Corrupt Fujitsu Firmware :(

[rtech]

I've got a 120gb Fujitsu Apple Branded drive that won't mount.

Model# MHW2120BH

Tried swapping the pcb board with another drive that has EXACT same info as original drive, down to the date created.

No joy.

I didn't see a rom chip on the pcb board to swap.

Besides using a PC3K is there any way I can fix this problem?

Thanks in advance!

[fzabkar]

Can you upload a detailed photo of the component side?

Does the drive spin up, or attempt to spin up, with the original PCB?

[jono-ats]

"Won't mount" isn't sufficient info.

Is it recognized under Disk Utility?

Does it spin up? Make clicking noises? Make soft calibration noises?

It may have nothing to do with the PCB . . .

[rtech]

Sorry I didn't post details earlier.

No software will detect drive, including Disk Utility.

It powers on, spins fine, just doesn't mount. No clicking, weird noises, heat, etc. Everything appears normal.

Here are pics of board. Sorry couldn't get 1 good one.

Attachments

[jono-ats]

I don't think it's a PCB problem. I think it is bad heads w/ possible media damage.

[harddrivespecialist]

Agree, its not a PCB problem.

[rtech]

Can you elaborate on why you think that is the issue?

And not a pcb or firmware problem?

Bios won't recognize the drive so I didn't think the issue was bad heads.

[rtech]

I'm guessing you guys think that because when I swapped boards, I get nothing, right?

[jono-ats]

I'm guessing it is because we see drives like this often and the symptoms you describe typically (read: not always) have the causes that I describe . . .

Passport info on these are stored on the platters. No read = no I.D.

[fzabkar]

Bios won't recognize the drive so I didn't think the issue was bad heads.

The drive needs to retrieve the bulk of its firmware from the platters. A bad head may prevent it from doing that.

See newbie-info-from-and-for-newbies-about-firmware-etc-t6562-20.html