Hi,
i got a toshiba MQ01ABD100 which seems to have a read head problem. I've recorded the sound when it start, can you give me your diagnostic? I think the head is damaged.
I want to be sure if it's useless or not to try to do a PCB swap (in case of firmware corruption).
Sound record:
toshiba_MQ01ABD100_noise.mp3

Spec:
toshiba MQ01ABD100
Drive REV: AAE AB01/AX0R2J
G003235C

Thank you.

Head damage , platter scratch or module corruption.
Not a pcb problem

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A Recovery Service In Turkey . Veri Kurtarma Türkiye https://www.digitalverikurtarma.com
Donor Drives hdddonormarket.com

i think head damaged. most of time new head will work.

Ok,thank you. So a PCB swap is a waste of money? 100% sure?
I think the SA sectors are dead or cant be read, because of damaged head. I agree with your diagnostic, but i'm not a pro.
Thank you.

Ok, you think a new head replacement can fix it? I fear the disk surface is already damaged. a PCB swap is 100% useless?
How much does it cost to do this fix?
Thank you.

i think there is no big issue on platter surface. only head damaged.

however clean and check head contacts of PCB

In this module toshiba hdd sometime there is no heads problem and no platter damaged but still not booting and the sounds still the same even heads replaced

+1 agree

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A Recovery Service In Turkey . Veri Kurtarma Türkiye https://www.digitalverikurtarma.com
Donor Drives hdddonormarket.com

What does it mean? That it can be a firmware issue and i can try a PCB swap (with rom IC swap) ? Thank you.

If u use donor pcb without rom transfer , you hear same clicking noises . But you can not see any partition in windows. But your disk seen in windows. So that mean pcb original. Modules working. 1 head or platter has damage. Mostly works in busy mode. Data recovery possible also in windows. But classic recovery softwares would probably say very very long time to recover.

In this case look like head or platter damage. But drive still working. Partial recovery still possible with professional DR tools from good heads. If it's in my hand I would get partial data from working heads and head swap .

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A Recovery Service In Turkey . Veri Kurtarma Türkiye https://www.digitalverikurtarma.com
Donor Drives hdddonormarket.com

Don't waste your time or money messing around with the PCB. That's not your issue. Most likely it's failed heads, possibly some damage to the defect list on the platter.

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Data Medics - Hard Drive, SSD, and RAID Data Recovery Service Company

This is Toshiba, not Seagate or WD....

OP. What is the task - save data or reuse the drive?

The PCB is OK and no FW problems. Either bad sectors or weak head.