Slimline s3710t firmware upgrade with Seagate HP26 on ST3750630AS 750Gig Barracuda 7200.11 series.

[BC777]

New Pavilion Slimline s3710t has that 750 Gig drive that HP recommends flashing upgrade to HP26 from HP24 firmware.  Reading about the Seagate Barracuda drive which is installed on various websites and Seagate, there is a problem with it possible becoming a dead brick or other problems.  Does anyone know how to flash this drive as the instructions on the CD the SP40966.exe creates says set the SATA controller to IDE.

Well calling support for 1+ hour they ended up bringing up a screen shot saying it is in the bios to do but I tell HP support its not there.  They created a research case where most likely I'll never be contacted and then proceeded to have me run tests against the drive which resulted in everything OK after 3 hours of that SmartStatus scanning.

If you have this drive in this model, you'll want to upgrade your firmware.  Unfortunately HP support has no idea why my BIOS on my machine has no option to allow me to change the SATA controller mode.

If I go through it, it exits without upgrading.

Thanks.

[BC777]

Replying to my own email.  Did a search on 7200.11 and see a ton of posts.  Sorry all.  I forgot to add if its not clear: my own drive is beginning to lockup after starting up. 

I've personally owned HP and Compaq desktops and laptops since forever. 

Well..  calling back on another issue, strangely I'm getting more help on my other issues as its a US call center this time.  Hopefully they can help me..  

Message Edited by BC777 on 02-17-2009 09:51 AM

Message Edited by BC777 on 02-17-2009 10:20 AM

[viks10]

 Hey,hi! Robert,  i have the same problem -- my ST3750630SA,Firmware HP24 not detected by BIOS!  Did u find out how to upgrade your brick? Did it go well? Did you get your data back? Please,share solution... 

 Save your time,nerves & money -- NEVER BUY A SEAGATE HARD DRIVES! -- For peace in mind!

[BC777]

Search on this site about the Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 drives.  There are some pretty long stuff on this site about it generally.

My latest experience if I didn't mention it- the HP US call center tech also said he was looking at info ( I think those screen shots ) and says option should be there to flash.  But I told him I can't be the only person!!!!! ( you're proof now. )    It got to the point it became what he was thinking as a motherboard issue/drive issue.  I also explained that after 6 hours of usage or any intense disk usage I'm facing a no OS found on boot OR it locks up on bootup after like 1 minute.  They cannot mail me a new drive as it still 'functions'.  Must be dead dead DEAD brick. 

I've got a CSO ( their Customer service order ) to return the machine and its days old.   The box is arriving and will take the machine back.  Hopefully they fix my TV tuner dead card issue.   My machine is already unstable as it is.  Even if it becomes stable magically, with that firmware I don't want to be down the road and it bricks.

If you got the same model, search on this forum for your video card.  I'm upgraded to the Nvidia 9500GS - search this site.  I'm reading its a problem for a lot of people.   

So in summary - they want to machine back to review the situation!   

From what I see reading summarizing -

If you are bricked, HP will only replace a dead drive under warranty. What do they mean HP26 fixes 'performance' issues like being stable?

If you bought it retail, Seagate will either help you upgrade your firmware ( see their website alert ) or help you data recovery the drive for free! if bricked.

If you are OEM manufacturer installed, Seagate will refer you back to your OEM.

[kwalshx4]

Just as a PSA for those HP owners yet to be affected by the Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 "BSY" or bricking problem, HP has released new firmware for the hard drives (HP26).  The new firmware also addresses a hard disk slowdown issue that is unrelated to the "bricking" problem.

Resolves an issue where the hard disk drive may become inoperable after a power-on.

Resolves an issue where performance may be degraded for a period of time after heavy disk usage.

Go to:  http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericSoftwareDownloadIndex?cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&softwareitem=pv-6...

If you know you have one of the listed drives that is vulnerable (ST3320813AS, ST3500620AS, ST3750630AS, or ST31000340AS), I would recommend you follow HP's advise in the firmware update link.

 For those who have already been hit with the bug, good luck in getting your data back.  I am very interested in hearing from anyone who has recieved any resolution on this issue other than a replacement drive and complete data loss from the frozen "BSY" state drive.

[viks10]

   Hey, kwalshx4, thanks a lot for good information,but mine ST3750630SA (i got HP Pavilion Elite m9357c) not visible by any BIOS .How can i update firmware HP24?

    Is it possible to run that HP26 update from .ISO image of CD-ROM? As you say-- I would recommend you follow HP's advise in the firmware update link.--There`s nothing said about what to do if a hard drive is not accessible.

