Switching HD Controllers

[gtslabs]

I have a WD80 hardrive manufactured around Dec 2003. It went bad so
took it to the local repair center and that said that most probabl
that the HD controller on the HD itself went bad and the HD is stil
ok with the Data intact. However that asked me for another HD of th
same capacity and same manufactured date time frame to switch out th
controller to recover the data. I dont have that
What alternatives to I have to get at that data
Thanks in advanc
Stev

 

[Beemer Biker]

I have a WD80 hardrive manufactured around Dec 2003. It went bad so I
took it to the local repair center and that said that most probable
that the HD controller on the HD itself went bad and the HD is still
ok with the Data intact. However that asked me for another HD of the
same capacity and same manufactured date time frame to switch out the
controller to recover the data. I dont have that.
What alternatives to I have to get at that data?
Thanks in advance
Steve

Get on ebay and see if you can find the same one. Most sellers are more
than happy to tell you the model number and frequently you can spot it right
off the picture.

I lucked out once and was able to recover data from a disk drive after
opening it up. The drive went out and I would hear a constant thumping
noise when it was powered on . When I shook (actually rotated it) in my hand
I could hear a non-metallic thumping noise. I opened it up and a bag of
dissecant had dislodged from where it was supposed to be glued and was
blocking the arm from moving more than about 45 degrees. I took the bag
out, put the lid back on, powered it back up and it worked. I copied what I
needed and junked the drive. No, I didnt sell it on ebay but I did think
of that for a few seconds. The screw torx heads were clearly scratched.

Another time I i had a wd 160gb that the controller clearly went out (chip
split down middle and that magic smoke came out). It was under warrenty. I
bought one from computer geeks, swapped controllers, copied the data,
restored the controller and return the drive to WD. They also use torx head
so be carefull to use the correct size so the screw head is not visibly
damaged. They will check for obvious end user damage and reject even if it
is in warranty. No, I didn not return the extra drive to computer geeks
after I got thru using it.


--
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http://TipsForTheComputingImpaired.com
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[Timothy Daniels]

Another time I i had a wd 160gb that the controller clearly went out (chip
split down middle and that magic smoke came out). It was under warrenty.
I bought one from computer geeks, swapped controllers, copied the data,
restored the controller and return the drive to WD.

By "controller" do you mean the entire printed circuit card, the
on-card ROM chip, or the ROM firmware?

*TimDaniels*

 

[Arno Wagner]

I have a WD80 hardrive manufactured around Dec 2003. It went bad so I
took it to the local repair center and that said that most probable
that the HD controller on the HD itself went bad and the HD is still
ok with the Data intact. However that asked me for another HD of the
same capacity and same manufactured date time frame to switch out the
controller to recover the data. I dont have that.
What alternatives to I have to get at that data?

Professional data recovery. These people have the required spare
parts in storage. No, they will not sell them, but they will
use them to recover your data for a fee.

But I would not trust the local repair center on this advice
too much.

Arno

 

[Beemer Biker]

By "controller" do you mean the entire printed circuit card, the -------------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


on-card ROM chip, or the ROM firmware?

*TimDaniels*

should be about 5 of those torx heads holding it on.

How did the drive fail? If it went out all at once it is likely the circuit
board. If it had been running hot for some time and had been giving all
kinds of errors in the event log then don't bother swapping the PCB card,
the drive itself is probably shot.

If you open the disk the surfaces will start oxidizing and dust will form.
The dust will get caught between the spinning surface and the head and score
the surface. I lucked out because the desiccant (??) bag came loose. That
was in a SCSI-II drive that was 3.5" and full height. I think the drive was
only 4GB. I am not sure if the new slim IDE drives have a bag of desiccant
like that old SCSI did. They may just be potted or not have anything A
controller (printed circuit board) swap is a sure thing when you can spot
damage or feel intense heat on a discolored chip. Does the drive spin up?
If it even fails to spin up there is a good chance it is the controller.
Try wigglieing the 4 pin connector, could be a crack in the PCB and the
current is not getting to the motor. That can easily happen if the socket
makes a tight fit and forced it on or off. I also assume you check the
drive to see if it really failed. I have seen that center pin pushed in
because a cable was put on upside down and the key didn't line up. There
could be some cabling problem both ide and power where you got an
intermittent.

I tossed an 80GB about two months ago. You might just post on ebay that you
need a PCB and see if someone will give it to you. I would have sent mine
for just the postage if the location was local.

 

[Rod Speed]

should be about 5 of those torx heads holding it on.

How did the drive fail? If it went out all at once it is likely the
circuit board.
Correct.

If it had been running hot for some time and had been
giving all kinds of errors in the event log then don't bother
swapping the PCB card, the drive itself is probably shot.

Incorrect, most obviously with the gradual failure of an ic on that logic
card.

If you open the disk the surfaces will start oxidizing
Wrong.

and dust will form. The dust will get caught between the spinning surface
and the head and score the surface. I lucked out because the desiccant
(??) bag came loose. That was in a SCSI-II drive that was 3.5" and full
height. I think the drive was only 4GB. I am not sure if the new slim
IDE drives have a bag of desiccant like that old SCSI did. They may just
be potted
Nope.

or not have anything

A controller (printed circuit board) swap is a sure thing when you can
spot damage or feel intense heat on a discolored chip.

Nope, you cant swap the board on some drives.