Hi guys. I have read through several topics about filed drives, TVS, etc, and have come to the conclusion that you all are WAY smarter than I am. So I'll just ask.

I have WD5000AAKS-00TMA0 firmware- 2061-701477-800 AB that is clicking. I found another exact same drive (same chip and firmware) that was clicking also (didn't know that at the time though). tested the new, no good. Swapped boards, no good. Don't see anything that stands out as burned on either board.

So I searched our piles of scrap and found a WD10EVDS-63U8B1 with 2061-771640-M03 AE firmware that spins up. They look relatively the same and the placement of connectors, chips, screw holes, etc are exactly the same. Is it possible to swap these just to get the data off, or is the firmware difference to much?
Am I going to fry everything when I power it up?

It won't work, so don't try it.

It's possible that you have two bad 477 boards, but it's more likely that one of the heads has failed on the patient drive.

You can't just swap a PCB without transferring the ROM info from one to the other. There is no external ROM on this board -- it is stored inside of the MPU. That's not a DUI soldering / desoldering project without proper tools (SMT work station) and experience.

As much as people hate to hear it, this recovery requires a pro.

Jon

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This is wrong in so many levels.

I 'll agree with what jono is saying:

1) Your boards are most likely OK
2) Swapping the boards without transferring the ROM is like drilling a hole in water, AND there is no need to do it, hence 1)
3) Transferring ROM on these without pro gear (ie. soldering the MPU) is difficult even for very good technicians, AND there is no need to do it, hence 1) and 2).
4) Using a different board on this, from a different drive will do no good, hence 1), 2) and 3).

Clicking on these drives is 99.9% bad heads according to my experience and I'm afraid there is nothing you can do about it, apart from consulting a pro with this.

Good luck!

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I agree with Jono and Northwind.

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+1 / DITTO.

Things are not so easy as some people depict them.

So, a same model / same firmware board swap won't work if it is a board issue?

yes that's not enough at all . Read jono-ats & northwind posts again here

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Tawfeek Mokhtar
http://alsafwapc.net
Alsafwa Data Recovery Egypt

Ok, this confuses me greatly. I have, in the past, been able to replace a bad board with a board off a known good drive, and recover the data to another drive.

It seems that you all are saying that will not work?
Is it because the drive clicking is indicative of head or other issues or that doing that is just not possible?

Can you link me to " jono-ats & northwind post" please?

In the past there was not so much of adaptives in the ROM, or you got luck and got a drive that was very near your drive's config.
Clicking AAKS drives is 99% head (s), No link needed...look earlier in this conversation.

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