[kwalshx4]

---

viks10 wrote:

   Hey, kwalshx4, thanks a lot for good information,but mine ST3750630SA (i got HP Pavilion Elite m9357c) not visible by any BIOS .How can i update firmware HP24?

    Is it possible to run that HP26 update from .ISO image of CD-ROM? As you say-- I would recommend you follow HP's advise in the firmware update link.--There`s nothing said about what to do if a hard drive is not accessible.

---

Viks,

I spent a while (again) with Seagate and HP tech support this morning.  If your drive has already locked up, like mine and yours, and it is still under warranty, you have only one option...HP will replace the drive.  If you have any data on the drive that was not backed up, it will be lost unless you pay a data recovery company to wake up the drive.

Seagate is only offering free data recovery on their retail drives.  Once they sell them to OEMs, they are the OEM's problem.  HP is not offering any help with data recovery.

Sorry, but welcome to the club.

[BC777]

I will cross post to yours also a copy of this.

HP26 firmware reads as if it should take care of my unstability issue and hopefully prevent bricking which is why I attempted to do it.

The firmware creates a boot CD which requires a change in the SATA controller mode in the motherboard BIOS.

There is no option on the s3710t model which thankfully somone here confirmed happening to them.  HP says the option is there.  My whole machine is going back because they want to examine it ( motherboard, drive, my dead tv tuner card and now my video card??? ).  As I booted it a few times, there is a horrible screaming coming from the box sporadically.  It just started. My machine is now less than 2 weeks old and the box finally arrived.   Most of my fellow IT guys I work with in the office are stunned at what I'm going through in an HP shop.

I agree - IF you can flash your drive, do so ASAP. 

If you cannot change your BIOS, the flash will fail and HP has no information on this.

[BC777]

Server ordered Feb 3.   Order arrived and within days I knew I was fighting multiple problems.  Now March 3 arrival and last night I opened the box to start work on it.

Machine is still bad and now adds a problem after having been sent to them.  And even the HP techs could not put in HP26.   Time to call in to see what they 'did'. to the machine.

I've got a yugo feeling right now...

[BC777]

End summary.

In the event someone searches for information about the Pavilion slimline issues I have had and faced.  It is March 16 which now I finally may have a stable system since my Feb 3 order.  Configuring this week as I just received my replacement.    I'll summarize my issues / what I read here and hopefully will it will help someone later.

Everything is based on the timeline of this posting.  Hopefully the future they have fixed all this.

Hard drive Seagate 750GB 7200.11 series issue.

Comes with HP24 firmware.  Most likely bad for your drive and you will brick eventually.  HP26 ( WAS listed for a s3710t but since been removed ) firmware may deal with stability problems/bricking.  Techs have no idea you need to change your SATA controller mode for the booting CD you created from their firmware to flash the drive.   IF your drive dies, its OEM so HP will replace it.  Seagate will just close your case refer you back to HP.

Solution:  Eventually my entire machine was replaced.  It came with a  Samsung drive.  But this whole incident makes me distrust my system that I got an external drive for backups.  I would push for a Samsung drive.

Motherboard bios issue.

There is no upgraded bios available.  From what I read, because I am running a Quad processor, HP is running a proprietary firmware which may have added to my problems of not being able to flash my drive correctly.   Note: while the board can support the quad processor, you cannot install the CPU after as HP will not supply you the bios upgrade to do so is what I read.

Solution: None.  Hope you don't have this issue with the hard drive nor any issue that needs the SATA controller mode changed.  Looks like the option was forgotten.  You will not get HP26 firmware into your drive.

Video card:

Search on the Nvidia 9500GS issues on this board.  I got this same card in my new replacement PC.  However, some of the postings said there was posting stating that a tech said the new batches sent out for repairs have the problem fixed.   The Case manager I spoke to said these cards are flying out the door for repairs back and forth.   I 'hope' I got one of the new ones.

Solution:  Hope you get a new batch one or keep returning it for a new one.  I hope I don't walk this road.  I've read some people have +4 times in a year.

TV tuner card:

I had the luck of the draw to get every problem.  The card was just bad.   Running hardware diagnostics failed and that should have been the end of it instead of the endless Indian call centers with their scripts.   Worse the return to HP bench repair they just skipped it and returned it dead to me.

Solution: If the Hardware diagnostics sees it dead and reboots with blue screen of death, press this issue as a dead card instead of hours of 'troubleshooting' like I had.

Overheat issue:

It does get very warm.  Various mods.

Solution:   Using a laptop fan cooler pad on the side of machine - cools it 20 degrees for now.   Do not want to invest in this machine anymore.

Good luck -