Hard Drive Data Recovery
Seagate IronWolf Data RecoveryST1000VN002 / ST4000VN008 / ST8000VN004
Seagate IronWolf NAS drives are designed for always-on multi-bay environments. The IronWolf 10TB had a firmware bug (fixed in SC61) causing ZFS checksum failures. We frequently recover IronWolf drives as part of multi-disk NAS or RAID array recovery. We recover Seagate IronWolf drives using our PC-3000 system's Seagate module at our Austin lab.
Seagate IronWolf Specifications
Seagate IronWolf NAS drives are designed for always-on multi-bay environments. The IronWolf 10TB had a firmware bug (fixed in SC61) causing ZFS checksum failures. We frequently recover IronWolf drives as part of multi-disk NAS or RAID array recovery.
- Manufacturer
- Seagate
- Form Factor
- 3.5"
- Spindle Speed
- 7200 RPM
- Interface
- SATA
- Capacity Range
- 1TB-20TB+
- Recording Technology
- CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording)
- PC-3000 Module
- Seagate
Recovery Feasibility
Standard Seagate 3.5" procedure. Match head count, firmware revision, platter count.
Model Numbers
The following model numbers belong to the Seagate IronWolf family. Check the label on your drive to confirm it matches one of these models before referencing the failure modes below.
5 models in this family
Failure Modes
Each failure mode requires a different diagnostic approach and recovery technique. Identifying the correct failure is the first step before any work begins.
IronWolf 10TB firmware bug
ST10000VN0004 firmware bug causing random ZFS checksum failures. Firmware SC61 fix released. Non-standard SMART encoding.
Symptoms you may notice
- ZFS checksum errors
- SMART warnings with non-standard encoding
- Random read errors in NAS
Related search terms
Head failure from vibration
Multi-bay NAS vibration causes head failure. Both IronWolf and IronWolf Pro include RV (rotational vibration) sensors; the Pro adds additional sensors and higher workload ratings.
Symptoms you may notice
- Clicking in NAS enclosure
- Drive drops from RAID array
- Intermittent read errors
Related search terms
Head Swap and Donor Matching
Donor Requirements
Standard Seagate 3.5" procedure. Match head count, firmware revision, platter count.
We maintain a donor drive inventory at our Austin lab and can source additional donors when needed. Head swaps are performed in our ISO Class 5 clean bench environment.
Recording Technology
This drive uses Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR). Each track is independent, making sector-by-sector imaging more predictable than SMR drives. Write operations do not affect adjacent tracks.
CMR simplifies recovery because there is no media cache layer to reconstruct. The data layout on the platters directly mirrors the logical block addresses.
How We Recover Seagate IronWolf Drives
Firmware-Level Recovery
We use the PC-3000 with the Seagate module for firmware diagnostics and repair. This handles translator corruption, service area damage, and firmware boot failures.
Firmware recovery preserves the original head assembly and avoids the risks of a donor swap. For Seagate IronWolf drives with firmware corruption, this is the first recovery path we attempt.
Head Swap Recovery
When the heads have physically failed (clicking, grinding, or no spin), we perform a head swap in our ISO Class 5 clean bench environment. This involves sourcing a compatible donor drive, removing its head stack assembly, and transplanting it into the patient drive.
After the head swap, we image the drive sector by sector using the PC-3000, skipping unstable areas and returning to them with adjusted read parameters. The goal is a complete clone before the donor heads degrade.
Pricing
Logical and firmware recovery for Seagate IronWolf drives typically costs $300 to $600. Head swap cases requiring a donor drive run $600 to $1,500 depending on head count and donor availability. Clean bench platter work, when needed, is $1,200 to $2,000.
See our full pricing breakdown for details. Our No Data, No Fee guarantee means you pay nothing if we cannot recover your files.
Hard Drive Data Recovery Standards & Verification
Our Austin lab operates on a transparency-first model. We use industry-standard recovery tools, including PC-3000 and DeepSpar, combined with strict environmental controls to make sure your hard drive is handled safely and properly. This approach allows us to serve clients nationwide with consistent technical standards.
Open-drive work is performed in a laminar-flow bench filtered to 0.02 µm, verified using TSI P-Trak instrumentation.
Transparent History
Serving clients nationwide via mail-in service since 2008.
Media Coverage
Our repair work has been covered by The Wall Street Journal and Business Insider, with CBC News reporting on our pricing transparency. Louis Rossmann has testified in Right to Repair hearings in multiple states and founded the Repair Preservation Group.
Aligned Incentives
Our "No Data, No Charge" policy means we assume the risk of the recovery attempt, not the client.
Technical Oversight
Louis Rossmann
Louis Rossmann's well trained staff review our lab protocols to ensure technical accuracy and honest service. Since 2008, his focus has been on clear technical communication and accurate diagnostics rather than sales-driven explanations.
We believe in proving standards rather than just stating them. We use TSI P-Trak instrumentation to verify that clean-air benchmarks are met before any drive is opened.
See our clean bench validation data and particle test videoFrequently Asked Questions
How does NAS drive recovery differ from a regular hard drive?
What is the IronWolf 10TB firmware bug?
Why do IronWolf drives fail from vibration?
Can you recover my data if one drive in my RAID array failed?
How much does Seagate IronWolf NAS recovery cost?
Other Seagate Drive Families
We also recover these Seagate hard drive families.
Not a hard drive issue? We also recover SSDs, RAID arrays, and iPhones.
Hard Drive Recovery Overview →Other Recovery Services
Nationwide Mail-In Data Recovery Service
We serve all 50 states with secure mail-in data recovery. Ship your failed drive to our Austin lab using our free shipping kit, and we'll diagnose it within 24-48 hours. No geographic limitations—we've successfully recovered data for customers from Alaska to Florida.
Popular Service Areas
Seagate IronWolf drive not working?
Ship it to our Austin lab for a free evaluation. No data, no charge.