Data Recovery from Fried HDD??

[eimkeith]

I posted this in the motherboard forum, when I thought I was dealing with a motherboard faiIure - turns out I've toasted my SATA devices, so I'm posting here for advice on recovering the data.

When reassembling my system after disassembly to clean all of the dust out of it, I inadvertently substituted a SATA power cable from another PSU into my modular power supply - and plugged the SATA devices into the PCI-E port. When I powered up, there was a distinct burning smell for a moment - likely the diodes dying, I gather.

I have the correct cables on now, plugged into the SATA ports on the PSU, and as one would expect, my two HDDs do not power up, zilch.

One is a 1TB, with all of my photos, music, work documents, CAD/Inventor files, Graphic Design, etc. on it. The other has documents and projects for work, so I'm keen to recover the data.

Looking over this link: http://lifehacker.com/5982339/diy-data-recovery-tricks-... I think I might get lucky with a shorted TVS diode.

Anyone have any real-world experience with this repair/recovery? I have zero experience with this sort of thing.

Advice? Suggestions?

 

[fzabkar]

See http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/TVS_diode_FAQ.html

... and http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/ (photo clips)

If you need help to identify your diodes, upload a photo of your PCB.

BTW, if you have applied 12V to the drive's 5V input, then there is a serious possibility that the drive's preamp will have been damaged. If the drive was a WD model, then the motor controller IC would most probably have been damaged.

 

[eimkeith]

THANK YOU! I will read over this stuff and try to digest it.
Yes, I believe 12v to the 5v input, and yes, one of the drives is a WD.... am I a lost cause in light of those things?

 

[fzabkar]

I fear the worst for your WD drive. :-( Seagate and Samsung drives usually survive an overvoltage on their 5V inputs, but WD drives usually fail catastrophically. That's because of a bizarre design decision which has rendered their TVS diodes useless as protection devices.

See http://forum.hddguru.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30110&start=40

 

[eimkeith]

OK, I think I see the issue: (an issue):

this thing is burnt.

so that is the Smooth IC? Likely additional damage also, yes?

 

[fzabkar]

The damage is on the 5V side of the SMOOTH IC. This usually means that the preamp is dead. :-(

You will probably find that D3 is shorted and R67 is open circuit.

http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/bigcircuitboard_diodes.jpg

Unfortunately location U12 (8-pin serial flash memory) is vacant, so a PCB swap is not a DIY possibility. :-(

 

[eimkeith]

so, have I exhausted my options here? can WD assist, possibly?

 

[fzabkar]

WD's staff are restricted to regurgitating from a prepared script. They will tell you to run Data LifeGuard (which obviously won't help), and then they'll tell you to contact their data recovery "partners". Ironically Seagate's data recovery service will probably be able to repair your WD drive, but the cost will be high.

Sorry, but you're at the end of the road as far as DIY is concerned. :-(

Just FYI, see the guides at the bottom of the following page:

http://hddsurgery.com

 

[eimkeith]

I spoke to a Data Recovery place in Atlanta today; flat fee of $750 for PCB damaged 1TB drive ($100 if the attempt is unsuccessful.) Weighing my cost vs. Benefit on those files, but likely going to have to pursue it if they can do something beyond my scope.

Your thoughts? (I'd like your experienced opinion on that, if I may.)

 

[fzabkar]

If the Marvell MCU survived, then you would only need to pay about US$110 for a repair if it is successful, or $60 if it doesn't work.

http://www.hdd-parts.com/13080601.html

 

[eimkeith]

wha??? outstanding! (now I have to look up Marvel MCU) 😉

 

[eimkeith]

ack! Inadvertently selected a random post as the best solution - how to undo?

 

[fzabkar]

The Marvell MCU is the biggest chip on the PCB. It contains embedded flash memory (unless location U12 is populated with an 8-pin chip). Marvell's logo is a large "M", and the chip's part number begins with "88i".

 

[eimkeith]

outstanding information in this thread - I REALLY appreciate the help & free exchange of knowledge. Thank you.

 

[eimkeith]

UPDATE: I've received both of my replacement PCBs from the service provider, installed them into the drives, installed the drives into the computer (with the CORRECT power cables this time) and turned on the computer.

Now the boot time is VERY slow. Minutes.

When it boots, the computer does not see the 2 HDDs, (only the SSD that the OS is on.) When i access Computer Management/Disk Management, it finds them as Unknown Disk1 and Unknown Disk2, and opens a window to initialize the disks so that Logical Disk Manager can access them.

I am assuming that I do NOT want to initialize the disks, for risk of LOSING THE DATA, correct?

 

[brian708]

I had similar issue and sent the hard drive for data recovery to the company called Data Recovery Center and they have recovered the data using their proprietary software and then sent me screenshots of recovered files to approve.