HDT722516DLAT80 : PCB change - noob question

[Fish]

Hi,

I had an Hitachi HDT722516DLAT80 which crashed several years ago. I'm trying to recover datas on it (maybe too late but let's try) and it looks like my PCB is dead.

I found a donor HDD with the following specifications :

- On the white label :

0A29181
BA1438_
M1N601
4HDK

- On the biggest chip :

0A30164
UAB-M3057-HT
V3.3
FRKRSI
EL536024EA6

My HDD as the following :

- On the white label :

0A29181
BA1438_
X1R537
OG23

- On the biggest chip :

0A30164
UAB-M3057-HT
V3.3
FRKRSI
EL528139EB2

And both the donor and my HDD were done the same month & year.

Do you think a PCB change is feasible without having to change the U5 and U7 chips ?

Thanks

Fish

[pcimage]

No, you WILL have to change the NVRAM chip.

Can't remember off hand which is which without looking at a board.

[Fish]

Argh, cr*p !

I read around there that there was only U5 and/or U7 to change (and this is already clearly above my capabilities !).

[lcoughey]

Are you sure that the PCB is the issue?

[Fish]

In fact, It looks like it's my last option.

So no, I'm not sure the PCB is the issue but for 40$ or so it's worth it !

[pcimage]

Are you sure that the PCB is the issue?

By "dead" I assumed dead!

I should have added a "assuming the PCB is dead and the only issue" caveat

But some people's definition of "dead" isn't what most people would define it as. We get "dead" drives in all the time that come in clicking like mad!!

@OP: What is the actual fault?

[Fish]

In fact, dead is maybe not the right word (as I mentionned, I'm still a noob).

When I plug it, I can hear it spinning (there just one click when I turn it on and then just the noise of the disk spinning). It's not visible in the BIOS, nor in any file explorer. I tried to "find" it with a Ubuntu Rescue Remix live CD but I found nothing.

[pcimage]

In fact, dead is maybe not the right word (as I mentionned, I'm still a noob).

When I plug it, I can hear it spinning (there just one click when I turn it on and then just the noise of the disk spinning). It's not visible in the BIOS, nor in any file explorer. I tried to "find" it with a Ubuntu Rescue Remix live CD but I found nothing.

Which makes PCB failure much less likely, and DIY possibilities greatly reduced.

There is a chance (probably 2-5%) that the PCB is bad (or not original) but more likely other issue(s)

[Fish]

A bad PCB is maybe not the final issue but for $40 it's clearly cheaper than a trip in a white room. But if there is other cheap ideas to try, I'm in.

[BlackST]

The problem is elsewhere (not Pcb) to me. And no 'cheap' ideas, sorry (the cheapest idea is live without data...)

[Nick_CT]

What people are trying to tell you here is that, now that you have explained that drive is not actually 'dead' but is indeed spinning up, the chances of the PCB being the problem are extremely slim. The problem is most likely elsewhere (internal) and trying a DIY PCB swap is futile and not worth the risk of further damage.

If the data is valuable then you should save the $40 you wanted to spend on the PCB and rather put that towards a professional recovery.

[northwind]

I agree, you're about to throw away $40.

[Fish]

Hum, I see...

I'll have to save money for a white room (bye bye $1000).

[Fish]

Hey Guys,

Just out of curiosity, I do have some more newbie questions. The subject of reviving some vers old datas on an almost dead HDD is really interesting and I'm sure you'll be able to answer easily to those questions :

- Let's say a PCB is dead (and that's not the case with my HDD but I'm just curious), if you do a PCB change, you'll certainly have to keep the original NVRAM to plug it on the donor PCB. But, here's the question, is there a way to make a "clone" of that NVRAM chip to avoid some bad soldering issues ? If that's possible, how ? Is that complicated ? Is that expensive ?
- Is there a way to "check" the NVRAM cause I imagine that in some recovery cases the NVRAM can be damaged/broken ?
- Now, let's say I need a "white room" recovery but I don't have the money yet. Will my HDD still be recoverable after, for example, 15 years ?
- And the last but not the least, a real noob question : for me, an HDD platter looks like an old vinyl record and so, I don't understand why there's not a device to put my platters in to make an exact copy of the damaged platters (I know, that one must sound stupid but I'm just really curious).

