Hello

I'm quite new in the data recovery bussines (I'm using Atola products for some weeks)

I have costumer harddisk (WD3200BEVT-75ZCT2), which is not detected anymore (by Atola DiskSense)
The ERR status flag lits up 4 seconds after power-up
No visible burn marks on the PCB or on the foam pad

The customer told me:
His little son get hold of the laptop (or the harddisk) and seemed to be damaged afterwards, because
harddisk was still working but developed problems: Linux partition worked ok, Windows partition was damaged.
The customer performed a chkdsk /f /r via Windows Recovery DVD, but while chckdsk the harddisk stopped working.

During power-up the harddisk makes two quiet ticks. Spindle motor does not work
I have attached a graph of the voltages at power-up
The graph has eaxactly the same shape if the PCB is powered-up
without the platters case attached

My questions:
1) PCB dead ? - would a replacement PCB be a solution ? Is it worth a try ? (either success or would lead to Question 2)
2) Problems inside the harddisk requiring a clean room ? (would lead to Question 3)
3) Or: Tell the costumer that he has to send it to a data recovery company with clean room facilities

Michael (from Austria)

http://atola.com/products/insight/video/oscilloscope/

Analyze your graph! Can use a multimeter to confirm the graph display.

Then search here on the forum via search function for "TVS".

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Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD, SATA, NVMe, etc), USB Flash Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

Here is a helpful thread: hitachi-deskstar-blown-diode-t18962.html

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Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD, SATA, NVMe, etc), USB Flash Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

This harddisk is a 2.5" harddisk with 5V only therefore there is no power consumption on 12V

Sorry, I was commenting more in general as I was not aware of your experience extent. So, it seems like you are not quite a noob and know some stuff, at least theoretically.

But here is another reference more gearing toward your needs (http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/TVS_diode_FAQ.html):
7/ What other protection devices does a HDD have?
Some drives (eg 2.5" laptop HDDs) will have a 2A or 4A fuse, others will have a polyswitch, and still others (eg Western Digital) will have a zero-ohm resistor. Some Seagate models will have an inductor in series with the TVS diode, but their function is to filter out high frequency noise, not to provide protection. Unfortunately these inductors are not fusible, so they tend to burn up rather than fail gracefully, leaving a charred mess on the PCB.

Other thoughts:
Based on a brief analysis of your description of the sequence of events that the customer (and son) had encountered up to final failure, I believe there is nothing wrong with the PCB on your drive.

I would tend to say that the issue is internal, probably stiction. Do you hear a low noise buzz or hum coming from inside the drive. You can determine this by listening closely with your ear? I know you reference the "two ticks", but do the two ticks repeat without stopping while the drive is powered on?

Another thing that is of concern and confusing rather is the following:

What does this in bold mean exactly, please?

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Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD, SATA, NVMe, etc), USB Flash Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

I think he means he only connected the PCB, without the chassis.

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http://www.northwind.gr
SandForce SSD Recovery
Ransomware Reverse Engineering - NoMoreRansom! partners

Yes, exactly (English is not my native language )

Thank you all for the hints.
I'll investigate further into that case.

Michael

Alright, sure. Now, I believe in my theory even stronger. I believe the damage is internally.

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Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD, SATA, NVMe, etc), USB Flash Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

I'd still put my money on the pcb, but it could also be something internal. But I'd start with the pcb.

_________________
http://www.northwind.gr
SandForce SSD Recovery
Ransomware Reverse Engineering - NoMoreRansom! partners

Something is missing here in between these two points, which makes things questionable.


@northwind
I would rule out PCB first as well.

@Waldgeist
Also, when ONLY the PCB is connected and powered on, does it still do the "two ticks"?

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Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD, SATA, NVMe, etc), USB Flash Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts

Is there an European provider for replacement PCBs somewhere or is a service like donordrivers.com ok for shipping to Europe ?

Good question. Lets hear the answer.

_________________
http://www.northwind.gr
SandForce SSD Recovery
Ransomware Reverse Engineering - NoMoreRansom! partners

Donordrives are good all together.

_________________
Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD, SATA, NVMe, etc), USB Flash Drive and RAID Data Recovery Specialist in Massachusetts