HI

my MAXTORDIAMOND 21 PATA 250 Go drive ( still under warranty) refuses to spin after a lenghty use ( 2 weeks, it died while i was abroad using gotomypc remote control software)

I found a PCB from a similar 250 Go drive, same model (STM3250820A) and firmware (3.AAE), but from another country and fabricated 40 days later.
The drive spins up again, but the heads are noisy, and it isn't recognised at all in windows.

Could anybody help me about the criterias for swapping PCB's ?

Can i damage the hard disk if use an incompatible PCB ?

Which of the three chips need absolutely to match on the PCB's ?

Can the chips be replaced on the PCB ?

Should i try to contact hard disk vendors to try to find the same model ( january 2007) or is it a waste of time ?

All answers are much appreciated.




PS: details of the failing hard disk (1) and the donor hard disk i found (2):

DATE CODE: (1):07286
(2): 07353

SITE CODE: (1): SU (china)
(2): TK ( thailand)

CHIPS on the PCB:
BIG SQUARE ONE:: (1): agere
100407840
seagate
PTKNCD2
0648T 190221,7

(2): agere
100427288
seagate
PTKNCD3
0703T 215741,7


SMALL SQUARE ONE:: (1) 9A0 B
SH6960B E
6CCJ5FT
G4

(2) SMOOTH
100369972
AAAAJ VA
TWN 99 703

Rectangular: (1): EM638165TS-6G
K453208RLK713.1H
ETRONTECH

(2):EM638165TS-6G
K5232208RLL748.1H
ETRONTECH

OTHER INSCRIPTIONS: (1): FOXCONN 6CN1 100327114

(2): FOXCONN 72A2 100327114

I mention too that the faulty PCB has absolutely no trace of burned components.

Hello Gene:

it seems that your donor PCB has a different model of Motor IC ( the small square one u have mentioned above) - but i'm not sure if it represents a problem in this model of maxtor or not.

u know Gene here in egypt the most common Hard disk is western digital (WD) so i got much experience in WD HDDs but my experience with maxtor is limited.... Cause it's not common here in egypt.

i hope that one of HDD gurus have good experience with maxtor HDDs could help u solving ur problem.

Best Regards & Good luck
Ahmed Samy

_________________
Ahmed Samy
Al-Ahram for computer services
http://www.alahram-group.com

Thanks for your precisions, Ahmed.

Do you know if , in general, swapping incorrect PCB's further damages the disk ?

as i exprienced in WD HDDs - it will not damage the disk

_________________
Ahmed Samy
Al-Ahram for computer services
http://www.alahram-group.com

even in wd it does if u swap wrong pcb sometimes head gets damaged , and drive starting to knock even on ok pcb has happened to me .

Thank you for your info.

Could you tell me which of the three chips on the PCB need absolutely to match ?