PCB swap Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 HELP!!

[mac22]

Hi guys, so I have a Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3300831A with a fried PCB. Firmware version 3.03. Finding another one like that is IMPOSSIBLE (the only store that can order it asks $200 for it + $50 for ordering + taxes + shippinG)...

There's another one just like that (Same Model Number + Part Number), but firmware is 3.01. I called Seagate, they said there's no way to upgrade the firmware. They also said that there's a chance it might work, and there's a chance i'll mess up the platters and will never get my data back.

Well, my question is, assuming the head distance is the same on both harddrives (I'm assuming there's a high chance of that, correct me if I'm wrong, please). So there's a chance it will spin up (right? again correct me if I'm wrong). I know for a fact it won't be recognized.

My question is, is it possible to use mhdd or some other tool (help, which tool?) that could read data off of it anyway?

I'm looking for a 1-2 line answer, with maybe a link to a faq or a guide for dummies like myself.

Thanks a lot.

--mac

[pepe]

Hi,

Probably U will just need to replace the ROM chip from the fried PCB to the new one (probably an M25P05) and it will be fine, but of course there is a chance that the preamp inside the HDA is fried also, in this case the new PCB probably will be damaged in the moment of powering it up.

regards,
pepe

[Amarbir[CDR-Labs]]

Hi Pepe,
I Have The Same Old Question .What Do You Do To Check The Preamp In a Situation Like This .this is a Classic Catch 22 Situation

[Shortscurcuits]

Compare resistances with DVM from a known good drive is best way to check.