I have a 1TB MyBook WD External Sata Drive. When moving the usb port broke off the board. Upon trying to get the usb port soldered back on, the technician reported that the traces had been ripped from the board (see pics)
Please help as I have a ton of information that drive that is NOT replaceable. This board has a INIC 1607E meaning it is ENCRYPTED as far as I follow

I have read someplaces that there are some boards that can just be replaced one-for-one and it will decrypt. I have found MANY of these items on ebay. If that is the solution, I can get one right away and replace it.

I have never set a password on this drive so any encryption would be inherent.

Chris

Buy a exact model of the wd enclosure ( model is on the bottom of the enclosure) and swap the bad drive into the new enclosure and it should work , if the encryption is the same. You may need to go through a few before getting the right one.

The etched number on the usb-sata bridge should match.

It doesnt matter than by having this encryption chip on it..that its encrypted? i never set a password but it has builtin hardware encryption. Isnt there something unique inside of this chip to match this drive or not?

the USB-Sata bridge does not use unique encryption for certain models. I have a bridge here that i have used for over 10 recoveries.

can anyone verify that my bridge is one of those?

There is an 8-pin serial EEPROM chip on the bridge board. If the replacement board is not compatible, then transferring this chip from patient to donor should account for the differences. A TV/AV repair shop should be able to do this for you.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

how do I know if mine contains this chip, Franc?

or better question - i havent set a password, is there anything in this serial flash chip that will be stored?

I see a few of these boards from Hong Kong. Has anyone had experience with these people on ebay?

The flash chip contains the bridge firmware. AISI, if you transfer the firmware, then the donor board should function just like the original board, if the layout is the same.

AIUI, every board contains this chip.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.