Well, looks like I finally found the corret place to ask this question. I am techinically savvy but no DR guy to say the list so I humbly ask for your help and advice.

I have a wESTERN DIGITAL Mybook 500gb external usb ( the drive is SATA)

one day it clicks three times and my data is gone. after a few reboots, a couple tries with software and some forum reading (not here) I decide to take it apart and buy a new external case. no joy.

so then (dont laugh please) i put it in the freezer awhile and try again. no joy. take it to a friends machine and hook up as internal SATA. no joy.

So now I am looking for a matching PCB.
am i on the right track?
does anyone know where i can get the board?
any educated suggestions are appreciated.

MDL: WD5000KS-00mnb0
SN: WCANU1210538
DATE: 21 oct 2006
DCM: HCACAJAHB
WWN:50014EE2AAB130B0

code on board (the side the flat connectors are on not the power side of board) 2060-701383-001 revA
Sticker below power plug interface (with bar code) 2061-701383-E00 AH XS 3H19 1ECW 1 0004140 7144

THANKS IN ADVANCE

It's the head not pcb. As you opened the case, no RMA. Need data? Go to a pro and pay. Don't have $ ? Get a new one. Sorry. Unless you want to experiment...
P.s. This 'mood' is familiar...

You noticed that too?

As for the drive, here's a second opinion. Send it to a Data Recovery company, or live without the data. You can always experiment, but your odds of success are very slim, and your odds of messing things up so bad that a DR firm couldn't recover anything are high. If you want to experiment, it's best to use an old drive, or something cheap off ebay.

Here's a third opinion. I am assuming you have pictures and other personal stuff on it. But the wife is going to freak if you try to spend $1500 on a dead $200 drive. If thats the case. Put it aside for now because you are in no hurry. Before you tinker with it, get a few cheap identical drives from Ebay. Now you can practice opening, examining, seeing dust particles, expiriancing how heads stick to platters, and meeting that powerful magnet. You can then practice board swapping and head swapping techniques. All this to really get familiar with drive innerds. You really dont want to learn anything on the drive you really wish to save. Even if you have little money. Also look for Youtube videoes to get a better idea what you are getting into. You may not end up being successfull, but if you try, at least you will have some hands on practice at keeping steady hands. But practice well, because a 500Gig drive is a lot denser than a 50gig. Just try and HS back and forth 10 times and see if you can do it without bending the heads. You will eventually make a mistake and then you will learn from it. When you think you are ready and have you work area all setup, then practice some more. Because that 500Gig drive from WD is especially tough to work with.

thank you for your help. I understand that the right way to get the data is with professional help but as you know the price is prohibative. There are many stories of folks replacing boards etc and getting the data back. This puts people like myself in a spot to at least ask the proper ?'s thanks again

Why ask if you already know the solution? D.i.y. And cry on your own if doesn't work or screw up something.