Starting Point of repairing a Hitachi 2.5" Harddisk

Dear All

I have a Hitachi Travelstar, model : IC25N080ATMR04-0. It is originally from a IBM T43 laptop. I decided to take it out and I bought a USB Ext. 2.5" harddisk case and would like to retrieve the data. However it is not detected by my WinXP desktop and my new IBM laptop with Vista installed. I then bought a 3.5" to 2.5" converter from computer center, connect the harddisk to the motherboard but BIOS is not detecting it anymore.

Can someone please give me a starting point of what to do in the first place ? I think the harddisk is still working but I really don't have a clue what is happening with it. I put my hand on top of the harddisk with power and can feel the motor is spinning, no strange sound. ( I did some research from the net so I guess it is good to note it here )

Please advise, thanks in advance.

Hi guys,

I spent some time to read the MHDD documentation and realized this util will bypass the BIOS and access to the controller directly. I tried to run this util with my Hitachi harddisk but no luck, it return device is not ready.

Is that means there are no way to recover the data of my hard drive or what I have to do next ?

Hi

After MHDD starts press SHIFT+F3 and you'll see a list of the devices and controllers that MHDD found in your computer. Now press the number that match your Hitachi hdd....if is not on the list recheck connections to hdd.

If after you press the correct number Mhdd still say "device not ready" than I would advice you to go to an professional recovery lab ,if u need the data.

Rgds

Hi ccc

Thanks for your reply. As what you were mentioned, it return Device is not ready.

Is that means there are nothing else I can try anymore ? I read some other posts saying changing the PCB or the read write head. Also some post mentioned about a utility called PC3000.

May I know more details about it and I would like to try those things ( If they might help ) before sending it to the recovery lab.

Thanks in advance !

hi friends,

yes u change the pcb first with similar and same
well its seem firmware problem u need to run pc3000 and fix it and then recover data.

if u know how to run pc3000 then u use friend otherwise take some advice with some experts.. or read posts..
i hope u can do it if u know how to run..

hddking wrote:hi friends,

yes u change the pcb first with similar and same
well its seem firmware problem u need to run pc3000 and fix it and then recover data.

if u know how to run pc3000 then u use friend otherwise take some advice with some experts.. or read posts..
i hope u can do it if u know how to run..

Thanks hddking !

I had read some post about PC3000 ( also the official website ) and realized that that tool might be able to read harddisk drive even it is not detecting by BIOS and I think I will purchase it and give a try first. An email just sent to the supplier in China and waiting for their reply. Do you know how much it cost roughly ?

I was thinking to change the pcb however I got no idea where I can get a similar / same harddisk drive in the market...

Is PC3000 a handy tool even for data recovery newbie ?

Thanks again !

Cheers :lol:

friend williamchan

check your pm ..i replied u..

hddking wrote:friend williamchan

check your pm ..i replied u..

"You have no messages in this folder" <-- pm blocked ?

Hi please read sticky!

Sticky

http://forum.hddguru.com/beware-of-pira ... 5aaa19fa1a

The ATMR series of hard disks have NVRAM which means that it may be unlikely to perform a successful PCB swap without soldering the native NVRAM to the donor board.

Are you sure it is the PCB? You can try to swap the PCB and if your native PCB is dead then the disk may not work with a new PCB but should power. Have you tried listening to the disk once you connect power to it? Does it make any sound at all?

Real_Jose_Pinto wrote:Sticky

http://forum.hddguru.com/beware-of-pira ... 5aaa19fa1a

I submitted my request to http://www.acelaboratory.com.cn , shouldn't be a problem rite ? ( still waiting for their reply anyway )

hddguy wrote:The ATMR series of hard disks have NVRAM which means that it may be unlikely to perform a successful PCB swap without soldering the native NVRAM to the donor board.

Are you sure it is the PCB? You can try to swap the PCB and if your native PCB is dead then the disk may not work with a new PCB but should power. Have you tried listening to the disk once you connect power to it? Does it make any sound at all?

Honestly I am not sure if it is the PCB problem but seems this is the easiest way compare with replacing the r/w head. I am also waitin' for the quotation by PC3000.

Besides MHDD, any other tool or tricks that I can perform at the moment ?

If it needs a head replacement PC3000 will not fix it.

Shortscurcuits wrote:If it needs a head replacement PC3000 will not fix it.

I see, thank you for your information. Am I correct that means PC3000 will be able to fix all the non-physical damage like ( corrupted firmware , password ... etc ? )

Between the lines, is that means if the harddisk cannot be fixed by PC3000, it is probably a PCB failure, rw head or the platter ?

I just want to make sure my thinking is correct before taking any further action.

Thanks for advise, cheers !

Yes PC-3000 will also let you check rom, check heads & PCB operation in most cases