Need help with blown PCB from Seagate ST31500341AS

[gk17]

Hi everyone, just joined and hope someone can help out here.

I have been a Seagate user for many years and recently ran into bad luck with the newest drive I bought. The following is the specs for it:

Seagate Baracuda 7200.11 1.5TB hard drive
S/N: 9VSOVWBP
ST31500341AS
P/N: 9JU138-302
Firmware: CC1H
Date Code: 09252 Site Code: TK

I read many different reviews on the 7200.11 model and thought it was about time to get it. It's been fine for many months until last week.

I usually use a SATA to USB connector on it so it's acting like a external hard drive. So last week I plugged it in and heard a spark/zapping sound. Drive didn't spin up, so I checked the power adapter. Some piece is fried in there as I can hear it (shook it and hear the small piece inside). I thought it was just a bad adapter, so I plugged it internally to my computer....that was a bad move. Smoke started coming out on the SATA power connector and literally melted on the hard drive connector. I had to power off immediately when I saw the smoke and it was burning hot. Waited like a minute before I disconnected it.

The drive is still in warranty but I could care less about that. I need to salvage my data on that drive.

Can anyone confirm if this excessive heat from the power connector is due to a bad PCB? If so, how can I repair it? I read that it's not just as simple as swapping with another identical PCB (type, firmware, etc.) and that I need to replace the ROM chip on it. I'm not very savvy at soldering so is there any other way to do this or does anyone know of any place that provides such a service?

I really want to just buy another hard drive with an identical PCB but hesitated once I read the other replies here saying that it may not work. Is there any chance it will work without swapping any parts?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[pcimage]

There's zero chance a PCB swap will work without swapping the ROM over.

[harddrivespecialist]

If you find a same model board, I can help you to replace that ROM chip.

[Eric Lee]

Hi,

Would you like to send the high quality picture of both side of your PCB to my hotmail so that we could match what you need?

Thanks
Eric

[forshoe]

Hi, I have the same drive and it has a surface mount (maybe) capacitor the is labels SJ8C. Does anyone know what that is? It is burnt.

jason@yugii.com

[fzabkar]

Can you upload a detailed photo?