So, just as a followup. The problem I was having is still happening. I managed to finally downgrade the drives to FW 800 (or that is at least what the flash utility said they were when they finished ((I even double checked by putting the drives back in and rebooting and trying to flash them again))).
Unfortunately it didn't work. The drives still act the same way with the controller, so either the firmware flash doesn't set it back to exactly what a 800 FW drive would look like to a controller or there have been hardware changes or something. Now, Hitachi is a corporation, and probably a lazy one, so I would guess the hardware hasn't changed, unless maybe these drives came from a different plant? Unlikely. The more likely answer seems to be that the firmware isn't really identical, there is also a MLC label on the drive that is different between firmware versions and that may have a lot to do with it as well.
Either way I am literally sitting here in limbo with that server, unable to do anything until Areca updates their firmware to get back to compatible with these drives and their new FW... Wonder if that will actually happen.
TT
Hey TerroristTate,
what modell of areca controller with which firmware do you use?
Did you solve your problem?
What is the problem with your hdds downgraded to 800?
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Hey all,
I have got 4 Hitachi Deskstars (HDS5C3030ALA630 - 3TB - 0F12460). One had defect sectors, so that I had to start an rma for this disk. The 3 other disks have the firmware 5C0, while the HDD I got back with the same PN (0F12460) has firmware revision A10. This firmware revision of the new disk is although printed on the label and hdtune confirms.
What should I do?
1. Upgrade the 3 old discs to 800 and downgrade the new one to 800.
2. Upgrade the 3 old discs to A10 and let the new one as it is.
I use an areca controller (modell ARC-1231ML) with firmware 1.49. If I read right the Hitachi firmware A10 isn't compatible with my areca firmware. It's a difficult situation.
Where can I get the A10 for my "old" hitachi disks.
Greetings Hoppel