Hello,

My drive started clicking recently, im assuming it's faulty head, so i would like to know what are requirements for head replacement in this model ?

Regards
Sebastian

requirements:

1. A pro to properly diagnose the fault
2. Specialist tools and experience
3. A pro to source parts (if required)
4. A donor drive with compatible parts, or suitable firmware modules
5. A pro to fix all the above

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

silmply said:send to pro

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data recovery service[/b]

Hi Sebastian, where are you located?
Head replacement on those Wd is quite a pain, so it's not an easy DIY-Job.
We are a lot of members here qualified to the work for you...maby some here is near you?

Best Regards
Bosse

_________________
Rescue IT Datarecovery service Sweden
Rescue IT Dataräddning Göteborg AB
http://www.rescue-it.se

Maybe we can help you a little to point you in the right direction.

First of all, what sort of clicking is it?

Continuous, or click a few times then power down?

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

It clik's few times then it stops. Are the fifth and sixth nummber in DCM code the only things that needs to match for the donnor ?
Thanks in advance.
Sebastian

there is a lot more to consider here than matching a donor. Finding a compatible part is just the start. You need a good set of professional tools, a suitable clean ESD free environment to work in, knowledge of the components you are working with, alignment needs to be maintained, magnetic heads must remain at all times seperated, and assuming you are lucky with it, it will not work for long so professional hardware/software is required to access and secure your data. If you are unlucky, you will make your data unrecoverable forever.

Send to a pro, its the only way you will see your data again

Sending to a pro is not an option, i have access to all kinds of a tools you mentioned, including clean room. The only thing (and most immportant i guess) i dont have right now is knowledge. So any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Sebastian

Most people here have been where you are, but you will likely find that any tips people may have are tips they have learned through research and hard work and many will be reluctant to share.

You can search this forum for similar topics, you can also find topics regarding specialist tools for head replacement, and you will find specific information relating to head replacement on WD drives. Any advice anybody in this forum could possibly give you, has likely already been discussed in better detail in a different topic.

Is data required for you, or a client of yours?

It's niether mine or client, its my friend drive. Nothing important, just some pictures, but as i said i have access to all pro stuff so i thought i'll give it a try and do it myself. After seraching this forum i found out that i need to match dcm code at least 5th and 6th symbole but does the drive model must be exact the same, and how about firmware ver. Does WD stores info about head starting position in bios or in SA, or both, if both do i also have to match donnor's drive firmware rev. ?

Thanks in advance.
Sebastian

I would look for the following for donor: WD1600JS-xxNCBx with full DCM match, but 5th and 6th should match if not a full match is possible. Assuming you have read other posts relating to repalcing heads, methods tips and tools. Also, if you have a donor it would definately be worth trying native PCB on donor disk (and ROM swap) to ensure nothing is misdiagnosed and native PCB is fine. Assuming heads are faulty, and it goes well you need to seriously consider how you are going to retrieve the data. If it has been badly performed, even attempting to retrieve data will cause failure again.

Personally, i think this will fail, and if data is at all important then you should leave this to a pro.

Thank you for your help hddguy.

Best Regards
Sebastian

No problems. Keep us updated here on how you get on.