Thanks for your patience.

Fish

[northwind]

- Let's say a PCB is dead (and that's not the case with my HDD but I'm just curious), if you do a PCB change, you'll certainly have to keep the original NVRAM to plug it on the donor PCB. But, here's the question, is there a way to make a "clone" of that NVRAM chip to avoid some bad soldering issues ? If that's possible, how ? Is that complicated ? Is that expensive ?

Yes, some IC's can be read by a programmer. This way no soldering / de-soldering is needed. But it requires know-how. And it doesn't always work this way.

- Is there a way to "check" the NVRAM cause I imagine that in some recovery cases the NVRAM can be damaged/broken ?

It requires expensive equipment and know-how.

- Now, let's say I need a "white room" recovery but I don't have the money yet. Will my HDD still be recoverable after, for example, 15 years ?

Yes, as long as it stays untouched by 'know-it-alls'...

- And the last but not the least, a real noob question : for me, an HDD platter looks like an old vinyl record and so, I don't understand why there's not a device to put my platters in to make an exact copy of the damaged platters (I know, that one must sound stupid but I'm just really curious).

It doesn't work this way.

[BlackST]

- Let's say a PCB is dead (and that's not the case with my HDD but I'm just curious), if you do a PCB change, you'll certainly have to keep the original NVRAM to plug it on the donor PCB. But, here's the question, is there a way to make a "clone" of that NVRAM chip to avoid some bad soldering issues ? If that's possible, how ? Is that complicated ? Is that expensive ?

"COMPLICATED" depends on you. To me, no, but it's me. Maybe for you it would be impossible or tricky or lead to disasters the first time. If the PCB is absolutely dead or have problems, you won't get a bit out of it. Also, it can be electrically fine but the contents are damaged, so it's useless. For another experienced tech it should be no problem in both case. Explanation example : I have been living with horses for a lifetime, nevertheless I still don't file their tooth with the appropriate tool (that is nothing else than a electric drill like the one you use at home with a special gearbox and a file attached), it's a job for the vet. APPARENTLY, it's simple but I have no confidence with it so I leave the "dirty job", stress and everything else to someone else. My task ends keeping the "friends" calm and holding them "cowboy style"
"EXPENSIVE" depends on you. I bought very expensive programmers and IC testers for my job (in the thousands EUR range) but again, it's me. You can have "similar" results with hobbyist stuff or DIY kits... or not... it depends...

- Is there a way to "check" the NVRAM cause I imagine that in some recovery cases the NVRAM can be damaged/broken ?

Yes. Read it and if you know what should be inside it, you're done.

- And the last but not the least, a real noob question : for me, an HDD platter looks like an old vinyl record and so, I don't understand why there's not a device to put my platters in to make an exact copy of the damaged platters (I know, that one must sound stupid but I'm just really curious).

You will obtain same results putting a CD on a vinyl deck (turntable) and trying to read it with the pickup. Even if you spin it at 300 RPM, I think the result will be barely audible
At present, the fact that such devices do not exist (forget the rumors and the sci-fi) should tell you that it is useless or technically too complicated to be profitable. " SE AVVIENE, CONVIENE" = if it happens, there's a reason for it (otherwise it's not gonna happen !)

[Fish]

Hi,

Thanks for your answers, data recovery is really interesting and now I know more about it.

Now, going back on that question :

- Now, let's say I need a "white room" recovery but I don't have the money yet. Will my HDD still be recoverable after, for example, 15 years ?

I thought an HDD would loose some datas after a while being untouched. Platters are magnetized, so isn't there a risk to slowly unmagnetize them through time (let's say 50 years !) ?

[BlackST]

They are simply not supposed to last that long. Anyway I have fired up some very old drives (20+ years later) and data is still intact. They are 20 to 40 MEGAbytes so density is very low. Unpredictable if actual drives will act that way.