Hi,

First post here, hopefully no breaches of forum etiquette!

My harddrive (Seagate Barracuda 7200.12) started smoking because my girlfriend plugged the wrong adapter into the HD. I sent the PCB off to get a clone made (with PCB solutions), but even with the new PCB board the motor is not even turning. Wondering if anyone might be able to advise what might be the issue (is it the Preamp chip perhaps, is this easy to replace?). Appreciate that this is difficult without having the HD in front of them.

I have attached some photos of the circuit board damage from the burn out, and the HD spec. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Regards

Jeremy

POST clear n FULL image of your PCB

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Kuwait Data Recovery - UNIX GTC
The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once. By: Albert Einstein

Had a drive like this come in on Friday, same model, same problem (wrong power connected) and identical physical damage (from what your cropped picture shows anyway). A new PCB with ROM chip swap was all that was needed. Common problem this, people plugging in the wrong power. The TVS diode (big burnt black diode in your picture) usually takes the brunt of it. If you have a correct replacement PCB and ROM chip swap the drive should spin up and drive work again - if the damage was limited to the PCB only. If the ROM chip is not soldered back on correctly (1 of the pins isn't making proper contact for example) then the drive won't spin up either. If the your preamp is dead there's a chance it could wreck your replacement PCB.

If you have a multimeter you could test the motor coils (test the resistance between all 3 contact pairs), they should all read +/- the same low resistance. You could also test to see if the ROM chip was seated correctly, if perhaps it was a botch job - who knows.

If you really want your data back you actually shouldn't fiddle with it anymore. There's a forum member on here in the UK you could contact who provides good service, search for 'pcimage'

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Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily.
Data Recovery Cape Town

hi bigsmokejez

if you need a pcb here is direct link

http://pcb-hdd.com/st31000528as-cc38-10 ... p-257.html

if you have any questions - PM

thansk

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banned user

Hi,

I emailed Kevin at PCB Solutions and he said that the ROM chip had been swapped over, so it would appear that the Preamp has blown too. Is replacing the Preamp complex and expensive? Is this something I could do myself? I tried to look on Youtube but could not find a video.

I only ask this as I am trying to weigh up whether I just need to put it down to experience (don't let the missus near the computer or HD!) and let the data go, or give it a go.

Cheers

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy, you don't replace preamp you replace the whole headstack incl preamp...and it's not DIY.
Contact pcimage here in the forum (member5866.html), he's from Peterbourough and can help you.

Regards, Bosse

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Rescue IT Datarecovery service Sweden
Rescue IT Dataräddning Göteborg AB
http://www.rescue-it.se

There's nothing more you can do here DIY, if it's preamp or elsewhere. Preamp is a component of the headstack. If you want the data then you could send it away for a quote, otherwise use it as a doorstop.
Below is preamp:

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Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily.
Data Recovery Cape Town

If you send the drive to us, we will confirm for sure what the problem is.

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

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

Doorstop it is! Thanks for taking the time to share your expertise.

Just one thing before you bin it, did Kev at PCB solutions actually check the PCB spun up another drive before he shipped it back?

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

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!