WD external with embedded usb controller fried

[greengolfte87]

I have a my 1tb passport WD10TMVW-11ZSMS1 which has had a board failure. This is one of the external laptop drives that has the usb controller embedded in the PCB. The failure, as far as I can tell, is one of the uCs (U1). It immediately gets extremely hot so im fairly certain its dead, the drive does not spin up and Windows cannot see anything. What I would like to do is get a replacement board but from what I've read this may not work due to some data being stored on the original PCB.

This is my first time attempting something like this. The contents of the drive are not valuable enough to send it to professional data recovery but valuable enough that I'm willing to spend some time and $ and try a PCB swap. Am I wrong in my assessment of the situation and what would I have to do to get a replacement board working?

Thanks
Russell

Edit: I can provide pictures if it will help

[jono-ats]

If it has an IC at U12, you can try a PCB and ROM swap if you have the skills and equipment.

There are other more involved approaches that have been discussed on this forum in many different threads.

[jono-ats]

Sorry - unintended duplicate post

[greengolfte87]

I have a soldering station and microscope at work. Whats the best way to determine which is the EEPROM chip

[greengolfte87]

After looking at the old board only 1 IC seems reasonable. there is an 8 pin package labeled U8. It seems like its the only IC on the board I have to skill to remove without damaging.

Edit: Yes I do believe this is the chip I need to transplant.

http://www.chingistek.com/pflash_02.asp?seq=24

[fzabkar]

Assuming U1 is the motor controller, can you hear any sound or feel any vibration that would suggest that the motor is trying to spin up? If so, then you could have a stiction fault (heads stuck to platters). Alternatively, sometimes a single USB 2.0 port isn't able to provide enough current during spinup, in which case a USB Y-cable may be necessary to pick up power from two USB ports.

As for the 8-pin "ROM", I believe there should be a chip at U12 and another at U8. U12 is associated with the drive and contains unique "adaptive" data, whereas U8 is associated with the symwave bridge IC and contains the bridge firmware. I'm not a data recovery professional, but AIUI you are being advised to transfer U12.

[greengolfte87]

OK so I got some pics of it. the failed chip in question is U1. It gets extremely hot. So you think transplanting U12 and U8 is my best chance?

http://i.imgur.com/vJcrK.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/J81bg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DFMzj.jpg

[fzabkar]

@greengolfte87, U1 is in fact the motor controller. If you decide to purchase a PCB, then try it as is. If the drive still doesn't spin up, then it will have an internal problem. Otherwise, if it does spin up, then you will need to do as jono-ats advises. Your local TV/AV repair shop, or your board supplier, should be able to do the chip transfer for you.

[pcimage]

U12 is the "ROM" and needs transferring.

But type of packages are tricky buggers to move and require decent desoldering equipment and skills.

Not necessarily "game over" if you damage the chip, but much more difficult.