What are the chances for this to work?

[CrazyDoctor]

Hi All,

I have got this hard drive which is not seen by the computer.

http://img801.imageshack.us/i/dsc04025.jpg/

http://img46.imageshack.us/i/dsc04027h.jpg/

http://img97.imageshack.us/i/dsc04026j.jpg/

I have found this drive one ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/WESTERN-DIGITAL-80GB-IDE-7-2K-HARD-DRIVE-WD800BB-75CAA0-/380248565678?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588894a7ae

What do you say?

Before I order this drive, is it can work for PCB swap and/or Head swap?

Many Thanks!

Edited July 15, 2010 by CrazyDoctor

[VideoRipper]

Why are you double-posting?

Knowing you (and your level of expertise) your chances are NIL.

(No offence, btw)

• First of all you want to swap the PCB of a 120GB drive with one of
  a 80GB drive
  Maybe in that you *might* be able to succeed, but unlike Seagate drives
  Western Digital drives store their drive-specific data (calibration data,
  head-alignments, etc.) on an (EE)PROM on the PCB and not on the platters,
  so you'll have to solder that (SMD) component over as well.
  
• Second: because of the size (and therefor the platter-) differences,
  the heads of both drives will be different.

If I recall correctly: in a prior thread, you were advised by someone to

practice first with a working, non crucial, drive; opening its case in a

clean (-ish) room, removing the heads and replacing them again, to see if

the drive still works after re-assembly.

When you've succeeded, practice over and over again a couple of times before

actually trying to perform the operation on a drive that needs data recovery.

And only try it with parts you know are compatible; it's for a reason data-

recovery services have cabinets full of different donor-drives to temporary

swap parts with.

I can only emphasize this again: harddrives ARE NOT crystal radio-sets that

can suffer a bit of rough handling, but highly sensitive and complex devices.

...although: I do appreciate your persistence

Greetz,

Peter.

Edited July 15, 2010 by VideoRipper

[CrazyDoctor]

I can't belive it, I published the wrong picture

Let me fix this.

Sorry for the double posting, I published in wrong era the first one.

Sorry for my stupedness

Those are the correct pictures:

Those are the correct pictures

http://img801.imageshack.us/i/dsc04025.jpg/

http://img46.imageshack.us/i/dsc04027h.jpg/

http://img97.imageshack.us/i/dsc04026j.jpg/

This is the hard drive from ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/WESTERN-DIGITAL-80GB-IDE-7-2K-HARD-DRIVE-WD800BB-75CAA0-/380248565678?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588894a7ae

* I also edited the first messege in the post.

Edited July 15, 2010 by CrazyDoctor

[VideoRipper]

It doesn't really matter actually, the comments of Jaclaz and me still stands.

Apart from the "Heads"-problem, which we are certain you will not be able to

resolve (btw: how come you're certain they're defective as well?), try to answer

the following (which would actually be the easiest to do):

Do you think you're capable of replacing this part on the PCB:

To be honoust: I doubt it...

Greetz,

Peter.

[CrazyDoctor]

It doesn't really matter actually, the comments of Jaclaz and me still stands.

Apart from the "Heads"-problem, which we are certain you will not be able to

resolve (btw: how come you're certain they're defective as well?), try to answer

the following (which would actually be the easiest to do):

Do you think you're capable of replacing this part on the PCB:

To be honoust: I doubt it...

Greetz,

Peter.

Hi Peter thanks for the quick and helpfull answer

What is this chip and why should I replace it?

I in a good relation ship with elctronical lab that if the swap is required I belive they can help me with that.

For the heads, I am pretty sure that they are defective.

[cluberti]

Please do not double-post. I've closed the other thread, although jaclaz's response is quite good there.

[VideoRipper]

What is this chip and why should I replace it?

It's the EEPROM that stores the drive's characteristics and specific

configuration-data which is different for each drive (even for drives

from the same batch and even succeeding serial-numbers).

For the heads, I am pretty sure that they are defective.

Why?

Have you (or "The owner") dropped it onto a concrete floor?

Opened the drive and inspected the heads under a microscope?

You can never be certain, before actually having diagnosed a problem;

it could even be that the PCB isn't defective after all.

All you told us so far is that you want to replace the PCB with another

one you found on the internet.

