Data recovery and disk repair questions and discussions related to old-fashioned SATA, SAS, SCSI, IDE, MFM hard drives - any type of storage device that has moving parts
September 16th, 2016, 13:42
Hi... First time ever posting here, so I'm sorry if it's not the right board or if I'm spamming with this type of post.
Before you ignore this, I know my HDD doesn't work and that it's most likely that I cannot repair it.
So I'm a beginner in electronics, and computer hardware in general. I know some basic stuff, but I ended up frying the thing.
Symptoms: Computers don't recognize it as a HDD, and it doesn't even spin when plugged.
How can I know how much I damaged it? Besides the PCB, is it possible that the motor (or engine) gets fried too?
Again, I'm sorry if this is considered spam (I read the knowledge base and read about how this is not a place with easy and quick solutions for people who never contribute to the forum). In that case, please let me know and I'll delete the topic.
Thanks to anyone that takes the time to reply.
September 16th, 2016, 14:29
It's a Hitachi Deskstar HDS728080PLAT20.
The computer powers up allright, the problem is that it doesn't know the HDD is plugged. It boots normally with other PATA HDDs.
As far as I can tell, the PCB looks the same, I didn't hear any burning/cracking sounds when it happened. I can only assume it got damaged.
Here's a pic from each side.
Thanks a lot.
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September 16th, 2016, 15:43
My post is not yet approved, sorry. Apparently posts with images have to be checked before they go on here...
Anyways, thanks. I'll be away a couple of hours, sorry for the late reply. Thought my post was going to appear right away.
September 19th, 2016, 15:50
Hi, check the D2 for a short (you know how??) and there must be some components on the back of the PCB. So release the flat flex for the motor and pull it out, then release the screws and flip the board. Please post some photos of it.
September 19th, 2016, 16:19
I suspect that D2 is probably OK (because the PSU doesn't shut down).
I would measure the voltages on the pins of transistors Q1, Q2 and Q3. These would be the Vcore and Vio voltages.
I would also test resistors R9 (R075, near L3/Q2) and R5 (R47, near the +5V power pin).
Also measure the voltages at coils L1 and L3. These constitute the Cuk converter that supplies -5V (?) to the preamp.
September 20th, 2016, 17:24
fzabkar wrote:I would measure the voltages on the pins of transistors Q1, Q2 and Q3. These would be the Vcore and Vio voltages.
I would also test resistors R9 (R075, near L3/Q2) and R5 (R47, near the +5V power pin).
Also measure the voltages at coils L1 and L3. These constitute the Cuk converter that supplies -5V (?) to the preamp.
They should be around 5V, right? Just so I know if they're correct or not
I'll measure and post results tomorrow, thanks.
September 20th, 2016, 17:46
Well, nevermind guize. I found a broken chip (literally, broken) and it's microscopic. Don't know how I (or anyone) broke it, it's the small chip below the middle screw (it's intact in the picture). And I highly doubt that it's replacement is possible, so I'll have to find a pcb donor. fuck.
Anyways, now I'm sure the pcb won't work.
If anyone has any advice for determining possible donors, I'll be much grateful.
Thanks to anyone for their help so far.
September 21st, 2016, 1:12
brancamonti wrote:fzabkar wrote:I would measure the voltages on the pins of transistors Q1, Q2 and Q3. These would be the Vcore and Vio voltages.
I would also test resistors R9 (R075, near L3/Q2) and R5 (R47, near the +5V power pin).
Also measure the voltages at coils L1 and L3. These constitute the Cuk converter that supplies -5V (?) to the preamp.
They should be around 5V, right?
I'm expecting +3.3V, +2.5V, +1V (approx).
As for the broken chip, if it's a filter capacitor, then all is not lost.
September 21st, 2016, 9:18
Hi! Can you take a picture of the burnt chip?
Best!
F
September 21st, 2016, 18:24
F_ARG wrote:Hi! Can you take a picture of the burnt chip?
Best!
F
I didn't quite burn it, it's just broken as if it was forced with something
September 21st, 2016, 18:45
I can't take a quality pic, but this is the broken chip
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September 21st, 2016, 19:00
That's the crystal.

((
September 21st, 2016, 19:21
fzabkar wrote:That's the crystal.

((
Well, I'm not gonna ask any questions and assume I'm fucked.
So, if I replace the circuit board with
this one, will it work? it's exactly the same model, the only thing that doesn't match is the MLC. Is it important to match the MLC in Hitachi drives?
September 22nd, 2016, 8:59
Hi! I think it won´t work. PCB contains important information on it. A direct replacement is not suitable in this case (if i remember well, i moslty wor with western digital drives). Do you need to recover data? This is an important question before telling that you can replace broken crystal IC with some soldering skills. But you are taking a risk. It is up to you.
Best!
F
September 22nd, 2016, 11:23
F_ARG wrote:Hi! I think it won´t work. PCB contains important information on it. A direct replacement is not suitable in this case (if i remember well, i moslty wor with western digital drives). Do you need to recover data? This is an important question before telling that you can replace broken crystal IC with some soldering skills. But you are taking a risk. It is up to you.
Best!
F
yeah, I need to. it's not my data but it'd be great if I could just swap boards and take stuff out of it before throwing it away...
anyways, I'll try that and hope it works. If not... DR'll be my expensive friend
September 22nd, 2016, 15:54
You need to transfer the 8-pin chip at U5 from patient to donor.
September 22nd, 2016, 17:00
fzabkar wrote:You need to transfer the 8-pin chip at U5 from patient to donor.
Well, I kind of saw it coming... Thanks for mentioning it because I was going to avoid it if possible. Is there any risk to lose data if I try to use the drive before transfering the chip?
September 22nd, 2016, 17:02
brancamonti wrote:fzabkar wrote:You need to transfer the 8-pin chip at U5 from patient to donor.
Well, I kind of saw it coming... Thanks for mentioning it because I was going to avoid it if possible. Is there any risk to lose data if I try to use the drive before transfering the chip?
It won't work, for definite.
So if you're not prepared to swap the chip then you're wasting your time and money,
September 22nd, 2016, 17:20
September 22nd, 2016, 18:18
pcimage wrote:brancamonti wrote:fzabkar wrote:You need to transfer the 8-pin chip at U5 from patient to donor.
Well, I kind of saw it coming... Thanks for mentioning it because I was going to avoid it if possible. Is there any risk to lose data if I try to use the drive before transfering the chip?
It won't work, for definite.
So if you're not prepared to swap the chip then you're wasting your time and money,
I can do it, the thing is I didn't want to take any risks in case it wasn't truly necessary
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