This is a Seagate ST8000NM0105 enterprise SED HDD data recovery case study where the user was unable to recover lost data using other tools due to improper firmware area unlocking and firmware corruption.

Patient HDD Details:

Model: ST8000NM0105 

FW Version: G004 

Family: MakaraPlus (91)

Symptoms:

Capacity: 0 

Firmware unlock failure

Data Recovery Steps:

1. Backup the ROM of the patient hard drive.
2. Generate an adaptive ROM.
3. Power off and on the hard drive and write one donor LOD.
4. Check if the LOD is written successfully or not.
5. Read the new ROM, generate an unlock ROM and write the unlock ROM.
6. Send the unlock key and backup important system files.
7. View the NGlist.
8. Clear the G-list and regenerate the translator.

Once the firmware corruption is resolved, users can either image the HDD or extract the lost files directly.