Head swap Hitachi HDT725040VLAT80 3.5" 400GB

[theturtle]

Hello everybody,

I have a disk HItachi HDT725040VLAT80 3.5" 400GB that isn't reconized by BIOS and with his traditionnal clicking sound.
To recover data from it, I want to try the head swap and I have some questions:

My P/N number is A33049 and MLC BA2362, can I use HDT725050VLAT80 3.5" 500GB with P/N A33047 and MLC BA2362 (manufactured both Jun-2007)?
If I can use heads, what about the electronic board (Do I have to use the 400GB one) ?

Head combs are really necessary to extract heads or can I use come tricks like this one on the video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIPZtJyrVPw) ?
How critical is to use this kind of thing againts home-made ?

Many thanks for your response.

Regards.

[samurai7]

Hi, you don't see this but guy on this video is in a Clean Room. The clean room has special filters that absorb dust and the you can open disk. If you have on this drive important data I dont recomend DIY to do head swap. Give this drive to someone who knows how to swap the heads.

[theturtle]

Hi,

Thanks for this explanation, in my work, I have access to a clean room so, problem solved!

Then, someone can respond to my questions or give me details ?

Thanks.

Regards.

[Alexii]

There is a 4 line code (squarish sticker) on the PCB side of the drive. In HITACHI cases i make sure my donor is exactly same model and 2 top lines of that 4 line code on the PCB side match. I had success in cases where that was matched but MLC was different.

[theturtle]

Hi,

Thanks for your response, then I will find for the exact model!

Someone can respond me for head tool comb ? Is really necessary or can I use some tricks to avoid head touching themselves ?

Thanks.

[Alexii]

Lets put it this way , you can successfully swap em without the comb. Thin plastic in the shape of a wedge or smth. However, with or without combs it does take experience and its very easy to mess up. As a suggestion , when u get the donor - remove the heads fully , put them back and run the logical scan on the drive for a bit. If it works - have fun and good luck. If not - more practice =)

[labtech]

Often it is not so much about the tools, but rather the user's ability to use the tools. One can have the perfect tool and still can mess up, while another can have trivial tools and can perform flawlessly.

Can get the job done with or without comb tools as long as the technique used is virtually flawless. Suggest to practice on non-critical drive to assess your success potential. Most inexperienced people grossly underestimate the difficulty in performing internal mechanical work.

Best wishes

Hahaha- Alexii beat me to it