Hi,

My PSU failed over the weekend. I have installed a new one and now my PC wont boot.

The problem device is my Samsung Spinpoint F1 1Tb Sata drive (Model HD103UJ). If i connect the power lead and try the pc on switch, nothing happens, disconnect it and the pc boots.

Im no expect but i think this means the psu has short circuited my drive? is there any hope? can i get a replacement pcb and swap it over?

Chris

Chris,

look up TVS on this forum.
It will give you some clue.

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im borrowing this picture

download/file.php?id=1424&mode=view

in the bottom right next to a screw there are two black rectangles, on my drive the right hand one is half missing its black protective coating.

Im guessing this is not a good sign, what does that part do?

im borrowing this picture so ignore the red text

download/file.php?id=1424&mode=view

In the bottom right there are two black rectangles next to a screw. On my drive the right hand one is chipped, and missing half its black protective coating.

Im guessing this is not a good sign. What does that bit do?

in this post

samsung-spinpoint-hd103uj-not-spinning-need-new-pcb-t13233.html?hilit=tvs

"If so, then check the two TVS diodes at the top LH corner for short circuits. You can remove any S/C diode -- the drive will work without it, but make sure that your PSU is good because you will no longer have any overvoltage protection."

The upper left hand TVS is broken - i can see half of it missing. Can i repair it or remove it?

Post a pic of your PCB

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guys i can now see that one of the tvs is broken - half of it is missing.

Can i get a replacement or i undestand that removing it should make the drive work but it wont be protected from further overvoltage.

pics attached

Yes, assuming there's no further damage then removing the TVS may well get the drive working well enough to get the data off.

If you are going to try then this, then make sure your PSU is top notch.

If the drive is to be used again, then the TVS must be replaced.

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Ok, ive never done this before so couple of questions

1) How do i remove? just pull it out?
2) Do i remove one or both?
3) Do u know where i can get replacements from?

1) you will need soldering iron or soldering gun
2) the best if you can measure the values, the visually damaged should be removed
3) in the correct electronic shop, or from any similar hdd wich was dropped.

Janos

So just use the soldering iron to melt the solder so it becomes loose?

When u say measure the values, I have a multimeter, which bits do u measure and what values should i get?

Chris

Chris, what has happened is the tvs protection device has done exactly the job it was designed to do. When the original psu failed it sent a voltage spike which instead of frying the hard drive it just destroyed this component (well we hope this it was happened). In this senario the component is now short circuit (fused) and needs to be removed.

The drive will still operate without this component in circuit but you must be certain the replacement psu is good!

If I were you I would power the drive from the replacement psu without attaching the data cable. If the disk spins up then repeat the same with the data cable attached. Copy your data to a safe place and you are sorted.

Good luck!

thanks alot for the help guys i will post back my progress.

Im buying a high end psu soon and im gonna get a new drive to copy the data over. Any thoughts on either the Samsung F3 or the WD Black (1TB editions)?

Also, does anyone know where in the UK i can buy a new TVS device? Maplin?

Here is the pinout of a SATA power connector:

http://pinouts.ru/Power/sata-power_pinout.shtml

It looks like your 12V TVS diode has failed.

Try Farnell for a TVS diode in the SMBJ series:

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/43818.pdf

The unidirectional SMBJ device with a marking code of LE appears suitable. Its part number is SMBJ12A.

http://uk.farnell.com/fairchild-semicon ... dp/1017826

a big thank you guys - i have taken off the TVS and the pc boots, which has meant i have been able to recover all my data onto a new hard drive.

thank you so much

A happy ending, nice!

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