First timer repairing a MQ01UBD100.

[langenoir]

Hello, I’ve been reading over the forums. First time doing anything like this. My wife has a bad usb HDD and I’m trying to fix it. I just wanted to make sure that I have a plan in place that is actually possible. Any help would be appreciated.

This is the drive:

Model: MQ01UBD100
HDD Code: HDKBD29AYA31 T
Firmware: AB00/AX101U
PCB Revision: G3448A

The light powers up, but there does not seem to be any spin from the drive itself. I have read that it’s possible that this is mechanical malfunction because she told me that she dropped it in the past, but we’re probably not going to pay $1k to get the data back and that replacing the PCB might work.

In the hopes that swapping the PCB will fix the issue (if that’s a waste of time please let me know) I can either get a G3448A USB board or a G003235C SATA board ( https://www.data-medics.com/forum/toshi ... t1305.html )?

Then if I understand this right I need to swap the physical IC602 chip from the old PCB to the replacement PCB?

If that is all correct, can the IC602 be removed with conventional soldier tools? Can someone please point me to a tutorial/how to on doing this?

I have basic soldier knowledge, but this is a really tiny circuit. The only soldier points I see on the back of the PCB are where the USB port is connected to the board.

[fzabkar]

If you place your ear against the drive, can you hear it trying to spin up?

If you have a multimeter, I can help you measure the voltage test points. Some PCBs appear to have 2 fuses. Maybe one of them is open.

I would need a detailed photo of the component side.

[lcoughey]

If it is DIY doable, it should cost no more than $300USD to recover.

If it is more complex, it likely is still recoverable at the same price.

If it requires a head change, it should still cost less than $1K

If you try DIY and fail, it might result in it going from a $300 recovery to a higher priced recovery, if recoverable at all.

Basically, be 100% sure that the data isn't worth the low end before risking making it the higher end price. I get a lot of clients who end up paying more for a job that should have been a lot easier and affordable before DIY attempts are made.

That said, Frank will tell you all the DIY advice you need, should you be sure about that route.

Good luck

[jermy]

If you replace the PCB you must swap the IC602
But be aware
That chip contains crucial data in it, which is vital to access the data on this drive
If you overheat that chip or damage it somehow, then its game over

[langenoir]

If you place your ear against the drive, can you hear it trying to spin up?

If you have a multimeter, I can help you measure the voltage test points. Some PCBs appear to have 2 fuses. Maybe one of them is open.

I would need a detailed photo of the component side.

So this is bad, I guess I never thought to put my ear up to it. HDD from the past have just been bad and I could hear the clicking. I had to put a mic up to it, this is the noise it makes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QJlJ1q0aXQ

Photos
http://imgur.com/CR3izbP
http://imgur.com/Iuk977R

I don’t have a multimeter, but I can get one on amazon.

If it is DIY doable, it should cost no more than $300USD to recover.

If it is more complex, it likely is still recoverable at the same price.

If it requires a head change, it should still cost less than $1K

If you try DIY and fail, it might result in it going from a $300 recovery to a higher priced recovery, if recoverable at all.

Basically, be 100% sure that the data isn't worth the low end before risking making it the higher end price. I get a lot of clients who end up paying more for a job that should have been a lot easier and affordable before DIY attempts are made.

That said, Frank will tell you all the DIY advice you need, should you be sure about that route.

Good luck

No one is going to lose a job or anything if we can’t get this recovered. I have a backup, but will still lose about a years worth of data. I’ll do some shopping around but the ballparks I’ve been given so far were $500 to $1500. I probably wouldn’t pay the $1000 unless there was something that *had* to be recovered. So far that hasn’t come up.

If you replace the PCB you must swap the IC602
But be aware
That chip contains crucial data in it, which is vital to access the data on this drive
If you overheat that chip or damage it somehow, then its game over

Yeah, that’s what it sounds like I’ve been reading. I just can’t figure out how to swap that ship with the tiny little nothing contact points on this drive.

[pcimage]

Don't waste your time with the PCB, it's 99.999% nothing to do with that.

Sounds like it could possibly be heads stuck on the platter, or maybe mangled in the ramp.

Should be recoverable for a reasonable price AT THIS STAGE by a decent recovery shop (I.e. NOT a regular PC repair shop). But if you do choose to continue to mess with it, it could get a whole lot worse!

[northwind]

Don't waste your time with the PCB, it's 99.999% nothing to do with that.

Sounds like it could possibly be heads stuck on the platter, or maybe mangled in the ramp.

Should be recoverable for a reasonable price AT THIS STAGE by a decent recovery shop (I.e. NOT a regular PC repair shop). But if you do choose to continue to mess with it, it could get a whole lot worse!

+1
Sounds like stiction. But, the more you power it on, the worse it gets.

[lcoughey]

You must not have contacted my lab. It is probably a $350CAD job here, assuming that we can salvage the original heads.