Hello, I have a WD6401AALS-00L3B2
with PCB: 2061-701590-M00 AE
and I'm using Salvation Data Tools

The PCB seems to be completely dead. It won't spin up the drive nor can I read anything off of it using WD doctor. These boards don't seem to have any recognizable bios chip, and from what I understand it is completely stored on the system area. Has anyone successfully hot swapped one of these series? I'm just looking to get the data back.

I've already tested all the fuses and resistors and can't seem to come up with anything.

Thanks in advance.

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Data Medics - Hard Drive, SSD, and RAID Data Recovery Service Company

"BIOS" chip is incorrect as it is referred to PCs . Anyway ROM is internal in the MCU.

Check for preamp damage / HDA functionality before everything and if your tooling currently support the drive. Then you have 3 options:

1) (involving luck) : find a "suitable" pcb that makes your drive start and lets you read service area. Then , assuming the tool can safely do it, rebuild ROM and proceed. Should be the last option even if I considered it as the first.
2) Use other method for accessing SA and eventually jumpstart drive or get the SA
3) Repair PCB if possible. You have to give up only if MCU is totally inactive or internal ROM has been so severely corrupted (and in lack of other ways to revive it) making it fail completely to start.

No offense but even the most basic of instructions from salvation cover this procedure. Perhaps you should consider outsourcing it?

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

I'm not asking how to do it I'm asking if anyone has sucessfully done it before I waste money tracking down a donor. From what I've read donor pcb's almost never work on this series and the patient pcb is complete toast. Try reading the actual question before responding.

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Data Medics - Hard Drive, SSD, and RAID Data Recovery Service Company

This one can not work in SD tools from all my understanding on it. WD6401 I do not believe SD can handle this one at all. Your only hope is to do as BlackST has told you to do on this one. You have to rework the PCB on this one and check your MCU on it. If the problem is in MCU then you have to check your preamps on your HSA. I have not personally ever hot swapped this one series but I have head that SD can not handle it well and will more than likely corrupt the ROM on your donor PCB board on this one.

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Iorana Haraharaini

Your problem is the tool you are using. Low level approach as I suggested should give better diagnose and result.

Thanks for the tips guys. I didn't think hot swap was possible. I'll just have to keep working on the board to see if I can sort it out. MC chip diagnosis isn't my strong suit as I'm sort-of a noob to pcb repairs, but if I have to I'll call in my buddy who is better with this stuff.

Oh, yeah and about my earlier reference to "bios chip" - I've been reading too many poorly translated manuals lately that keep referring to it that way. Now they've got me saying it.

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Data Medics - Hard Drive, SSD, and RAID Data Recovery Service Company

hi, i think also "hotswap" in this case is not correct, you are looking to swap the PCB only.
The most important thing (as said by BlackST) is to read SA ... then you can think on hotswap
Bye
Luca

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Data Recovery pro in Italy
www.ultrarecovery.com

From the language you're using it is clear that you don't understand how these drives work. In your area I would recommend harddrivespecialist should you choose to get some help

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

Is the issue that SD does not support the entire WD Black line (even though they are Royals)? Or is there an issue with all drives with a size ending in "01" (i.e. WD5001, WD6401, etc)?

Regards,

Dizi

I can help you identify the DC-DC converter test points if you are prepared to upload a detailed photo of the PCB.

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A backup a day keeps DR away.

90 out of 100 is MCU and the rest is usually not serviceable or at the end worth it for 1 piece. And still preamp is to be tested...

I had in here some Black WD6401AAEX and no SD can not recognize them at all they are not supported in this tool. They come ready but you can not read from HDD and see mods or tracks or even ROM on this tool. Hope that answers your question. You will need the UDMA and the latest version of software in order to read this drive.

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Iorana Haraharaini

We had a WD5001AALS that we worked with in SD, so it does work for some Black models (although it was a bit glitchy and froze up a few times).

Dizi