I am not sure if the following information is correct, anybody would show your ideas? I know most of you guys are professionals here, so, I am expecting good suggestions:

Maxtor hard drive donor

* Alphabetic Code (Yellow)
The 3rd letter that is highlighted is important for matching the head-stack.
* PCBA/Uplevel (Blue)
For matching PCB; always match the 3rd and 4th characters away from the END of the code.
* Mfg. Date (Red)
Not necessary, but good to get as close as you can (a drive made in a different year may use different materials/parts, even if the other numbers match)
* Country (Green)
It is always good to match country if possible no matter what. Different countries use different materials and parts. This is very important for matching heads.
* Interface/PCB code (Purple)
This code is relevant for matching the PCB; match the whole code.

Hitachi (post-IBM merge) hard drive donor

* Model (Blue)
Preferably match the model exactly for PCB or heads.
* Machine Level Code (Green)
MLC is the most important number for matching Hitachi drives; for any type of repair. If you do not match the MLC your chances of repair/recovery are not good.
* Mfg. Date (Red)
Not necessary, but good to get as close as you can (a drive made in a different year may use different materials/parts, even if the other numbers match)
* Country (Yellow)
Match this if you will be performing any work on the HAD (Head-swap, platter transplant)
* PCB code (Purple)
This is for matching PCB; only the first two lines are important. Match this for maximum compatibility, but if you can乫t there is a small chance it may work.

Toshiba hard drive donor

* Model (Blue)
Not always necessary, but highly preferable. Always look for a drive with a matching model number first, if one is impossible to find, a similar model may work as long as the other important factors match
* Manufacture Code (Green)
This must match for PCB, Heads, or platter transplant
* Country (Yellow)
Important to match for Head-swap and platter transplant, for PCB not 100% necessary, but preferable.

Seagate hard drive donor

* Firmware (Blue)
This needs to match for PCB replacement, and head swaps/ platter transplants
* Date Code (Red)
Not very important, but if you can match this it will increase your chances of a perfect match.
* Site Code (Green)
This is not necessary, but preferable for either PCB replacement or Head swap.
* Country (Yellow)
Always match country for head swaps and platter transplants. Different countries use different materials and may assemble the drive differently.
* Configuration Number (Not Present)
Not present on this drive; always match the configuration number exactly; if it is present.

Western Digital hard drive donor

* Model Number (Blue)
Always match the full model number (including the characters after the hyphen. This is important for PCB and Head swaps/ platter transplants.
* DCM Code (Yellow)
Matching the whole DCM code would be the best, but if you cannot the 5th and 6th characters should be ok; this is for head swaps and platter transplants.
Note: success has been made while just matching the 6th character .
* PCB Code (Red)
Matching the highlighted area is necessary for successful PCB replacement.

Samsung hard drive donor

* Model Number (Blue)
Not always required but highly preferable (for any work being done)
* Revision (Green)
Match the revision, primarily for PCB replacement. It is preferable if you can match it for head swap.
* Country (Red)
Always match country for head swap/ Platter transplant
* Alpha Numeric Code (Yellow)
Always match the 4th character in this code for head swap and platter transplant.
* Firmware Revision (Not Present)
Not present on the drive in pictures, but if present always match for PCB replacement.

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Train yourself before you step into DR

Where did you copy this from??? You posted the text portion but not the pictures associated with this explanation...

This is inaccurate, IMHO.

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http://www.datasaversllc.com

well the WD guidline supports the DCM code i got. Cant really say about the rest. Would be cool if we could have the gurus comment here, come to a consensus and stiky it. The DIY ppl and beginners could really use the info.

Ninja edit. Where be the pictures ? =)

DCM: HSEHYV2AH

1- Motor (H)
2- Base (S)
3- Latch (E)
4- Bottom VCM (H)
5- Media (Y)
6- Headstack (V)
7- Actuator-Preamp (2)
8- Top VCM (A)
9- Separator (H)

I'm sure they could!

