Suddenly my Seagate Barracuda ST31000528AS internal backup drive is no longer detected by the bios. When I do a reboot it starts to spin up, clicks 3 times, then shuts down. The drive is a couple years old and had had no physical trauma inflicted. I inspected the PCB and the only discernible damage is what looks like overheating on the contacts (photos attached). Is there a possibility replacing the PCB with bios transfer might allow me to copy the data or is it time to take it to a local pro? Thank you for you help.

The three clicks and a spin down usually suggests that the heads have failed. If you value your data, get it assessed by a professional lab before more damage is caused.

_________________
Luke
Recovery Force Data Recovery

You said that it is a backup drive; why do you toss it and make another backup ? Or rather make another backup and then toss it ?

Contacts on the pcb look very oxidized, try removing the oxidation hovering over them with a pencil eraser.
If this does not solve the problem then it means that very likely heads are damaged.
Be careful not to touch the components!

_________________
My firmware database:
https://mega.nz/folder/O01DkBRI

The condition of the head contacts is what we see every day, nothing surprising about it. 99% head failure based on symptoms.

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