I screwed up... can i save the data?

[danroberto]

So I needed to connect a WD 1TB Caviar black (SATA) via USB. I used an adapter (like this one). somehow, I managed to connect the ide from the power (wall) to the ide to sata adapter upside down... terrible... it went in without a problem, but then I smelled a burnt smell

Disconnected it right away, but i guess it was too late... now, when i connect the hdd to my pc (with the adapter connected properly.....), i hear the USB in sound but nothing else. I don't see the hdd.

Is there anything i can do? replace the board? or did i lose all my data (i have backup for most of it, luckily)?

Thank you!!!

[Nick_CT]

You say you 'hear the USB'. Do you mean you can hear the HDD spin up? You should also be able to feel if it spins up. If the HDD does spin up, does it click?

I could be wrong but I think the adaptives of that drive are stored on the main 'M' controller chip. So if it is just the board then you would still need professional help to fix the problem.

But from what you explained, it sounds like the HDD does actually spin up? Which it wouldn't really do if the board was fried.

You need to explain the symptoms in more detail.

[pclab]

Post a picture of the PCB (both sides) to see if it's burned somewhere.

[Kum Ruzvelt]

Did you see smoke from PCB?

[danroberto]

You say you 'hear the USB'. Do you mean you can hear the HDD spin up? You should also be able to feel if it spins up. If the HDD does spin up, does it click?

Thanks.

No. I meant the windows "USB in" sound... Windows also recognizes a storage device but nothing shows up... the hdd does not spin and i don't see it in the device manager or under manage-disk management.

I could be wrong but I think the adaptives of that drive are stored on the main 'M' controller chip. So if it is just the board then you would still need professional help to fix the problem.

Yes. That's what I understand.

pclab, The PCB does not look burned... but it smells.

Kum, no smoke.

This is the PCB (WD1001FALS):



I read in WD's forum that if I pull out the diodes in d3 and d4, then perhaps, if i'm lucky, the "drive will wok without them, but it will no longer have overvoltage protection on the affected supply rail."

Anyone here ever did something like that?

Thanks a lot!

[poehere]

Looks like Earth is missing now. Must not be that much of a problem on this one. Maybe he is looking in space for a camera to take this photo for us.

[danroberto]

As you can see, I posted before you did, but my message was waiting for approval for some reason.

[Nick_CT]

It's not a very sharp image, but from what I can see the U12 slot is vacant. This means if you need a PCB swap, you won't be able to do it yourself.

You can try and measure D3 and D4. If they measure 0 ohms or very close to it, you could try removing them, remembering that you then won't have any protection. So make sure your power source is safe.

If they don't measure 0 or close to it, then the problem is elsewhere. Stick your multimeter on 200 ohm range and see what the readings are.

[danroberto]

Thanks Nick.

Yes. They measure 0 ohms... Took them both out and...


It's alive!!!

Thank you all!!!!!

Last edited by danroberto on March 16th, 2011, 9:08, edited 1 time in total.

[Nick_CT]

Just make sure you are measuring the right components.
I've marked them in green on this image for you:
http://i54.tinypic.com/2dazlmb.jpg

If they measure 0 ohms you can remove them. Some people say use flush/side cutters, but I've never done that. I use a heat gun and heat it up so the solder liquifies and then remove the component. Remember there are risks with both methods, heat can damage the other components, board etc, and if you mess up with the cutters you can break something else.

And no, you don't need to replace them with solder or anything, leave as is.

If all goes well and the TVS diodes are the only fault, then the drive should spin up after you've removed them.

[danroberto]

Missed your last post!

It's working!!! The HDD is alive again!

Thank you!!!

[Nick_CT]

Great, well done. Now make sure you get your data off it before something else goes wrong

[danroberto]

Great, well done. Now make sure you get your data off it before something else goes wrong

Sure thing!

As I wrote in my first post, i have backup for most of it. I'll make a full backup asap!

Thanks again!