Power Connector burned, can my drive be salvaged?

[ufmike22]

So I had a Western Digital Caviar 500 gb HD (WD5000AADS) that was working for me for awhile but stopped mounting one day. I opened the case and noticed the SATA power connector was melted/burned and the port on the HD looks a little warped from it.

Pics of the problem:

I'm having trouble zeroing in on a solution. Is it likely that the contents of my hard drive are OK it just is the connector is fried? Is there an easy way to check to see if the drive can mount? I didn't want to try hooking it up because the port looks a little damaged. Can I remove part of it and put it in a different enclosure? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[knightdog56]

You could replace the PCB logic board on the hard drive, you can find them on ebay or contact WD for a replacement board.

 

[RealBeast]

You could, but based on the value of the drive I would just buy a new replacement and move on. Only invaluable data would make me consider otherwise, since the drive was on Newegg at $49 recently.

 

[smorizio]

that and for safty i would replace the power supply. right now i check the 12v output of the power supply and make sure it not near 13v or higher. most good mb when there a dead short like that turn off.

 

[RealBeast]

^ excellent point.

 

[knightdog56]

Looks like a bad connection on the sata connector not on the 4 pin molex connector, was probably a lose connection on the sata end of jumper cable.

 

[fzabkar]

Check the 12 TVS diode for shorts.

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

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

These appear to be the pertinent photos of your PCB:
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/bigcircuitboard_diodes.jpg
http://data.stuartconnections.com/object/image?p=8803&i=1

You could hardwire a 4-pin Molex connection to the SATA pins on the PCB.

See the following pinouts:
http://pinouts.ru/Power/sata-power_pinout.shtml
http://pinouts.ru/Power/BigPower_pinout.shtml