Broken PCB

[peterspie]

Hello, I have a WD40EFRX-68N32N0 where the PCB is broken.
I bought a donor board and brought it to a repair shop to switch the BIOS Chips. They complete destroyed the original chip: one of the pins broke and they made a hole in it
I went to a second repair shop for a second opinion. It is not repairable .

So, i just installed the HDD with the donor board in my computer (Windows 10) and it spins up.
But, because the original bios chip is not there, in BIOS it shows 0Gb, and in windows (disk management) it shows "not initialized".
I know, when I initialize all the data will be gone.

I am hoping there is a GURU here, who can help me try getting the data back.
The software WDmarvel is too difficult for me, but it could also be a solution?

Regards, Peter

[Lardman]

How bad is the original ROM ? You're well beyond a DIY fix now and need a professional with the correct tools and skill. It is potentially still possible to recover the data but it will be considerable more expensive to do so than it would have been originally.

I still have no clue why people take drives to "repair" shops, it's like taking your car to the gas station when the engine blows up rather than to a mechanic.

[peterspie]

I still have no clue why people take drives to "repair" shops, it's like taking your car to the gas station when the engine blows up rather than to a mechanic.

Maybe repair shop is not the correct description. I took it to a specialized computer repair shop who does repairs with microscope, hot air guns, and soldering stations. Maybe they had a trainee doing the job? The second person I took it to, (for a second opinion) told me what a mess they made of it and told me the chip is now beyond repair.

Because the data is not very important, I think I will just initialize the drive and use it as a fresh new one.
Unless someone has an idea of how to do a data recovery without paying hundreds (or thousands) of Euro's.

Regards, Peter

[peterspie]

I don't know how bad the chip really is. I don't have a microscope.
The second specialized guy, told me there is a hole in the chip and one of the pins broke.
But with my eyes I can't see it. Maybe I can take a high-res picture and zoom in. I will try it.
But then, what's next?

Regards, Peter

[fzabkar]

Are you able to read the SA modules in WDMarvel?

[peterspie]

Are you able to read the SA modules in WDMarvel?

I have tried to do what you asked. Is this what you mean?



Regards, Peter

[peterspie]

fzabkar, can I send you a PM?
It takes time to communicate via this forum, because all my messages are being authorized before being published.

Regards, Peter



------------------------
"No is also an answer"

[ghimpe--]

Can you post macro images of the damaged ROM IC ?

[fzabkar]

@peterspie, WDMarvel can't read the SA module directory (module 01), so you are out of luck.

The "S/A" modules that WDMarvel claims to have been able to read are actually ROM modules.

Can you upload the ROM image?

Was there any damage to the 5V TVS diode (D3) on your patient PCB?

[HddDonorMarket]

I have rebuild 11 cases with old WD drives.
My oldest one is a 1 TB fblite
But not tried this WD40EFRX-68N32N0 yet. (apollo)

Rebuild WD ROM not easy. (my ROM cases price=3 x head issue price)

Do not power on WD drives on windows over SATA connection. You can loose all data forever.
I had same type 4-5 cases , that could not recovered .

[Lardman]

peterspie Removing a ROM is about as simple as microsoldering gets, a trainee shouldn't mess it up and there's really only one way to rip a leg off.

1. Take a picture with a modern phone we can see the damage and should be able to advise if it's salvageable. It would have to be really bad for good tech not to be able to work with.
2. Give us the full details of the patient and donor drives (label pictures / SN from pcbs)
3. You don't say WHY you needed a donor drive - what happened to the patient?

Your posts will pass moderation when you have made enough of them. The biggest problem then is the timezone differences for members are huge

Rebuild WD ROM not easy. (my ROM cases price=3 x head issue price)

Really ?!

[HddDonorMarket]

Rebuild WD ROM not easy. (my ROM cases price=3 x head issue price)

Really ?!

Yes. If you lucky could recover data. But not possible for all cases

[Lardman]

Yes. If you lucky could recover data. But not possible for all cases

I can't speak for MRT as I've never used it but you might want to check out pc3K's youtube channel.

[northwind]

I think he's referring to families where 4F module is unique (Fblite, for example).
In these cases recovery could be possible, but it's not easy.
Newer families like Charger etc do not have this problem.
For older families where 4F is not unique, rebuilding ROM is very easy.

[peterspie]

Hi, soory the delay, was away for the weekend.

Can you upload the ROM image?

How do I do this? I don't understand the program that good that I know how to do it.

Was there any damage to the 5V TVS diode (D3) on your patient PCB?

I thnik so, because the drive was connected to the powe supply via a wrong cable.

[peterspie]

peterspie Removing a ROM is about as simple as microsoldering gets, a trainee shouldn't mess it up and there's really only one way to rip a leg off.

1. Take a picture with a modern phone we can see the damage and should be able to advise if it's salvageable. It would have to be really bad for good tech not to be able to work with.
2. Give us the full details of the patient and donor drives (label pictures / SN from pcbs)
3. You don't say WHY you needed a donor drive - what happened to the patient?

1. See the photo's. It is very difficult to get a good sharp image with a smartphone. I have tried.



2. See 3.

3. The drive was connected with the wrong power cable. So, I think the diodes and/or fuses were blown. I bought a donor board with the same numbers.

[peterspie]

I think he's referring to families where 4F module is unique (Fblite, for example).
In these cases recovery could be possible, but it's not easy.
Newer families like Charger etc do not have this problem.
For older families where 4F is not unique, rebuilding ROM is very easy.

It sounds interesting, but I really have no idea where to start, or how to do it.

[Lardman]

That's truly shocking work. did they try and feed it to the dog afterwards too?

Looks like pin 1? is gone but I think there's enough for a fly lead, it is hard to tell from the photo. Looks to me that was taken off with an iron rather than hot air - which hopefully means they didn't cook it.

You have a couple of choices if the data has value to you.
A DR pro, who will either sort the rom chip (depending if they like soldering) or rebuild the contents from the drive.
A mobile phone repair shop. They should have the skill and equipment to solder a fly lead on the rom and read it , if you ask nicely they would probably then write it to the chip on your donor PCB.

I hate to say it but it's likely all you needed was to clip off a diode or bridge a fuse - We get more modular PSU cable posts than anything else lately.

[peterspie]

That's truly shocking work. did they try and feed it to the dog afterwards too?

I think so...LOL

Looks like pin 1? is gone but I think there's enough for a fly lead, it is hard to tell from the photo. Looks to me that was taken off with an iron rather than hot air - which hopefully means they didn't cook it.

It's hard to get a sharp picture with a smartphone.

I am now on a dutch forum, full of tweakers and hardware guys, looking for someone with a microscope who would like to help me.

[northwind]

A DR pro, who will either sort the rom chip (depending if they like soldering) or rebuild the contents from the drive.

I'm not at the office, but this drive is an Apollo, and unless my memory proves me wrong, they have unique 4F module so rebuilding the "ROM" is extremely difficult/unlikely. I believe only viable option in this case is to try to fix the butchering the poor drive has suffered.