As you can read in the following thread I have a ST31000528AS drive that has a burnt PCB
http://forums.seagate.com/stx/board/mes ... d.id=15799
(Pics of the burnt PCB here: http://picasaweb.google.com/isellcomputers/BurntPCB#)
I bought another drive (Same model and same size) but the Firmware and some other numbers are not exactly the same.
I tried to swap the PCB and it starts spinning clicks a few times and then stops. Bios does not see the drive.
Should I try downgrading the FW? solder and change the EEprom from one PCB to the other?

Burnt drive:
Made in China
SN: 5VP0D0FY
ST31000528AS
PN: 9SL154-336
Firmware: CC34
Date Code 09383 Site Code SU

Replacement drive:
Made in Thailand
SN: 9VP25BV0
ST31000528AS
PN: 9SL154-301
Firmware: CC37
Date Code 10142 Site Code TK

Any help is welcome.
I have seen some people post here that offer data restauration services. If the services are not too expensive I may consider it.
The data is important to me but I would not sell my shirt for it.

This is the first time I post here so please don't be angry if I was not pollitically correct.

These drives have UNIQUE info in the ROM.

Assuming the PCB's are the same P/N an there's nothing else wrong with the drive then swapping the ROM chip from the failed drive to the donor PCB should work.

But.. if you damage the ROM chip in the process then it's game over.

So, unless you are 100% happy with your soldering skills then take it to a pro, it shouldn't be very expensive at this stage, unless you try and fiddle with it and make it worse.

But if you're confident in your skills, then go for it.

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!