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http://www.datasaversllc.com

Indeed m8. Ty for the bump. I am sure a guru will come by sooner or later and share some info with us.

bump

Some stuff is correct but alot is way off....

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Buy your friends Toshiba\Hitachi and your enemies Seagate.

I already see plenty of screwed up drives where people say "I read on the internet that I should blah blah blah", so no thanks.

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

I don't know of one resource that is 100% correct all of the time, although Ace and Deepspar info comes closest.

I find there are a LOT of exceptions to the "rules" - and other "rules" that don't seem to be published anywhere in the public domain.

Don't expect people to share this info. It is usually obtained by a LOT of trial-and-error.

Buy a bunch of used / bad drives and discover it for yourself.

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http://www.datasaversllc.com

If only it was as simple as writing a list.

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Zero Alpha > https://zeroalpha.com.au

Thats great. Do u mind pointing out the stuff thats correct ?

I didnt think that the PCB swaping guidline would be a matter of such secrecy for u all. Not asking u for the keys from the apartment where u store ur money u know. But if u consider even this info hush hush, well nothing can be done. Ty for the bumps.

bump

Alexii,

I don't presume to speak for the group. However, I think you are beating (bumping) a dead horse here . . . for reasons already cited.

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http://www.datasaversllc.com

No...period...

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Buy your friends Toshiba\Hitachi and your enemies Seagate.

Ok. Although u surprised me. Why did u bother coming in , telling us that some info is right in the 1st place ? To make sure that we know that u know ? Its like dangling a piece of nice kolbasa in front of a hungry pupy just to make sure that pupy understands that u have it.
Ty for bumping though. Period.

@ Jono

Its sad that thate PCB swaping guidline is a taboo for u , but like i say nothing can be done. Maybe someone here will decide to help. Maybe late at friday before coming home to a weekend of beer and fun stuff he/she will see this bump and think " Damn , i dont even need to type anything, i can just take the OP , quote it and highlight the correct parts in it. Ah damn, here u go u damn HDD Nabs, remember my kindness..."
SCFI? Reality? Anything can happn when u enter the HDD guru twilight zone....

Why are you waiting and hope that some guru will reply and show you the light. As you have probably already seen there is lots of information on the net. Some of it is correct and some of it is not even close. If you have read some of the topics in this forum, then you should know by now that the spoon feeding of newbies is not something that most fancy. Why not buy a bunch of drives and test for yourself

I refuse to sabotage my personal income to satisfy your curiosity with donor parts. A lot of us have spent years and tens of thousands of dollars…or more... What do you have to offer Alexii? Begging and bumping in the forum rarely works. Most of the information you request is available in this forum but you’re too lazy to search for it. Good luck with your begging.

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Buy your friends Toshiba\Hitachi and your enemies Seagate.

Ty for the bumps. A lot of the info is conflicting in nature. And the problem with internet is that u cant make a discussion out of it and find a consensus. Forums are made for that. Now some ppl look at this forum as a source of info. Some as a fishing pond to yank some clients off. I understand that some of the hdd recovery information is indeed a painfully gathered experience , so i will not ask anyone on tips to realigning WD after a platter swap. But a guildline to PCBs is smth small enough, that i thought ppl will share. Some of u are not willing. Well then just dont post here and have a nice day. No point in coming in and telling us that u know but wont tell.

@thatdellguy

U call it begging - i call it asking. In order to weed out info a conversation has to be made. But we are on a different page here. So by no meens , dont let me sabotage ur income. Just ignore me and go on ahead with ur life, charge some poor SOB 1.5k $ for a pure PCB swap or R-Studio recovery and feel safer about ur income.

Not trying to be unpleasant but all of this info is really already available on the forums. Sure it will require some searching and digging but that's just how it is. Personally I like this because it means someone who isn't really willing to put in any effort to finding their answer isn't going to find it.

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.