hi there,

i've got myself an important situation, maybe someone can help me...

HD is Western Digital Elements USB 2.0 with mini-usb conector, pcb 2060-701675-004 and it stopped reading data (sometimes bad contact, other times usb not recognized), so replaced usb conector, and still didn't work properly. Next step was converting it to sata, so I could read directly.

- removed caps (c13, c18, c31, c33) acording to acelab post, and confirming it with INIC-1608 datasheet;
- soldered e71, e72, e73, e75 to sata pin 2,3,5 and 6 (and checked several times connection)
- soldered +5v and gnd to proper pins on sata power

Before I've done it, drive sometimes was recognizable, now there's simply nothing! Led blinks very fast when computer turns on, and then keep steady full bright light. Sound is good, can't hear anything banging on the head but also can't feel no activity. It turns like was supposed to, but to no avail. Not seen by Windows, or even BIOS/UEFI, or sw for recovering data.

Can anybody give me a hand on whats wrong?? Need it badly... Thanks a lot!!

I would recommend to replace the entire PCB with compatible SATA PCB (2060-701672) and transfer ROM.

Good luck

thanks for answering. I thought that, but couldn't find such board in my country (Brazil), and from what I found, it would have to be Rev A in order to work.. I've got here one 771959-000 Rev A, that's supposed to work with the usb3.0 version of this external drive, that I'm almost giving it a try despite of its different motor controller.

buying from ebay (us) takes almost a month to be in my hands, and that's an urgent situation.

got myself a 2060-771672-004 Rev A to swap, was about to replace u12, but then I started thinking better... The chances are that I won't be able to simply copy files, due to usb hardware encryption, right? I don't have equipment like pc-3000, mrt etc, so what alternative do I have to unencrypt? I made some swaps before, but only with same board, first time usb to sata, and this drive is my own.

If I replace U12 and try to read like sata, and it won't work, can I convert it back, or it would already be screwed? My thoughts are, if not suceeded with sata reading, to get back to usb, trying to repair original board somehow, do anyone know what value are removed caps?

Sorry for not beeing professional as most of you are, my questions may seem stupid, but I don't do a lot of drive recovery, so didn't study that much, and as so, not worthy buying expensive equipment. Thank you all for your patience with me.

Just Don't overheat the ROM IC while using hot air soldering.

Actually, I won't use hot air, as I have a tip specially for that kind of smd, and before that, I use low melting point solder tin, and use authentic AMTech flux. I may not be specialized in HDD's, but smd/bga I do daily...

Great
Good luck.

didn't spin.... when I get back to original converted board, it does spin right. maybe pcb not compatible, although is in compatibility list?

Is it spin up with donor PCB+ donor ROM?