RFTM - How to get preamp information using PC3000

Preamp information is used to identify the heads needed for replacement. Other information which is important is the head vendor (default being the most common).

The preamp type is a 2-byte little-endian integer in the form 0xABCD. The important part to match for donors is the least significant byte, 0xCD. When we use the first method, the preamp type is printed as 2 separate bytes in memory order, in the form CD AB. When we use the second method (the ROM), it gets printed in the form ABCD.

How to get Preamp from Seagate

Note that the most significant nibble (the 0xA) indicates which head the drive is currently using. So it should always be zero when we use method two, and may change when we use method one.

First Method:

Once you connected your device, go to terminal tab and press " Ctrl + Z" then "Ctrl + L" and read Preamp value as below:

Second Method:

1. Open utility with terminal in hard drive. Open tools and select "Work with flash ROM image file".

2. Read via ATA

3.Select "Show Information"

Shows a lot of useful information including preamp

If ROM cannot be read via ATA, use Boot Code. Make sure to max out the baud rate.

How to get preamp from Samsung

You can find preamp from terminal when plugged in. Re-power drive and it will be in the first few lines starting with "PA".