Should I change the PCB?

Legacy hard drives respond well to PCB transplants
but today's hard drives have a unique 'roadmap'

Swapping PCBs on dead hard drives

Often a drive that is not spinning signifies a dead printed circuit board (PCB). Quite literally, the circuitry has blown and burn marks are often visible on components. The PCB is the 'brains' of the hard drive, but also supplies power. If the hard drive is not getting any power, it will not be spinning. Replacing PCBs is often thought to be a worthwhile exercise before engaging a data recovery expert, but beware because it can cause more damage - and certainly don't throw the original PCB away as this might be invaluable!

Older hard drives used generic PCBs and 'firmware' which meant that a replacement board would often rectify the problem. If you could find the same part number, firmware, date and site code there was a good chance that the drive would spin up and allow you to retrieve the data, providing there was no exaggerating factors. However there was still a danger of causing more damage and in some cases, drives would even catch fire!

Nowadays, a hard drive will relocate sectors with degrading read times, to extend the life. This automatic relocation of slow sectors alters the firmware. Firmware also controls the calibration and track information - meaning that the firmware is very likely unique to your drive. This is known as 'adaptive data' that is effectively a roadmap for your hard disk drive. Therefore simple replacement in modern hard drives has become redundant and instead, we must now consider a firmware chip exchange on a identical PCB. This procedure requires removing the firmware chip from the failed PCB and micro-soldering it onto the replacement - a time consuming and difficult task!

Depending on model of the hard disk drive, the firmware information may be embedded in the main micro controlling unit (MCU). Chip exchange in these circumstances is virtually impossible, hence it is much more convenient to simply read or 'reflash' the information from the chip and then write that information to a functioning matching PCB. To do this requires specialist tools.

Some hard drive such as Seagate models (except Barracuda V, 7200.7 and U7 models) still respond well to PCB swaps if you can match the firmware and configuration code exactly. Often this will be enough but sometimes incompatibilities in the ROM will require a matching ROM chip transplant. To find a compatible PCB on other Seagate models, you need to interrogate the data output by the hard drive during it's POST and match the ROM versions. To do this requires a specialist tools such as a EMAK.

Unless your data can be sacrificed, it is worth engaging a professional to safeguard your critical information. If you do intend a DIY recovery, be sure to hold onto the original PCB as the information this contains may be invaluable if you do ultimately require our services!

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"Our free hard drive data recovery evaluation service will tell you whether your data can be recovered, exactly how much it will cost and how long the data recovery will take. Simply phone or email us for a job number and send your data recovery to us. Your hard drive or media will be photographed, catalogued and bar-coded and the data recovery evaluation will start within an hour of receipt."

File Listing Of Recoverable Files

"Once in the laboratory, your media will undergo a comprehensive data recovery evaluation to determine the extent of the data loss. We aim to complete this process within 24 hours depending on the complexity of work involved. The engineers will provide a no obligation recovery prognosis, with a guaranteed list of recoverable files and an estimated timescale. You can then decide whether to proceed with the recovery. Should you choose not to proceed, we will return your media by secure data courier."

Completing the Data Recovery

"Should you choose to proceed, the data recovery process will be completed and the data will be safely stored on our servers. We will then copy out the data to your preferred choice of output media - either 64Gb memory stick or HDD (for purchase or loan). Your data will be dispatched on our secure, next day courier service. Once you have received your data any copies of your data will be permanently and securely erased from our servers after 7 days."

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"40 years experience in the data recovery industry chairing ISO and BSI standards, we have developed a reputation for excellence at a price that is affordable. With extensive data recovery research and development capabilities, our success rates are second to none - without compromising on our prices! This is why over 36,000 companies and individuals come to us every year."

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"Your data is important to us, which is why all our data recovery procedures comply with the Association of Chief Police Officers Guidelines and Civil Procedure Rules for handling electronic evidence. Great care is taken when recovering and handling your data to ensure that its integrity is maintained and that there is a clear audit trail through the entire data recovery process."

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