You haven't told us what you've done to come to the conclusion the drive

in question is defective.

Something tells me you only detected that the drive doesn't work (as it

should) and you're only guessing what the actual problem is, without any

substantiating evidence, which isn't an approach an engineer would take.

[CrazyDoctor]

What is this chip and why should I replace it?

It's the EEPROM that stores the drive's characteristics and specific

configuration-data which is different for each drive (even for drives

from the same batch and even succeeding serial-numbers).

For the heads, I am pretty sure that they are defective.

Why?

Have you (or "The owner") dropped it onto a concrete floor?

Opened the drive and inspected the heads under a microscope?

You can never be certain, before actually having diagnosed a problem;

it could even be that the PCB isn't defective after all.

All you told us so far is that you want to replace the PCB with another

one you found on the internet.

You haven't told us what you've done to come to the conclusion the drive

in question is defective.

Something tells me you only detected that the drive doesn't work (as it

should) and you're only guessing what the actual problem is, without any

substantiating evidence, which isn't an approach an engineer would take.

So this chip store the data, so if I would buy the donor drive, I should replace between the chips on each hard drive?

For the heads, I know that they are defective becasue the clicking sound and the professional report from a data recovery company.

[VideoRipper]

I should replace between the chips on each hard drive?

Yes, you should swap them (put the EEPROM from the "Defective" PCB to the "New" PCB).

For the heads, I know that they are defective becasue the clicking sound and the professional report from a data recovery company.

The clicking, on itself, shouldn't be a reason the heads are defective.

It's the same as "My car is making noise, so I replaced the entire engine",

while only the fan-belt is broken

I've sent in my Seagate 7200.11 drive (you remember... from that other thread) over

to i365 for diagnoses.

Their report was my drive was extremely damaged and they were willing to "Recover"

its data for €900 ex VAT, while it was "Only" the well known BSY-error

Always be sceptical about reported diagnoses made by companies that are there to

make money (...and I don't blame them: they have to make a living too).

Greetz,

Peter.

[CrazyDoctor]

The clicking, on itself, shouldn't be a reason the heads are defective.

It's the same as "My car is making noise, so I replaced the entire engine",

while only the fan-belt is broken

I guess you right probably after swaping the PCB the drive will back to life (I hope so)

I've sent in my Seagate 7200.11 drive (you remember... from that other thread) over

to i365 for diagnoses.

Their report was my drive was extremely damaged and they were willing to "Recover"

its data for €900 ex VAT, while it was "Only" the well known BSY-error

Always be sceptical about reported diagnoses made by companies that are there to

make money (...and I don't blame them: they have to make a living too).

Tell me about that.. It is all over the world like that.

Ok, so I think I will order the donor with proceed from that.

Many Thanks for your help Peter!

[VideoRipper]

My actual attempt was to advise you against it, but if you really want

to take the risk, you're free to do so of course

Good luck,

Peter.

[CrazyDoctor]

My actual attempt was to advise you against it, but if you really want

to take the risk, you're free to do so of course

Good luck,

Peter.

against it?

Because my lack of knowledge or because the hard drive does not fit?

If it is my lack of knowledge it is soluble but if it is the other reason even the most proffesional won't succeed..

[VideoRipper]

Well, I can't judge on the harddrive of course, given the submitted symptoms;

in contrast with Jaclaz, I don't have a crystal ball

But... it's your money, so do whatever you want to do.

I already said I admired your persistance

Greetz,

Peter.

[CrazyDoctor]

Well, I can't judge on the harddrive of course, given the submitted symptoms;

in contrast with Jaclaz, I don't have a crystal ball

But... it's your money, so do whatever you want to do.

I already said I admired your persistance

Greetz,

Peter.

Many Thanks for the help and especially for the encouragement

[VideoRipper]

[...] and especially for the encouragement

Hahahahahaha, well lets be fair: yu don't have any experience in electronics or

repairing harddrives in particular

I know it all (technology) looks relatively simple, but in real life it isn't

You really need to start at the beginning (learning the basics) before wanting

to experiment with these kinds of things.

Fixing a BSY/LBA0-drive is very simple compared to what you try to achieve.

Greetz, good luck and keep us posted on your progress,

Peter.