Hello, due to recent bushfires, heat (overloading the grid) and power issues all my internal drives have suffered damaged from power surges. (or me plugging something in the wrong way..50/50)

I was quoted 1000-3000 (Australian Dollars) for recovery untill i found a firm that would do it for 500 ( http://www.payam.com.au/ ). I am happy to wait the 4 weeks it will take them and pay this cost. However it would probably be cheaper to do it myself and id rather not have some stranger look through my files.

Full specs off drive casings are below:

Drive 1: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
320 Gigabytes
S/N: 5QF0SVH4
ST3320620AS
P/N: 9BJ14G - 305
3.AAD
Date Code: 07092
Site Code: WU

Drive 2: Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB
WD5000AAKS
MDL: WD5000AAKS - 65YGA0
DATE: 27 DEC 2007
DCM: HBRNNT2MAB
GPN: XXXXXX - PX2
P/N: 5188-2517
CT: 2815001VZVI87S
WD P/N: WD5000AAKS - 65YGA0

[Drive 2 has most of the important files off drive 1 backed up (i didnt really expect both to fail) + additional files, so id prefer drive 2 be fixed)

I was told i need specialist equipment to repair the WD board.

So im probably going to send that off to get recovered, however in the mean time i wouldnt mind having a crack at trying to fix Drive 1 since its already fried anyway so it cant get much worse (im not going to send it in to get recovered). I've heard some people have success removing the TVS diode of their PCB but im not sure where its located on my drive..

High Res Image of PCB ~1.8mb

Standard Res Image of PCB ~275kb

[I reckon they're the things in the top left one for 12v one for 5v but im just guessing.]
[PS:Is it alright to just snap them off with a screw driver or do i need to solder something?]

Cheers,
kingpomba.

You are correct about the location of the TVSs but neither looks particularly bad.

What are the symptoms of the drive(s)?

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

I'm 100% sure its electrical damage.

The drives are not spinning up when they are plugged into power..(aka not making the turning on sound)

I came into possession of a new hard drive today..plugged it in and alas it does not work!
Its brand new.
There is no reason why it shouldnt be working?

Hello,

I fried my Samsung PCB last week and no burnt composant was apparent. A friend of mine tested the TVS with a metrix and told me the one that was dead. I removed it and it worked. No need to look for a burnt composant. If you know an electrician, ask him to test the TVS to know if it's the problem.

Without the TVS nothing will save your drive form a bad power supply!
If the TVS was triggered, your PS makes overvoltage.
The next level will be the PCB + Preamp chip inside!
I suggest for everybody, don't use the hdd without the TVS!

Janos

My drive is already damage though?

i wouldnt mind trying this if theres a chance of making it useable but maybe the PCB isnt damaged at all since my new drive isnt working either..

Damaged power supply?

Have you tried the drive(s) in a different computer?

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

Replace your PSU; I think everything will work just fine =)

Did you get this fixed Kingpomba?