Hi Guys,

I'm a general computer repair guy. A customer brought me in a laptop drive which has been dropped (I believe it was powered off at the time).

Drive is not detected in BIOS (checked several computers).

Power on in a "USB desktop stand" results in the drive spinning up, 3 quiet "whirr-clicks" then spin down.

The extent of my own previous data recovery work is either electrical (simple PCB swaps or basic component replacement/soldering), and logical (recovering from file deletions/formatting or other logical corruptions). All other recovery work I have outsourced, although I am yet to find a repair centre I am happy with, so if this is outside my own capabilities, I will be looking for quotes in the UK.

I eyed up a couple of other seemingly identical Scorpio Blue drives I had to hand with a view to swapping PCBs with, but the board was significantly different in each case, such I wasn't happy to attempt it.

Spoke to Western Digital about potential pcb swap, who said the complete model number would need to match, but didn't elaborate:
But I'm assuming they mean this number: WD3200BEVT-00ZAT0
Any other bits need to match on donor?

However reading on this site, I am lead to believe that there is no such thing as a simple PCB swap on this model of drive anyway, and that parts would need swapping from the boards, or chips need re-programming. Is this correct?

That would probably still be within my scope, since I have full solder/desolder/hot-air-rework station here.

However, I've also read other stories which make this drive sound more like a head problem anyway, in which case it would need sending in somewhere anyway.

So probably no point me going down the soldering route. Therefore, if I can do a simple PCB swap without soldering, that might be worth a try, as I could always swap the boards back if it didn't help. So will any PCB from a WD3200BEVT-00ZAT0 do, or does anything else need to match?

Failing that, anything else I could look at, or should I just send it away for repair?

Drive Details (front):
MDL: WD3200BEVT-00ZAT0
S/N: WX40A69L3209
WWN:50014EE203361A01
DATE: 13 AUG 2009
DCM: HBCVJHBB
LBA: 625142448
Made in Thailand

Back labels:
Barcode Label: 2061-701572-400 AB XT 7T05 P31D A 0004040 0 044
Motor label:
1140-T3F-04
5X9615LX
32J

PCB markings:
etched: 2060-701572-002 REV A
white printed:
94V-0
TOPSEARCH E96016
TS-M-8V01C SG


If you need any more info, just ask.

Mike

I think your chances of a clicking dropped drive having a PCB failure are very low

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

i agree with DRC, i am 99% sure it is not the PCB.

Thanks guys. Yes, that was what my research had told me.

The 3x "whirr-click" is very quiet, and not like other "clicking" drives I have encountered.

My research would suggest it is "probably" a head problem of some description, but equally if there is a chance it is the board, and it is easily swapped, I would try that first before sending away. If PCB swap isn't easy on this model (or is so unlikely to help as to be not worth the effort finding the donor), then I am in the market for data recovery quotes.

Would a head problem stop it being detected in the BIOS?

Would a head problem spin up, whirr-click 3 times, then spin down?

Thanks for the info.

Mike

Potentially yes to both questions. I would recommend looking up pcimage if you need someone to send it to.

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

Yes. If you care about your customers data, you should not power on this drive any more. It's heads for sure and also risk of media damage. Might also be debris from the parking ramp on the platters.

Thanks guys.

I've already spoken to PC Image on the phone and was happy with their assessment and price. Given the various recommendations here and via PM, that is where I'll send the drive to.

Thanks everyone.

Mike

headstack jumped so click click

possible damaged allso but if there no scratching noise your ok

pcb wont help with this problem

The heads are dead.

However, unless the DCM code has a matching head stack assembly initial, the donor drive will not be usable.
If PC image cannot recover the drive, PM me, we can recover any disk for $500

You quote any recovery in this thread for $500, but in another thread you post $600 for firmware issues, kind of confusing.

That's a hell of an internet crystal ball you've got there. Diagnostic and quote without even seeing the drive is ridiculous and completely irresponsible.

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

What customers really des... Ehm, wanted!

DCM is not important here. I find it hard to believe you can recover any disk for $500.

Also, I get the feeling PCimage can handle this

I have the CERTAINCY he can handle this

"Keyboard not found, press ANY key to continue"

This is proving quite a tough cookie to crack.

Drive had indeed been dropped as the OP stated, causing mashed heads and light platter damage to at least the top platter.

However we have changed the heads (from a 500Gb model we had in stock as this 320Gb had only 3 heads present, and it's sods law that any 320Gb we ordered would have a different head map) and got it ID'd (albeit a bit noisy).

DCM match ffor heads swap not necessary, it's other stuff you gotta match on these as any decent DR person knows!

Thanks to good information from the OP (the end users PC guy) and careful imaging of relevent LBAs by head avoiding the damaged parts as much as possible, I managed to get a good chunk of the most important folders from the drive before it failed again.

Hoepfully we've got the majority of what he needs, but now has the option for further work (i.e. more parts required)

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PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

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