Spent most of today googling for this and haven't come to any conclusion. As the drive is spinning up, recognised by BIOS then this isn't going to be a TVS diode problem? Is it still worth changing the pcb? (I've got friends that repair pinball pcbs for fun, so moving the ROM isn't going to be an issue).
If Click of Death isn't caused by faulty pcb then what are my options? Probably professional recovery?

This was probably caused by nightmare toddler nephew somehow putting enough force on the external caddy the drive was in to bend the USB data connector, although the pcb itself looks undamaged.

Thanks

upload some pictures of the caddy,
listen very carefully to drive, is it spinning ? is there any abnormal noise, e.g clicking, beeping !!!!

professional recovery is always the best option for safe data recovery.
there is member on this forum "pcimage" you can send your drive for initial diagnosis..

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The drive is out of the caddy now and it's just a standard Hitachi pcb which was mated to a small pcb that presented the power and data ports (marketed as SimpleDrive).
Drive definitely powers up, BIOS recognises it and occasionally Windows will pick up the drive label, but then it goes into click of death mode. Just need to know whether a pcb change is worth pursuing as it's going to be a lot cheaper than professional data recovery.

It's already out of the caddy and tried on a direct SATA connection, same behaviour. Looking on pcimage web site it looks like a head problem, so I'll give hem a call tomorrow and get it sent off.

<closes brain to how much this is going to cost>

Sounds like one (or more) of the heads has gone bad

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PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

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This case look heads problemas por firmware problemas.
Surface problemas maybe toó

Very dificult forma a new y


Godd decisión to externalize to picmage

OK, that's it with the postie on it's way to Peterboghorror and pcimage

Good choice, I hope it is okay for Sean to report on the drive here if he wants to for other interested people

I don't mind that but today I found a complete backup of all the photos on a 2.5" laptop drive hidden in another caddy. This was kept after I sold a laptop for spares and as it was my wifes I didn't realise she'd got a complete copy on there.

All the work related stuff I can mostly replace with a bit of effort.

I'll give pcimage a call in the morning, save them a job.