Is there hope for this HDD?

[OriginalOkami]

So this morning two of my HDDs touched while my PC was on witch caused one of them to burn, I was wondering if there is any hope for fixing this HDD or still coping files from it?
[MEDIA=imgur]ZLT0NLV[/MEDIA]

[veeg]

Hello

Well that looks bad..I would say no.

[Rustys]

Would have to agree with VGer that it is shot. From the looks of that chip slim to none.
Is the system reading the drive at all?
You might try and see if it does and or even in as an external drive.

[OriginalOkami]

No, it doesn’t read it at all. But I don’t think all files are on that one chip, I thought it might be possible to replace just that one chip, or to some way copy files that are still somewhere in there true some less common methods.

[Rustys]

I did not mean that the data was on that chip. That chip is one of several that controls information for the system to use that drive.
Since that chip is damaged you will not be able to retrieve the date for that drive.

May have to take it to a repair shop so they can see if they can retrieve the information.

[OriginalOkami]

That was what I was asking. I don’t know enough about software to know exactly what for that chip is, but based on where it is I was hoping it is for coping files or connecting with PC, in witch case there might be hope for replacing it and retaining files on it. But as I said I don’t know that much abouth hardware so I wanted to check with someone more knowledgeable about possibilities.

[phillpower2]

If I may chime in here folks

OriginalOkami

Is the other drive that you have the exact same brand and model as the one that we can see in the picture and is it still working ok, if yes just let us know, if no, post the brand and model name or number of the device that we can see in your picture.

The reason why the above has been asked, data on mechanical HDDs is stored on spinning platters and not chips so you may be able to replace the damaged PCB that we can see in your picture.

[OriginalOkami]

I don’t have another exact same HDD.
It’s Samsung HD103SI
I do have an option to buy exact one as well as similar one, I just checked a local site for baying/selling already used PC components, one is in store for 35$, there is also a very similar one Samsung HD103SJ for the same price. Does it have to be exactly same model for it to work or will similar one do fine too? Additionally how hard is to replace that part? Can I do it on my own by simply removing screws or will I need to do something more? (AKA something I would need a professional to replace)

[phillpower2]

The question has to be, is the data on the drive worth $35 or more to you, if not toss the drive in the trash and move on.

[COLOR=rgb(44, 130, 201)]I do need to make you aware that because the damage to the drive was electrical it may have wiped or corrupted any data on the drive making any recovery impossible, please keep this in mind when considering the purchase of the drive that you have seen for $35.

The drive has to be the exact same one I`m afraid, that was why I was hoping that you had two of the same, you could have temporarily swapped the PCBs around, hopefully been able to recover your data then return the PCB back to its own drive.

To swap the PCBs you will need the appropriate size torx drive, anyone that uses screwdrivers in their work will most likely be able to lend you one.[/COLOR]

[OriginalOkami]

Something like that was exactly what I was hoping for. The only question I still have is, is unscrewing those torx screws everything that needs top be done to replace PCB on hdd? I just read something when I googled swamping PCB boards on HDD and read that HDDs have something called customized firmware witch would make chases of straight swamping working low and that I would also need to move bios from old PCB to new one, could you explain more about that?

As for how important data on that HDD is, well I do have most important, personal files like my pictures and documents, etc. files I made my self and trhat are not replacaple all backed up, but there is still planty of other data on that HDD, and while those are files I could obtain again, remembering everything that was on there, finding them, downloading them again would be a huge bother. No to mention as I am mostly out of space I would need to buy another 1TB+ HDD anyway. So in short, yeah, it is valuable above 35$, especially if swamping boards is easy, than in theory I could use both this one and a “new” HDD I would get (That I needded anyway even before this HDD broke), I would just need to replace PCB every time before use, witch might be a bit of bother but way cheaper than baying 2TB+ HDD and WAY less of a bother than downloading everything again.

[phillpower2]

Using the PCB from an exact same model of HDD would mean that the firmware would be the same, trust tech forums over Google any day, different firmware would imply that the PCB was not from the same model of drive.

Sorry but no explanation was required as to what was on the drive and it was only mentioned to point out that if the data was of no importance is it worth spending $35 and your time trying to recover the data, as said in my reply #9 if not toss the drive in the trash and move on.

The following will hopefully help you decide on which way to go, if you do purchase the drive for $35, swap PCBs and are able to recover your data then being able to recover your data is a bonus, once done the PCB should be returned to its own drive and your drive without a PCB of its own then thrown in the trash, you should never trust any storage device that has suffered such damage as they are never the same and most certainly cannot be trusted long term.

[Rustys]

Thank you @phillpower2 for the assist and remember like Phil has stated it has to be the exact same drive. The similar one that you are looking at may work or it may not. Worse case it could cause you to loose the data totally.

So this morning two of my HDDs touched while my PC was on witch caused one of them to burn

Another thing to think about is if this one was if at all damaged.

[OriginalOkami]

The other one hasn’t been damaged at all, it touched it with the “backside”, the part where it’s all just metal.

I am waiting to get that other HDD than I will try replacing it, once it comes I will ask if there is anything else I need help with. For now thanks.

[phillpower2]

To avoid us having to ask for an update every couple of days we will close this thread until the OP has the time available to work towards resolving the issue, PM a member of staff when you are ready and the thread can be reopened.