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ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 26th, 2025, 10:47

Hi everyone,

A customer just sent us a HDD that was previously sent to a small DR company that concluded the HDD needed a heads swap.

The drive does not spin so we first took a look at the PCB and found out that one TVS diode is dead.

But also we noticed that the bios chip might have some flux around it so we are not sure if this is the original pcb/bios chip, before going any further i'd like to ask for your opinions about this.

Thanks in advance to everyone who will take the time to answer !
Attachments
20251125-201054-238.jpg
20251125-201123-629.jpg

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 26th, 2025, 12:02

Compare the serial number on the sticker and in the ROM. Terminal log?

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 26th, 2025, 12:02

read the contents and check SN in SAP

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 26th, 2025, 13:46

The drive does not spin so we first took a look at the PCB and found out that one TVS diode is dead.


Hi, that company did not manage to spot a faulty TVS?! :cry:

Also would be nice to know, how they concluded that HSA swap is needed?

I would read/save the content of the eeprom and then try to fix the pcb.
You never know, this could be an easy fix.

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 26th, 2025, 14:29

Hi, that company did not manage to spot a faulty TVS?!

depending on the actual damage, preamp might be affected, which asks for a head swap, so let's not be overcritical until we know the details...

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 26th, 2025, 15:10

The second photo shows an Si4823DY MOSFET:

https://www.vishay.com/docs/64715/si4823dy.pdf

It is not a "BIOS" or ROM IC.

outofthebox wrote:The drive does not spin so we first took a look at the PCB and found out that one TVS diode is dead.

Which diode, 5V or 12V? Did you check the fuses or zero-ohm resistors?

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 26th, 2025, 15:15

Markello wrote:
The drive does not spin so we first took a look at the PCB and found out that one TVS diode is dead.


Hi, that company did not manage to spot a faulty TVS?! :cry:

After watching the DR business for 16 years, I'm no longer surprised.

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 26th, 2025, 15:53

fzabkar wrote:The second photo shows an Si4823DY MOSFET
It is not a "BIOS" or ROM IC.

Well, here is the answer to the main question of the topic... :)
Otherwise, why bother with photos of all eight-pin chips? Sorry...

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 27th, 2025, 8:05

Thanks for your answer everyone !

We asked the customer what have been done by the previous company and according to her they only exchanged 2 emails where they told her the heads needed to be swapped witouth further explanations, since she refused the quote (because she felt the price was too high) they returned the drive.

We will read the eeprom later today to first make sure the serial number is matching the sticker before going any further.

pepe wrote:
Hi, that company did not manage to spot a faulty TVS?!

depending on the actual damage, preamp might be affected, which asks for a head swap, so let's not be overcritical until we know the details...

We absolutely agree on this !

fzabkar wrote:The second photo shows an Si4823DY MOSFET:

https://www.vishay.com/docs/64715/si4823dy.pdf

It is not a "BIOS" or ROM IC.

outofthebox wrote:The drive does not spin so we first took a look at the PCB and found out that one TVS diode is dead.

Which diode, 5V or 12V? Did you check the fuses or zero-ohm resistors?


Yes the first picture is the eeprom but we attached the second picture because this chip also looks like it has some flux around it, but we could be wrong


Will update here when we confirmed the ROM is the original one.

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

November 27th, 2025, 8:12

@ outofthebox,

Could you please post a full picture of the pcb here?

Thanks!

Re: ST3000DM001 bios chip modifications ?

December 1st, 2025, 8:44

this is no bios ic ,it is smoth ic
:oops:
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