Best match for Maxtor 6y Hard drive PCB.. To Recover Data.

[madhits]

I'm new here so Hello to all.

I have been doing a lot of research on my recently burned & fried w503 chip on my 120gb Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 IDE hard drive.

The drive has the following information:

Model: 6Y120L0041001
Firmware/Code: YAR41BWO
Manufacturer date: Jan-15-2003
E4FYA revision or firmware whatever its called.
Main CPU is an Ardent c5-c1 040110200
Smooth Chip L7250E 1.0
CALYPSO III card number: 301599100

Preamp is ok and shows a 1. on my volt meter when testing the +5 and -5 with the ground lead. I get the same thing on multiple tests so preamp should be ok. Please correct me if I am wrong!! I had some trouble following the preamp testing topic below but believe I did the test right.

I found these topics the most helpful and got me as far as I am now.

Same w503 problem as these guys:
maxtor-160gb-harddisk-burnt-t7740-20.html
Calypso III PCB matching info:
howto-how-replace-maxtor-calypso-iii-board-t5977.html
Checked my preamp with info from here:
maxtor-160gb-harddisk-burnt-t7740-20.html

What I am stuck on. According to Corsari and Maxtor.

"For the following Maxtor hard drive models: Fireball 3, DiamondMax 16, DiamondMax Plus 8, DiamondMax Plus 9, Diamond Max 10 and all MaxLine products there is also a GTLA Number on the model (next to barcode on the bottom of the drive). Format 1Y222J2223322. 1, 2 and 3 stand for numbers, Y and J for letters.
The numbers 1 and 3 as well as the letter Y need to be identical to be able to replace the PCB on these drives."

So I went out and found a drive with the right numbers matching in these areas (6Yxxxxxxx10xx) and found 2x 60gb with the right numbers.

Model number: 6Y060L0421011
Code: YAR41BW0
CPU: Ardent c5-c1 with 040111500 NOT 040110200 like mine above.
Firmware: E4FYB NOT E4FYA like mine above.
Manufacturered FEB-19-2003


Second 60GB drive I found is:
Model number: 6Y060L0420471 Not a match 04 vs 10
Code: YAR41VWO N,M,G,A Not a Match I have BWO
CPU: Ardent C5-C1 and 040110200 MATCHES MINE exactly
Firmware: D6FYA not E4FYA like mine

So I am wondering which drive is a better match?

Should I go with the drive Maxtor says should be swapablable based on the model number. I have conflicting info about the CPU number and if that needs to completely match or not.

I hope someone here can help me.

Thank You for Whatever info you can provide me.

[madhits]

No one with a clue or did I research the hell out of this and no one is wise enough to offer a suggestion on it.

[BlackST]

Again, this is not Maxtor help desk.

[madhits]

Again, this is not Maxtor help desk.

WoW what a nice welcome. Thanks

This forum sure seems like the best place if any to get this answered. There have been more then one topic on it thats for sure as I've read them all.

[BlackST]

The problem is that you posted at 22:39 and at 08.55 the day after you EXPECTED an answer. I usually sleep and/or do some other interesting things at night, and maybe the other pros here. So the nice welcome. Usually my paid customers comes first, and at help desks someone is paid to give answers (if they can or if they want to).
P.S. if we're "not wise enough to offer a suggestion on it" (you said it), you can try elsewhere. There are lots of interesting videos and articles over the net, including freezer, how to exchange heads and so on. Maybe you can repair your drive for free or train yourself or make things worst. In any case we owe you NOTHING. Think and re-read before clicking on "SUBMIT" next time. 'Bye.

[shahij]

ya,
mad+hits already at the top level of us. we should salute...
wow, mad started coming

[dobrevjetser]

Locate a pcb with E4FYA on the sticker. That should work.

Dobre

[madhits]

Locate a pcb with E4FYA on the sticker. That should work.

Dobre

Thank You. Debrevjetser! So if I just match that and the CPU does not match that is fine? Or would it have to if that matched? Thats where I keep getting conflicting info. Either way both of the 60GB drives above are not going to work right?

As for shahij & BlackST Sorry your having such a bad day. I simply was looking for a little advice. I to am a tech and I to dont always get the respect I deserve in the line of work I do. People take us for granted. So sorry If I assumed to much of you guys.

[pcimage]

A chip match (e.g.ardent C5 C1) is usually enough, but check for external ROM chip.

Post pic of PCB here if you're not sure what ur looking for.

Sean

[madhits]

A chip match (e.g.ardent C5 C1) is usually enough, but check for external ROM chip.

Post pic of PCB here if you're not sure what ur looking for.

Sean

Ok I think I got this. Please confirm for me.

#1 thing to have match is ROM version. Usually 5 digit number on white sticker near IDE connector.

Info From this topic here

So I have ROM E4FYA. So any of the following should work for me correct?

Ardent c5-c1(with rom) <-- if this list is wrong please help correct it for me
D6FYA
E4FYA
D6FYP1
E4FYB
G6FYA

#2 best thing to match is the CPU. Ardent c5-c1 for me if its a match along with the rom above then I should be able to make the swap Correct?

#3 is Manufacturer date. I know that being within 2 weeks is what to shoot for but that is the hardest thing to find.

If there are any other qualifiers please let me know. I have a friend checking at a large university for a match ROM number right now. I basicly came to the conclusion from the responses here that ROM and CPU are the best things to match and should lead to a matching PCB.

