So I have a WD2500KS 250 GB 16mb cache drive... it spontaneously combusted, computer shut right off.

Most of the time when I turn the computer on it comes up "WDC ROM HAWK" type thing. From what I've read I think that means one or more things on the PCB have fried? (And possibly my PSU is starting to go as well?) I didn't get home until 45 minutes after the crash (My wife was on her computer right next to it at the time) and the drive was hot enough still to burn my fingers. Since then three times I've managed to get the computer to turn on and it NOT show the WDC ROM HAWK message but to actually recognize the drive, but it doesn't last long.

Anyway I have a ton of data on here that I really need to get back, it actually has a backup for another drive of mine that just recently died that I haven't had a chance to burn onto DVDs. I've been using an NTFS boot CD to try to copy stuff off but little luck so far.

One thing I *DO* have though is an identical drive that still works. I have very little electronics experience (mostly playing with those old radio shack kits) but how hard would it be to steal the PCB off the working drive and put it on the dead one, recover the data, and then put the PCB back on the other one?

When you get right down to it... I just bought a replacement drive, 1 TB for like $90 CDN. So if I lose the 2nd 250 GB drive it's not a HUGE deal. But I don't want to sacrifice it for nothing...

you need pro help. Spare drive wont help you get your data.

I'm just curious because I've seen other people on here with similar problems and they replace chips using parts from different drives and it works.

So shouldn't just replacing the whole board be enough when it's from an identical drive?

Ask the people you have seen with similar problems. Good luck.

The problem is, the boards are not identical. There are firmware differences that guarantee that a swapped PCB won't work.

There are two approaches to resolving this problem. The first is to copy the firmware to the donor PCB, which requires special gear. The second is to repair the underlying problem with the burned PCB, assuming that it can be repaired.

Some projects are best left to people with the proper equipment and experience. Unless you have component-level PC troubleshooting skills and desoldering / soldering gear, this would be one of them . . .

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