Hitachi PCB and some help

[Nemo415]

Hi there.

I am looking for a part, and some advise.

This laptop hard drive is somewhat 'dead'. The drive spins, but isn't detected by the PC. Not even in DiskPart or Disk management.

Google says the PCB should be replaced, and the data *might* still be there. Can anyone confirm this? or should I just write off the data that wasn't backed up

If anyone can help me with a PCB, please let me know

Item wanted: Hitachi PCB - see pics below
Age: don't care
Packaging: Bubble wrap/ anti static will do
Condition: must work
Location: Centurion
Shipping: yes



Images below:

 

[Oops!!!]

i have this but its an S revision instead of T

not sure if they cross compatible?

 

[Nemo415]

i have this but its an S revision instead of T

not sure if they cross compatible?

Can you send me a photo of the pcb?

 

[Oops!!!]

sorry man i don't have those funny torque sets to take it off.

 

[Nemo415]

sorry man i don't have those funny torque sets to take it off.

No need to remove the PCB.

Effectively just a photo of the other side

 

[Oops!!!]

 

[Nemo415]

Thanks sp much for your assistance @Tidy404 I just saw now that the firmware is not the same...Yours is A50A, and mine is A60W

Some say it won't work

 

[Centurion_Oke]

In general, having been through this, your firmware is not the main issue, it's the board part number. The same board will be used for various disks, then just a custom firmware loaded making it specific to the disk. What normally happens is the correct part nr board is sourced and you transfer the ROM chip (typically an 8-pin chip) where you preferably know someone that can do some board repairs (hot air gun etc - quite a few in the area). Best is to loosen the board as the part nrs of other important stuff is under it.

Examples:
HTS723232A7A364 P/N: 0A79646 MLC: DA3735 Donor PCB: 0A75655 0A90269 88i9105 HGST Hitachi 320GB Circuit Board + Firmware Transfer
Buy 0A75655 and get free shipping on AliExpress.com

FWIW, I got one on Aliexpress.

 

[Nemo415]

In general, having been through this, your firmware is not the main issue, it's the board part number. The same board will be used for various disks, then just a custom firmware loaded making it specific to the disk. What normally happens is the correct part nr board is sourced and you transfer the ROM chip (typically an 8-pin chip) where you preferably know someone that can do some board repairs (hot air gun etc - quite a few in the area). Best is to loosen the board as the part nrs of other important stuff is under it.

Examples:
HTS723232A7A364 P/N: 0A79646 MLC: DA3735 Donor PCB: 0A75655 0A90269 88i9105 HGST Hitachi 320GB Circuit Board + Firmware Transfer
Buy 0A75655 and get free shipping on AliExpress.com

FWIW, I got one on Aliexpress.

Thank you kind sir. - this sounds like a fun DIY thing that i can do just to see if it works, however, I am beginning to wonder if this is even worth it.

The most critical thing on the disk was some Quickbooks data... Roughly a week's work which wasn't backed up... So I am not sure if spending 40+USD is even worth it.

 

[Centurion_Oke]

So I am not sure if spending 40+USD is even worth it.

. At that price it's a big no for me as well. A cheap board (on a slow boat, or is it SAPO?) from AliExpress is another matter, fun and educational. As you say: a DIY project.

Incidentally, you nearly got lucky. I have a 320GB / 7k2 Hitachi SATA disk in my laptop. But it's a Z7K500-320. At first glance the PCB looks identical, but looking closer the layout and screw holes, etc is totally different. Otherwise, hey - it was playtime

 

[Rickster]

Ask the SouthBit rep over at myBB.

They know a lot in this field.