I'm having some doubts about PCB swapping for file recovery.

[GuillermoGuzman]

Basically the 2.5 HDD my toshiba satellite c645d came with died entirely (no spin up, no recognition, nothing) a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately I had done a low level format on my external HDD on which I had a back of all the important stuff on that HDD, and even though I had enough time for backing up all that data again, I didn't thought I was really gonna need it. And then it died.

I recently realized that since my mother's netbook was also a toshiba, it may have a HDD with a compatible PCB. Luckily, it is compatible, although the specifications are not exactly the same and I'm afraid I might destroy the data on my HDD, because I have read that using a PCB that didn't have the same exact specifications could do that, destroy or corrupt the data, due to the different firmware on the PCB and some other stuff I can't remember right now. I have asked my instructor on the technological institution in studying at, and he told me that as long as the PCB's are compatible, and the capacity on both drives is the same, it should be okay (Its seems he isn't sure). I also asked a classmate more experienced than I on electronics, and he told me to do a continuity test on the PCB to be sure its really dead. (I haven't done so because I'm quite sure the PCB is mortally dead, so why bother?)

In this link there are some photos I took of both drives, so maybe someone with more experience and/or knowledge on this subject can help me try and recover my data.

Thanks in advance

 

[drtweak]

PCB Swapping can be a dangerous and tricky. I've only done this once or twice and was successful.

From the looks of it, it should work. if you put the PCB back on the original working drive does it start up ok? If so its not blown out. If it doesn't start up then yea might have blow it out. Just hope you made a backup of your moms drive before hand if that is the case lol

Otherwise you may have to send it in if you really need anything or just call the time of death already lol.

Rule number 1. ALWAYS have a backup.

Rule number 2. ALWAYS Install a hard drive SMART Program like Crystal Disk Info in my signature and check it at least once a month. If it says anything BUT Good. Replace the drive ASAP.

 

[fzabkar]

A straight PCB swap, even between compatible drives, will not work. You need to transfer the "adaptive" data (in the "BIOS IC") from patient to donor.

http://ep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-14437584971410/toshiba-mk1665gsx-g002641a-hdd2h85-a-sl01-t-88i9017-tla2-160gb-2-5-sata-pcb-board-fw-17.gif

Some PCB suppliers include such a service in the price.

http://www.hdd-parts.com/14030617.html

Note that there is a small 2A fuse near the SATA power connector. An electronics technician should be able to test it for you.

Here is a similar PCB:

http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/MHW2080BH_fuse.jpg

 

[GuillermoGuzman]

A straight PCB swap, even between compatible drives, will not work. You need to transfer the "adaptive" data (in the "BIOS IC") from patient to donor.

http://ep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-14437584971410/toshiba-mk1665gsx-g002641a-hdd2h85-a-sl01-t-88i9017-tla2-160gb-2-5-sata-pcb-board-fw-17.gif

Some PCB suppliers include such a service in the price.

http://www.hdd-parts.com/14030617.html

Note that there is a small 2A fuse near the SATA power connector. An electronics technician should be able to test it for you.

Here is a similar PCB:

http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/MHW2080BH_fuse.jpg

Thank you very much for your answer, but, can you tell me what would happen in case I did a straight PCB swap? would it damage the PCB? The Drive? Corrupt or destroy the data? all of the former at once? Or would it just not boot/work at all?

 

[fzabkar]

I'm not sure how Fujitsu drives respond to a non-native PCB, but I don't recall any stories of physical damage in the professional storage forums. Hitachi drives can be rendered inoperable under some circumstances (the donor PCB's firmware is modified by the patient HDD), but other drives just don't work, eg clicking, non-detection, no spin up. I would play safe and pay for the "BIOS" transfer.