It appears as though I broke a connector pin....

[K0NPHL1C7]

I have a Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 300gb with lots of stuff that I never backed up (tisk tisk). Anyway a connector pin broke off, I tried soldering it but it still will not read. I do hear a clicking noise, but no spinnning.

As far as I can tell the only thing wrong would be the pin. I assume I need to replace the PCB, but I'm having a tough time finding a replacment. Any suggestions???

[N.C.]

Hello,

The case is not too clear for me.
I can only imagine "clicking sound caused by broken connector", with hard mind work.

Can you send the pictures for as?

Regards,
Janos

[pcimage]

Yes, post good pics so we can see what the damage is.

[shahij]

agree

[K0NPHL1C7]

Well it's very difficult for me to get a clear pic because the pin is so small. It appears as though the pin was pushed clear through the backside, causing it to break. Here's the best I could do.

[CK]

Picture is useless, you need to turn macro function on..........try again........

[K0NPHL1C7]

Macrowhatthe??? No idea what you're talking about...

Look It's pretty simply really. One of the 40 pins was pushed right through the back of the harness, and broke off. I have the pin, tried soldering it back on but it did not work. The connection is disrupted causing the drive not to read...

My question, is will getting a new PCB work to solve this problem, and if so does anyone have any ideas where I might find one. I've looked evvverrryyyywhhheeerreeee.

[N.C.]

I have the pin, tried soldering it back on but it did not work.

Ok, you need to do a good pics for as, or we can't be enough helpful.
Replacing the pcb on this drive usually not working.

Try to use some magnifier.
Sometimes works.

Regards,
Janos

[mediaman]

if it were that simply you wouldn't be posting here.

you can't swap entire PCB's without moving some important chips. you could just get the connector from another PCB and swap it though.

clicking but not spinning is not good, sounds more like disk problem than cable, but I am probably wrong.

[CK]

If you've no idea what I'm talking about, try googling what I suggested. Your photo is less than useless.

How did you manage to break the pin?

You can either get a new PCB with a Firmware version the same, then swap the ROM and NVRAM on the PCB. Alternatively, repair the broken pin correctly - this is easy to do and if you've done it properly - it should work, provided that's the only fault on the hdd.

your description of the problem is somewhat vague. the drive should not/cannot click if it's not spinning. If you listen closely to the disk when powered on, is it making any noise? Is it a click or a "buzzing"?

[K0NPHL1C7]

Well I was testing it in an HDD enclsoure, and I think that's what was making the "clicking" sound. When I try to install it as an internal it makes no sound at all.

I still can't get any decent pics....I have a crappy camera no magnifying glass.

Assuming the only problem is the pin, if I am able to find a PCB with the same firmware version do you think this will solve the issues?

[K0NPHL1C7]

Update: There definetly appears to be a failty connection, because if I jostle the 40-pin connector just right, the drive will spin upon boot-up, but it still cannot be read.

When it spins, there is no clicking sound at all. I can tell it is moving though, I hear a nice clean "hum" commi ng from the drive.

[shahij]

Is your HDD detected now? or you can't read sectors after detecting? your speeches does not clear me from the last two updates.

[K0NPHL1C7]

Still not detected. I've hooked it up to my motherboard and have my CDROM set as the first boot device.

I power the compter on, with a Windows XP disc in the drive. The windows setup loads, and gets to the point of installation, but stops short, informing me that it cannot detect a hard disc drive.

If the 40-pin connector is "just right", during this process I can feel/hear the drive spinng, but it still s not detected.

If there is a pin missing from the 40-pins, would it cause the drive to not be dected? Is it possible that the drive will still spin, but the data will not be read?

[shahij]

Is your HDD detected by BIOS?
may be not being detected. if not detected terminal log will help.
if you cant, must meet pro
But, better pic submission also have hope to get helpful reply

Last edited by shahij on September 26th, 2008, 14:19, edited 1 time in total.

[mr_spokk]

If there is a pin missing from the 40-pins, would it cause the drive to not be dected? Is it possible that the drive will still spin, but the data will not be read?

Hi, yes it can. It depends on which pin that is broken.
The power connector is on it's own socket, so yes it can spinn without readness.
The best you can do is to borrow a better camera from a neighbour or so, and then take a clearer picture.

Best Regards
Bosse

[K0NPHL1C7]

Well I have some better pics, hopefully it helps. It's the third pin in fromt he leftside, on the top. As you can see I tried soldering it, it's not as bad as it looks I was very carefull. Let me know what you think, thank you all very much. A gentleman fromt he other thread I posted said he has an "exact match" PCB, so if you all think it might work I'll proly get it.

[N.C.]

Personally, i am more interested about the other side of the pcb.

Anyway, if you are sure about only the pin is the problem, you can seek to the local TV / VCR service and asking them about help.

If you able to get the exact match, you have chance.
But you have a chance too for need more 1 chip exchanged.

Good luck.

Janos

[K0NPHL1C7]

....

From what I gather, you somehow think maybe something on the topside is fried... Here's a pic of "the other side" of my PCB...

As I said, the ONLY thing wrong as far as I can tell is the pin being pushed back. I'm not retarded, if a chip was fried out I would have said so...

[sigitharjono]

Dear : CK

You can either get a new PCB with a Firmware version the same, then swap the ROM and NVRAM on the PCB.

ROM is 25P0VP; Where is the NVRAM ?

thanks