer
4. Try a different SATA adapter

Step 2: Check SMART

Use CrystalDiskInfo or Victoria to check the drive status. If SMART shows errors, this indicates mechanical problems.

Step 3: Check in BIOS

• Try to detect the drive in BIOS
• If detected in BIOS but not in Windows, the problem is with drivers or interface
• If not detected in BIOS - the problem is with the drive itself

Step 4: Create an image

If the drive is partially detected, create an image using ddrescue or similar utilities for further work with the image.

Step 5: Look for specialized solutions

For Seagate Barracuda 7200.12, there are special firmware and tools available on data recovery forums.

Sources

1. Seagate Barracuda Data Recovery - HDD-INFO
2. External Seagate Hard Drive Not Detected - StoreLab
3. Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 Firmware Update - Seagate Support
4. Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 Reddit Discussion
5. Recovering SEAGATE Barracuda ES.2 - sector.biz.ua
6. Seagate Hard Drive Not Detected in BIOS - HardMaster
7. Seagate Hard Drive Issues on Fixim.com
8. Seagate Bricked Firmware Drive Fix - Overclock.net

Conclusion

1. For your Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 model, the most likely problem is with the firmware, which manifests as incorrect drive detection.
2. Start with simple checks: try a different adapter, cable, and computer to rule out hardware issues.
3. If you have technical skills, use a terminal adapter to exit the BSY state and recover the firmware.
4. If you lack experience or the data is critical, it’s better to contact a professional laboratory for safe recovery.
5. Always create a disk image before any recovery attempts to avoid making the situation worse.

Your case has good chances of successful recovery since the drive is spinning and being detected by the system - this means the mechanical part is likely fine, and the problem is at the firmware or system area level.