www.deadharddrive.com

[Electricmyth]

(posting in right place now :/)

I have a 500gb SEAGATE external hard drive, firmware: LC11 (lacie hard drive) and I found a hard drive that does not have the same firmware but I checked the PCB numbers in the actual circuit board, not the hard drive, and found those numbers to be exactly the same. The circuit boards look exactly the same and the numbers are exactly the same but the hard drives they are connected to hare different. Should I try to replace this PCB with the seamingly identical one or could that damage my precious data further??

Also, I fried the hard drive by using my laptop cord instead of the real cord, and it just wouldnt start and computers wont even turn on when its plugged in (best buy tried it). Im assuming the PCB swap will help, and I have a PCB on the way that is exactly the same in firmware and everything, but i dont know if using the one I have might help? Or should I risk my time, and project grade, by waiting for the new PCB?? PLEASE HELP! I am graduating college in a few weeks and I desperately need some advice....
please email me or reply here, electricmyth@gmail.com

I love whoever helps,
sincerely,
DC

[fzabkar]

You have probably shorted the 12V TVS diode. If so, then the fix may be as easy as snipping it out with flush cutters. The drive should then work OK without it, but you will no longer have any overvoltage protection on the +12V supply. Be absolutely sure your PSU is OK. For continued protection, you can replace the diode with an SMBJ12A from Farnell, Mouser, Digikey.

If you upload a photo, one of can confirm the damage for you.

If this is your board ...

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn281/mcdent/IMG_2629.jpg

... then the diode is at the far LH bottom side of the PCB.

[Electricmyth]

Thanks so much for the reply!!

But i have a question... I heard, like you said, that you could cut out the TVS DIODE on the hard drive if you have a power shortage. And i had some form of cutters, but they werent flush cutter, and attempting to cut out the TVS diode on the fried hard drive PCB, i accidentally hit the little gray chip below it. The TVS DIODE is the far left hand, bottom black box on my PCB, but i cracked the little gray thing right below it (in this picture http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn281/mcdent/IMG_2629.jpg)

Do you know if that will screw up my hard drive if i try testing it in this way? I cant believe i accidentally cracked the little gray chip trying to get the DIODE out :C.

Also if i go through with replacing the PCB boards, do you know if I always have to replace the ROM chip as well? I have a new board with the exact same everything (almost) and i dont know how to replace a ROM chip :C.

I really appreciate your assistance, ahah and i dont mean to bother you. Thanks again!

DC

[fzabkar]

The part below the 12V TVS diode is a filter capacitor. The board will work without it.

Make sure your power supply is good.

Good luck.

[Electricmyth]

thank you so much i absolutely appreciate every ounce of energy for helping me. tomorrow I will go out and find the right tool and reference this board to anyone in need. I am a film major at the savannah college of art and design and there are hundreds of students here losing there info everyday and they would be so happy knowing the simplicity of fixing things yourself. Ill let you know how it goes!!

thannksss~
DC

[sunnydreamspace]

for swap PCB. never need match FW version.
and you had to swap ROM chip. here is demo video for show you how to do that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2hgiDHiXKM
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[Eric Lee]

Hi,

If you find a matched PCB, you have to swap rom before you swap PCB.

Thanks
Eric
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