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godzilla123 · Active contributor Joined: 16 Mar 2011 Posts: 6

I have a 1.5 TB Seagate Barracuda ST31500341AS drive. The drive came in an external enclosure. It suddenly stopped working when I tried it after I put it in storage for 2 months.

To describe the problem, I think it better to label things. So lets call the bricked drive BD and the pcb of this drive BPCB

There was no spinup and the enclosure led kept flashing. I tried another enclosure and no luck. (but the same flashing).

I then got a replacement PCB with the same revision number and firmware off ebay ($$). Let us call this pcb RPCB

After I swapped BPCB with RPCB, I had spinup (!!) but not working Sad

The Led flashing had stopped.. and it was blinking once every 10 secs or so. The computer showed a "Seagate desktop USB drive" but not anything. There was also a bit of clicking whenever the drive was powered on, but it stopped after 5-10 secs and kept spinning.

I found that connecting just the RPCB to the enclosure (without BD fitted to it) gave me the same "Seagate desktop USB drive" message, and connecting just the BPCB gave me the same flashing led.

I thought maybe the RPCB is faulty, so I finally ordered the exact same drive (firmware, rev no) off ebay ($$$$). Lets call the new drive ND and its pcb NPCB

Now ND worked perfectly, so now I knew that NPCB was good.

When I attached NPCB to BD, it had similar effect as with RPCB + BD ... i.e., had spinup and showing "Seagate desktop USB drive" but thats it. Ok, so now I had to test RPCB too (so I could try to get my money back). The RPCB + ND combination also didn't work. The effect was similar to RPCB + BD - showing "Seagate desktop USB drive", but nothing more.

In summary:

BPCB + BD = flashing led
BPCB alone = flashing led
RPCB + BD = spinup, not detected, showing "Seagate desktop USB drive"
NPCB + BD = spinup, not detected, showing "Seagate desktop USB drive"
RPCB + ND = spinup, not detected, showing "Seagate desktop USB drive"
RPCB alone = showing "Seagate desktop USB drive"
NPCB alone = not tried this
BPCB + ND = not tried this
NPCB + ND = works

So guys, this is where I'm at, and would love to hear other solutions apart from opening the platters of BD and putting them in ND.. (actually I'm willing to try this if I can have a clean room and guidance)

Here are the specs of the drive and PCB

Seagate Barracuda ST31500341AS
Capacity: 1.5 TB
P/N: 9JU138-568
Firmware: CC71
PCB: 100530756 REV A

harddrivespecialist · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 6:38 pm Post subject:

Original PCB contains unique microcode to your drive, that is why new PCB won't work with your drive.
Post high resolution picture of your PCB so we can point you to the chip which caries that unique microcode.
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godzilla123 · Active contributor Joined: 16 Mar 2011 Posts: 6

Ok. I will post pics of all three PCBs tomorrow.

fzabkar · Deadharddrive regular +3 Joined: 02 Apr 2010 Posts: 210

If you have a multimeter, measure the resistances at the +12V and +5V inputs at the drive's power connector. A common problem with external drives is shorted TVS diodes as a result of an overvoltage.

godzilla123 · Active contributor Joined: 16 Mar 2011 Posts: 6

original pcb (bricked one image)

Click to enlarge

Front (1)

Front (2)

Front (3)

Back

If they are not hq enough, I will post more.

fzabkar · Deadharddrive regular +3 Joined: 02 Apr 2010 Posts: 210

Check these two components:
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/ST31500341AS_TVS.jpg

If either measures 0 ohms, then snip it out with flush cutters. The drive will work without it, but it will no longer have overvoltage protection on the affected supply. Therefore be sure your PSU is good.

If the drive has sustained additional damage, then you can replace the board, but you must transfer the 8-pin flash memory chip, or its contents, to your donor. This chip stores unique, drive specific information.

http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/ST31500341AS_EEPROM.jpg

The following vendor offers a chip transfer service for US$10:
http://www.onepcbsolution.com/

godzilla123 · Active contributor Joined: 16 Mar 2011 Posts: 6

sunnydreamspace · Deadharddrive regular +5 Joined: 04 Jan 2009 Posts: 540

i have this PCB in stock. please feel free to contact me by email or SKYPE.
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provide Hard drive PCB,entire drive/ Data Recovery service.... big HDD resource. talk to me immediately! sunnydreamspace@hotmail.com
skype: sunnydreamspace

Eric Lee · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:12 pm Post subject:

Hi, We have this working PCB in stock, pls contact my hotmail to see if I can help or not.

Thanks, Eric
_________________
HK MingDi electronics Co., Ltd. http://www.hkmingdi.com/enindex.asp
MSN/E-mail：eric_lee8341@hotmail.com
Specialize in HDD PCB!!! Real in stock!!
Skype：eric.lee1984

godzilla123 · Active contributor Joined: 16 Mar 2011 Posts: 6

leon2046 · Deadharddrive regular +1 Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 29

Hi guys, this info is also recommended.

http://www.hddzone.com/seagate-100530756-rve-a-st31500341as-barracuda-720011-pcb-p-37.html

This pcb is only for $39 with free shipping on this site. ROM transfer can be done by many of the computer repair shop for only $7.00

corbingravely · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 11:13 am Post subject:

As compared to WD hard disc, the Seagate one is more sleek and stylish. It also endures more in terms of hard use. As one who owns it, I recommend it to you. However, make sure that you go get one from a branded dealer.

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[ corbingravely ]
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