Seagate ST2000DL003-9VT166

I contacted Seagate today and explained the problem and the need to use firmware cc3d (upgradable from cc3c). They kept apologising for any inconvenience, but also said that the CC32 firmware was the latest version for my drive model. This is our conversation:

(2:50:37 pm) Ali: Hello Mattias. Thank you for contacting Seagate Chat Support. How may I help you today? (2:50:59 pm) Ali: How may I be of assistance to you today sir? (2:51:35 pm) Mattias Malm: Hi, I have a drive that has problems in my NAS. It needs a newer firmware, but my drive cannot be upgraded. What do I do? (2:52:24 pm) Ali: I am sorry to hear that you have a problem with one of your drive installed on a NAS. (2:52:55 pm) Ali: I understand you would like to update the firmware of your drive,and I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you sir. (2:53:24 pm) Ali: However have you tried to install the drive into a PC and then download and update the firmware? (2:53:31 pm) Mattias Malm: The drive has firmware cc32, which contains a bug that makes the disk hang and drop out of raid so I need a drive with cc3d firmware or cc3c (that can be upgraded to cc3d). (2:53:56 pm) Mattias Malm: cc32 cannot be upgraded to cc3d (2:54:11 pm) Ali: I understand and I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. (2:54:22 pm) Mattias Malm: the drive need to have cc3c in order to be upgraded to cc3d (2:55:11 pm) Ali: Is this the serial number XXXXXXXX [s/n edited out by me] of the drive that needs a firmware update? (2:55:20 pm) Mattias Malm: yes (2:56:32 pm) Ali: I understand the new firmware version is CC32.Please click on the link below for further information: (2:56:41 pm) Ali: http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/218171en (2:58:46 pm) Mattias Malm: you lost me there. I allready have cc32 on my drive. that firmware contains a bug that makes the disk hang and drop out of the raid. the firmware cc3d fixes this issue, but cc32 cannot be upgraded to cc3d, only cc3c can be upgraded. (3:00:06 pm) Ali: The latest firmware version is CC32 for that particular model sir,there are no firmware updates for your drive,I apologize again for any inconvenience this may have caused you. (3:00:57 pm) Mattias Malm: The disc is used in a Netgear ReadyNAS, and apparently Netgear har spoken to seagate about this. Netgear tells me that Seagate will send me a new disc with fw cc3c that I can upgrade to cc3d, but I wonder how to go about this. (3:02:14 pm) Ali: I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you sir,however the latest firmware version available for your model is CC32. (3:02:52 pm) Ali: I would recommend installing your drive into a PC and run Seatools for dos if your drive fail the diagnostic send the drive for replacement. (3:03:48 pm) Mattias Malm: I think you are wrong. There are plenty of ST2000DL003 drives with firmware cc3c. how can you say that cc32 is the latest? (3:05:24 pm) Ali: Based on the model number you have provided it shows that the latest firmware version is CC32, you may use the link I provided above and download drive detect software in order to verify the firmware version of your drive. (3:07:00 pm) Mattias Malm: Please have a look at what Netgear has to say about this: (3:07:02 pm) Mattias Malm: http://www.readynas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=64510 (3:07:18 pm) Ali: One moment please. (3:08:45 pm) Ali: I would need to further research the issue and discuss your issue with my supervisor then email you back sir. (3:08:48 pm) Ali: Is that okay sir? (3:10:44 pm) Mattias Malm: thats fine. when can i expect to hear back from you? (3:12:20 pm) Ali: I will reply back to you within an hour or less sir.

I recieved this email within the hour:

Dear Mattias Malm, Thank you for sending your Seagate E-mail inquiry. I am sorry to hear that your drive is not longer functioning on your netgear,I understand how frustrating this must be for you and I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you,however I have verified and also confirmed with my supervisor that the latest firmware of the model you have is in fact the CC32 . To determine if your drive requires a firmware update, I would use the following web link. You can use the drive detect software: http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/218171en If your drive qualifies, the serial number checker will check to see if an update can be done and then will allow you to click on a web link for the appropriate update for your drive. Please follow the instructions on how to perform the update listed there. If you have any additional questions you may call us during your regional business hours listed below. For your convenience we also have on-line chat assistance. Live Assistance: Chat: Americas: http://support2.seagate.com/ChatLaunch?rc=1 Europe: http://support2.seagate.com/ChatLaunch?rc=2 Regards, Ali Seagate Global Customer Support

I really don't know where to go from here. Any suggestions? Did anyone succeed in getting new drives from Seagate?