Recover data from a 3.5 SATA HDD with dead PCB

[razaborg]

Hi,

I've in my possession a dead 3.5" SAMSUNG 500GB SATA HDD. The cause of the dead is not really determined, but I suppose it's because of a highvoltage...
It was just unrecognized by my computer (no matter the operating system), and produced no sound at all.

Anyway... I found the same model on ebay (SAMSUNG HD501LJ), with the "almost same" PCB (BF41-00133A TRIDENT 11-RE Rev. 06).
I received very recently the new harddrive and I tried to switch the PCBs.

Here is the new HDD with the old PCB (full size picture)


And this is the old HDD with the new PCB (the one I try to recover data from) (full size picture)


If you are observant, you can notice that the reference of both the SAMSUNG and ATMEL components are not the same on the two PCB...

The good news is : once the PCB are switched, the old harddrive now starts, but it produces some errors (see error log from dmesg here)

I read about a procedure which includes to also switch the BIOS chip from the original PCB to the new one to be able to read information on it.
The thing is... I don't really know where the BIOS component is on this PCB.

So I hoped you could help me on these points :
- SAMSNUNG and ATMEL components on both PCB differ. Is this important ? (PCB model is the same : BF41-00133A TRIDENT 11-RE Rev. 06)
- From your experience, what do you think about the error log I gave in the link ?
- Should I need to switch the BIOS chips ?

[fzabkar]

If you are observant, you can notice that the reference of both the SAMSUNG and ATMEL components are not the same on the two PCB... :(

I can't see any Atmel ICs.

Please print the markings that are worrying you.

Check the TVS diodes and the zero-ohm resistor ("fuse") and the polyswitch.

See http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/TVS_diode_FAQ.html

Attachments

TVS_polyswitch.jpg (67.29 KiB) Viewed 7412 times

[razaborg]

If you are observant, you can notice that the reference of both the SAMSUNG and ATMEL components are not the same on the two PCB...

I can't see any Atmel ICs.

Full size pictures here : http://imgur.com/a/SsWfj

My mistake, I meant "Marvell"
It's the IC controller. They say here (n° 22 : http://www.hddzone.com/blog/hdd-pcbs-bi ... oller-ic3/) that it embeds the BIOS, and I have to switch the old one with the new one (new PCB) to be able to recover my data.

I just checked the TVS diodes, the zero-ohm resistor ("fuse") and the polyswitch. One of the TVS diode was dead on the old PCB. I tried to replace it with the one on the new PCB, but unfortunately the operation failed ...
My last chance is to go to an electronic shop and ask them to switch the Marvell IC controller...

[fzabkar]

Which TVS diode was "dead"? What are the resistances of each of the components (use the 200 ohms scale of your meter). ISTM that the "fuse" is probably open, in which case there may be a simple, no-cost DIY solution.

[razaborg]

It was the 12V TVS diode. I will send you numeric infos later, I don't have the multimeter whith me now.