Hello HDD-Gurus,
I think, during insatllation of my HDD Barracuda 7200.8 in an other PC-tower, a device on the PCB was damaged (This I realized, when I took out the HDD and had a closer look to the PCB), so that it burned through by starting the computer.
In the attached picture you can see the PCB with the marked damaged device.

I think, only the PCB is damaged and not the HDD itself

Now it would be nice to find a cheap way to rescue the data stored on the HDD. I think of two ways and perhaps you can help me.

1. I tried to change the whole PCB of the HDD

My damaged HDD is labeld as followed:

Barracuda 7200.8 300Gbytes
Model: ST3300831A
S/N: 3NF072K9
P/N: 9Y7284-500
Firmware: 3.01
Data Code: 05314 Site Code: AMK

I tried to use the PCB from the following working HDD (this HDD I got from a friend, who doen't need it anymore):

Barracuda 7200.8 300Gbytes
Model: ST3300831A
S/N: 3NF1DJMH
P/N: 9Y7284-301
Firmware: 3.06
Data Code: 06282 Site Code: AMK

But it doesn't work.
When I start the PC with the HDD (IDE primary slave) the BIOS doesn't detect the HDD (but I can feel that the motor of the drive is running)
I found in the Internet, that the Firmware has to be the same.

So is it possible to use PCB from the working HDD and what have I to do do make it work with my old HDD ( 'downgreat' the Firmware? If yes, how is it done, where can I get Firmware 3.01?)

2. Is it possible just to replace the damaged device (I hope, that it is just the one device)? I asked in some electroic stores. But they told me that the producer of suche PCB don't use standard-devices. So they don't know what the damaged device is (diode, transistor,...) and can't offer me a device for replacement.
So knowes someone of you HDD-Gurus the 'standard-device' which can replace the damaged device?

So I hope somone can help me!

Best regards,

Diemar

It's probably best to just replace the defective part. The part you circled is a protection device, and the rest of the drive is fine if it did it's job properly. You can use the part from your donor drive. Just be sure to put it in the right way. Or, you can read the number off the part, and buy it online. This is a Surface Mount part, which is standard, just not commonly found in local Electronics stores.

The part probably blew because you have a badly regulated power supply. Fix that first.

You can remove the burned part; the drive will spin up, and you can recover your data.

Jono

_________________
http://www.datasaversllc.com

Just do it !!!

_________________
Spasavanje podataka

Last time I recommended just removing a protection device, I got jumped on. Ya just can't win

That really shouldn't trouble you, once you realize that no good deed goes unpunished . . .

_________________
http://www.datasaversllc.com

Hello together,

thank you for your support. As suggested I removed the damaged part and the hdd worked so that I could rescue my data

So everything is fine and I even didn't have to tuche the donor drive.
But just for intrest:
rchadwick sugested to replace the damaged device. I had a look to the donor hdd an found the following descrition on the device:
In the first row
ON (in a circle) QE

in the second row:
R546.

(see picture)

If I want to buy this part, what is it and where can I find it? (What can I serche for in the internet?)

Best regards

I'm assuming you want to return the drive to service. The easiest way would just be to scavenge the part from a dead drive. Assuming you don't have dead drives laying around, you can get this part from Digikey. The QE signifies the actual part. ON in a circle means On Semiconductor, which is the manufacturer. The R tells where it was made. The 5 is the year, and the 46 is the week it was made. But what you're really interested in is a link, so here it is:

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... T3GOSCT-ND

You have to buy a minimum of 10, but they're cheap. I think Digikey charges you if you order less than $25 worth of stuff. You might find the part somewhere else. If you're really ambitious, you can look up the data sheet, and find another part that will be compatible.

Eis-Schlag,
Hi, how did you remove the power part of the PCB?

Just unsolder it or what?

I might try that with mines b/c someone plugged it into the wrong power supply.

Thanks