Dead WD drive (PCB burnt)

I've got a WD Caviar SE with a burnt up PCB and trapped pics and video. Model is WD2500JB-22REA0 and PCB is 2060-701292-001 REV A

Does anybody have/know of a place i can get a replacement PCB for this drive? If I get a replacement PCB is there even a good chance it would work? It's an obvious burn on the drive PCB chip, didn't go through the board. I wasn't home at the time, my wife just called me at lunch one day and said "Your computer is saying it can't find the boot drive or something" and I was like

I had read this is a common problem with WD drives (Overheating) and I had also read (From a data recovery site, so taken with a grain of salt) that replacing the PCB isn't often very effective. How much truth is there to this? should i just bite the bullet and send it away for the hefty fee?

Hi there,

Whereas we do the disk initialization, partitioning, and file system installation, WD does low level formatting setting the timing and parameters for the disk model and version specifically for those drives. It's configured in one specific chip on the PCB, and unless you find the exact model, revision and very close date, it won't be the same (almost certainly won't work).

Before doing anything else, connect it to a functioning windows computer and see, with a power cable connected if it spins up, and then with the data cable connected, if any files are readable. It if does spin up possibly one of the data recovery programs, like Easeus Data Recovery Wizard (free on their web site), might be able to retrieve your data. If the PCB board has just a bad capacitor, you still might have a little time to be able to extract data from it.

If the drive won't spin up, there's not a lot you can do. You could try to find the exact PCB make, model revision # and see if replacing it works. Cost < $100. Look on Ebay. Data recovery can get very expensive thru a commercial concern.

If yours is Rev A, and the same Firmware number, I'd give it a try!

Here is a link to how to exactly match a WD PCB and firmware chip. If your firmware chip is not burnt, and the new PCB board doesn't work, there are several inexpensive services that can swap the chip into the otherwise same PCB board.

http://www.harddrive-repair.com/hard-drive-parts.html

WD must have good records on Rev # and Firmware numbers, it anything changed during that 2 months. I have found them very helpful regarding any other their products, in warranty or out. Their 800 telephone number is (800) 275-4932.

Let us know how it works out!

If this is your board ...

http://www.ledisquedur.com/img/p/84-72-thickbox.jpg

... then you will need to transfer the 8-pin serial flash memory chip at location U12 from patient to donor. This chip stores unique, drive specific "adaptive" information. Some board suppliers include a firmware transfer or ROM transfer service for US$10 - $20. Otherwise, if you are not adept at soldering, your local TV/AV repair shop should be able to do it for you.

Here is one supplier that provides a transfer service:
http://www.hdd-parts.com/10052603.html

The first URL still works for me.

I had seen that before. Any clue if that the site is reputable?

salvationdata,

When your service becomes available, I will add you to my list, as much as I dislike your business practices.

Here is a very good UTube video discussing and showing you about PCB swapping, and in most cases how it won't work with modern HDDS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICR-xw1FYlU

To add insult to injury, this guy, Guillaume Delsaux, is sending me now to a chinese site, not a single word about the PCB I bought from him and never received after 4 months.

Thank you so much for nothig!
********************************
Bonjour,

Voici les coordonnées de l’entreprise
http://www.xo.gr/profile/profile-906091431/en/

Je doit rappeler Lundi la chambre de commerce et d’industrie de France en Grêce. Leur bureaux sont fermés à cette heure-ci

Cordialement,

Guillaume Delsaux
Le disque dur
96 rue de caudry
59400 Cambrai
France
guillaume@ledisquedur.com
http://www.ledisquedur.com



De : Alin Andries [mailto:herralin@hotmail.com]
Envoyé : mercredi 21 mars 2012 10:36
À : guillaume@ledisquedur.com; dragosandries@yahoo.com
Objet : ( Toujours pas de vue de la livraison: (

Salut,

Toujours pas de vue de la livraison: (
Environ 10 jours plus tôt, alors que j'étais dans une certaine réunion de travail, j'ai reçu des messages à partir d'un numéro français, mais personne n'a répondu quand j'ai appelé le dos, est-il encore un problème avec le pack?

Quelle adresse avez-vous utilisé pour l'envoyer? Quel est le nombre d'identification - afin que je puisse le retrouver? Y at-il une chance que je puisse réellement obtenir ce PCB?

Bien à vous,
Andries Alin