[madhits]

Anyone?

[dobrevjetser]

Take a look here.

howto-how-replace-maxtor-calypso-iii-board-t5977-40.html?hilit=e4fya#p47123

Best regards,

Dobre

[madhits]

Take a look here.

howto-how-replace-maxtor-calypso-iii-board-t5977-40.html?hilit=e4fya#p47123

Best regards,

Dobre

Yeah,, I saw that one already..

I found these topics the most helpful and got me as far as I am now.

Same w503 problem as these guys:
maxtor-160gb-harddisk-burnt-t7740-20.html
Calypso III PCB matching info:
howto-how-replace-maxtor-calypso-iii-board-t5977.html
Checked my preamp with info from here:
maxtor-160gb-harddisk-burnt-t7740-20.html

Anyone else got some definitive answers or can answer the question I posed above?

That is, is this correct for best matches:

#1 thing to have match is ROM version. Usually 5 digit number on white sticker near IDE connector.

Info From this topic here

So I have ROM E4FYA. So any of the following should work for me correct?

Ardent c5-c1(with rom) <-- if this list is wrong please help correct it for me
D6FYA
E4FYA
D6FYP1
E4FYB
G6FYA

#2 Thing to match is the CPU. Ardent c5-c1 for me if its a match along with the rom above then I should be able to make the swap Correct?

#3 is Manufacturer date. I know that being within 2 weeks is what to shoot for but that is the hardest thing to find. So are #1 and 2 the good enough?

If there are any other qualifiers please let me know. What if any of those 2 can be eliminated as matching criteria? What if you just match the CPU or vice versa?

[madhits]

Well I figured it out. If you match the Rom version close enough the drive will work.

CPU does not matter. As I took a c5-c1 e4fya smooth chip 1.0 and replaced it with a c8-c1 with a f8fya rom and a smooth chip 1.2.

The orginal drive was made in jan-15-03 and the replacement card was a nov-13-03

So all that matters is the rom version and only the last 3 letters must match. This is what worked for me so hope that helps all out there.

[N.C.]

Well I figured it out. If you match the Rom version close enough the drive will work.

CPU does not matter. As I took a c5-c1 e4fya smooth chip 1.0 and replaced it with a c8-c1 with a f8fya rom and a smooth chip 1.2.

The orginal drive was made in jan-15-03 and the replacement card was a nov-13-03

So all that matters is the rom version and only the last 3 letters must match. This is what worked for me so hope that helps all out there.

Hello,

This is not exactly true.

The last 3 letter is critical.
But the first 2 is need to be good for the drive too. (not need to match, but if match, this is the best.)

Regards,
Janos

[madhits]

N.C. yeah they need to be in the same rom family so to speak. Not sure if the firmware (YAR41BWO) matters but CPU sure does not like I thought from reading other topics.

If I had to guess the Rom and firmware are the two most critical numbers to match and the ROM must match the last 3 digits. If those match you should be good to go.

[N.C.]

N.C. yeah they need to be in the same rom family so to speak. Not sure if the firmware (YAR41BWO) matters but CPU sure does not like I thought from reading other topics.

If I had to guess the Rom and firmware are the two most critical numbers to match and the ROM must match the last 3 digits. If those match you should be good to go.

Don't worry about all others, only take care about DM9, and **FYA.
If this 2 option is matching, it is enough to lets try.

Janos

[bobino100]

Hello, I'm used to sell PCB maxtor for DiamondMax+9 on Ebay, look at : KARL93330

You must find a PCB with those indications : 040110200 C5-C1 and YAR41BWO

Firmware/Code: YAR41BWO " Important"
Main CPU is an Ardent c5-c1 040110200 "important"

040111500 Doesn't work for you
YAR41VWO does not work
C8-c1 040111300 does not work

Contact me on ebay France: pseudo: karl93330 and I'll see if Ihave one.
I am in Paris.

Bye.

[parislanuit]

New to the forum.

This didn't work for me:

In early 2004 i strongly bumped into my computer and the drive did never spin again nor was recognised. Althoug had all my data in it I asked a few quotes from data recovery companies, and back in 2004/5 was quoted 2/3000Euros to do the job... therefore i kept the drive in case one day I could do smth... Till I found this forum. I carefully read as many posts I could & found a replacement drive:

my original drive Diamondmax 9+ 80go PATA 133
Mfg: 28jul2003
YAR41BW0
KGCA
6Y080L0421001
G6FYA
ARDENT C8-C1 040111300
Smooth 7250E 1.2

my REPLACEMENT drive Diamondmax 9+ 60go PATA 133
Mfg: 15JAN2003
YAR41BW0
NMCD
6Y060L0421001
E4FYA
ARDENT C5-C1 040110200
Smooth 7250E 1.0

I swapped Pcbs and my original drive worked perfect, spinning as new.

I immediately started a data recovery copying the files to my computer (under UBUNTU LINUX), it worked perfect for 5gb of data out of 40, and stopped again. I guess the PCB died again.

I would like to receive your analisis of what has happenned ?

As u see although both PCB were not a perfect match E4FYA & G6FYA had the last 3 letters in common and in model number 6Y and 10 were also in common which i read would be enough.

My questions are now what should i do to get the disk back to life ?
- Find a better PCB Match ? (with a C8-C1 CPU)
- Preamp could have been damaged ? anything else ?

Thanks & brgds
Parislanuit

[harddrivespecialist]

Possible head or platter damage.