Repair broken PCB on a Samsung 2,5" hard disk drive HM251JX

The hard disk drive is functional, it's the PCB which is broken!

This is how the current situation looks like.

The current situation of the broken PCB.

The top where the usb interface connector is located is broken.

The main chip have been badly transfered to another PCB in order try and recover the HDD data using a replacement PCB. Do I need the original main chip from the broken PCB or can I just try and get a identical PCB, install it on the functional HDD and then try and access the data.

It seems like this PCB doesn't have a separate ROM chip, so I guess it's integrated in the main chip?

PCB information:
Family: MU-X M6 REV 5
Version: BF41-00235B
Revision: 01
Main Chip: 88i6726S-TFJ2
Motor Chip: TLS2502B

PCB misc information:
WS REV.5
20090224
A68 3286

M27-047A-MB
0812E 20-03

Harddisk information:
Manufacturer: Samsung
Model: HM251JX (250GB/5400rpm/8M)
P/N: HM251JX

Harddisk misc information:
SEC-HM251JX(B)
2009.03
LBA 488,397,168

External 2,5" HDD Information:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freecom-31256-M ... B001C88EP2
Freecom Mobile XXS
Model Code: SSLABA
P\N: 31256

This is how the external USB HDD looked like when it was bought.

I have tested the following PCB's without success, maybe im doing something wrong? They should be compatible...

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 44014.html

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 80142.html

No firm did this so relax

Yes the USB connector was separated from the PCB in a accident.

Then the PCB was broken while trying to fix the USB connector (person responsible is now attending anger management sessions).

Then a attempt was made to transfer the main chip from the broken PCB to a replacement PCB (BF41-00157A) which has a SATA connector.

Is it possible to access the HDD data if the main chip is broken? Would a identical PCB make it possible to access HDD data without transfering main chip?

I have found a webshop which has identical external HDD for sale, would the new PCB from another HDD allow me to access the data on my old HDD?

For SAMSUNG you need to match exact firmware version inside the ROM chip or on your case embeded on the MCU with the firmware overlays on the platter. If you are lucky to get an exact match on the replacement pcb then the drive might work, assuming those samsung drives don't have unique adaptives on ROM.

I would take another method. I would attempt to buy a compatible samsung drive with a SATA version of the pcb and with expensive firmware tool i would read the necessary overlays from the platter firmware on the new donor drive and would copy them alongside with moving the pcb to the damaged drive. Now ROM would match overlays and drive should work by SATA to get the data out of it.
Do you intend to spend some money on a data recovery firm ? Any decent one will be able to recover your data if the problem is indeed just the damaged pcb.
I could do so as well if you want to pay a compatible drive + shipping costs to/from Portugal + a fee for my work to be negociated in private + customs taxes if the drive gets caught on customs.
As alternative you can try a local data recovery house near you and ask for a quote. It shouldn't be a very expensive job.
Regards and good luck.

Can anyone confirm if Samsung changes firmware version on their PCB's within the life cycle of a HDD model? I will try and buy a identical HDD modell and install the PCB on the old HDD.

I'm not sure if your second suggestion work due to the earlier failed attempt to transfer the main chip from my broken PCB to a replacement PCB, the main chip might be broken... Im not sure!

[HaQue]

I am almost certain I transferred whole PCB from 1 Samsung to another to recover DATA. I kept buying them and the third one was extremely close if not the same.

I still have the drive and could check in a few days when these bushfires are out and I am not so tired

I am almost certain I transferred whole PCB from 1 Samsung to another to recover DATA. I kept buying them and the third one was extremely close if not the same.

I still have the drive and could check in a few days when these bushfires are out and I am not so tired

Yes please! Was it same HDD model? HM251JX

Samsung sure do have several firmware versions for each model.
As for the 2nd part of your coment i take you didn't understood what i stated, please re-read.
I was NOT talking about using youp pcb with damaged mcu. I was talking about buying a sata version of your drive, use that sata pcb on your drive as replacement and with very expensive proffessional tools write to the firmware modules on the platter of your drive compatible overlays of the installed sata pcb so that the drive will work by sata to extract the data. Any decent specialized data recovery firm or tech should be able to do this and i'm not talking about the computer repair shop, i'm talking about a proper data recovery service.
Regards.

Ok sorry, now I understand I will try and check what SATA versions exist for my USB HDD (HM251JX).

[ShaneWard]

I think it would be easier to by the same PCB from ebay or somewhere and then move the MCU or the controller chip to the new PCB assuming it has not been damaged. You will need a professional venue that can solder the old controller chip to the new PCB board as its very complicated with all the legs on it.