Elements 1Tb drive dead - can I repair or get a new PCB [ Edited ]

[minger]

Hi people... First time poster here... Hope this is in the right place.

I have [stupidly] connected the wrong power adapter to an Elements caviar green 1Tb WD10EADS -00M2B0 external hard drive..  The drive when connected to the correct adapter is no longer responding at all [no sounds no clicks .nothing] so I am presuming the PCBoard is damaged.

The power adapters  LED lights up and remains constant until connected to the drive then it begins flashing on and off obviously indicating a problem with the drive . Other drives work perfectly from the same adapter with the LED on the adapter staying solid so I'm pretty sure the adapter is not the problem.

Removing the PCboard does not appear to be much of a problem [4 screws]..  is the PCB interchangeable and if so where would I get one, or is the PCB drive specific, in which case could I isolate the fault and repair it.

I can provide further drive details if needed.

Heres hoping..

[Joe_S]

Let me guess you got the laptop adapter by mistake, it's fairly common. This post explains a bit about the boards http://community.wdc.com/t5/Off-Topic-Discussions/Bridge-Boards/td-p/353839 . The only guy that has a real understanding of these boards is fzabkar. He has helped several people by pass a bad part and make the board work. Search his posts and if you can't find what you need send him a PM he's really good about helping.

Joe

[minger]

@ Joe_S

You got it in one..  was the laptop adapter I plugged in by mistake. I am checking the posts by fzabkar now..

Thanx for the helpful info.

[minger]

Further info from the drive that might be of help..

Model - WD10EADS - 00M2B0

WWN : 50014EE2588667DF

Date : 09.Aug.2009

DCM : HGRCHV2CAB

LBA : 1953525168

R/N : 701640

12VDC : 0.55A

5VDC : 0.70A

Pictures of the Drives Board

Board Front Full

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/dongledik/Elements%20Board/DSCN3453.jpg

Board Front View 2

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/dongledik/Elements%20Board/DSCN3465.jpg

Drive Board Back

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/dongledik/Elements%20Board/DSCF0467.jpg

Pictures of the Enclosure Connector ...

Enclosure Connector Front

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/dongledik/Elements%20Board/DSCN3486.jpg

Enclosure Connector Back

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm293/dongledik/Elements%20Board/DSCN3473.jpg

[nanakow]

my  1.0TB drive fell down is not working properly,one side of the partition is working but very slow and other partition can detect but can not open,can u repair without losing my important document?

            S/N: [Deleted]

            MODEL:WD10TMVV-11TK7S1

            R/N:701754

            DATE:22 JAN 2011

           DCM:HBMTJBNN

           DCX:VT18KC373

           WWN:50014EE158FEE9A6

[Joe_S]

The drive is probably physically damaged. It doesn't take much of a bump to mess one up. It will probably take professional data recovery if they can get anything.

Joe

[minger]

Few updates....

Having come here as a novice regarding WD logic boards it has definitely been a major learning curve and thanks to Joe_s directions I have contacted and read many of the posts by fzabkar... [who certainly provides a treasure chest of useful  information]...

As far as I can tell from looking at previous posts it would seem the issue is often with the 12v TVS diode being shorted out [usually referenced on the board as D4]...  However, there is no diode D4 listed on the board I have, presumably it does exist, but it is not labeled as D4.... Although it could be the unnamed diode under the R64 shown in the above photo  'Board front view 2'... ?

Looking at the board circuitry I can see no burned components, could the problem still be the TVS diode [if I have correctly identified it] even if it is not showing signs of damage..?

On the unknown [but possible D4?] & the D3 diodesI have used an altai HM103s analogue multimeter set to 10x ohms [which according to a friend  is the apparent recommended setting for testing diodes] .. If I have used the meter correctly I have the following readings..

Unknown Diode [possible D4 or TVS] reads 0 ohms
D3 Diode reads very high
R64 & R67 both read zero ohms

Could someone please clarify if I have used the meter correctly and if the readings make any logical sense for diagnosing the problem. I also have access to a Beckman HD110 multimeter I can use if  it would give better results,  but again I know very little about the correct settings for diode testing on that meter either  [total novice with electrical circuitry].

Any further help would be greatly appreciated. 

[fzabkar]

As you have already discovered, the usual result of an overvoltage is a shorted 12V TVS diode (D4) and an open zero-ohm resistor (R64) on the hard drive's PCB. The circuit reference for D4 is not always visible.

http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/TVS_diode_FAQ.html
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/bigcircuitboard_diodes.jpg

In your case D4 is shorted, so snip it out with flush cutters. R64 is OK. If there is no other problem with the drive, then it should work OK without the diode. Just be aware that it will no longer have overvoltage protection on the +12V supply.

As for the USB-SATA bridge board, it probably survived unscathed. In any case Elements models are not encrypted, so, if necessary, you should be able to retrieve your data by installing your drive in any third party USB enclosure, or by attaching it to a SATA port on your computer's motherboard.

I can't see the markings on the Initio chip, but its part number (INIC-xxxx) will tell us whether it incorporates AES hardware encryption.

Good luck.

[minger]

@fzabkar. Thanks for the reply and the guides. You have also been very helpful to many other folks, from what I have read.

Regarding AES hardware encryption. Here are the details from the Initio chip on the USB-SATA bridge board.

INIC-1608L
A32
B51598322
0920

I imagine cutting out the 12v TVS diode and replacing it would be the safer option, before attempting to run the drive. Following fzabkar's HDD TVS diode FAQ, I have found this diode - Listed as: Vishay SMBJ12A-E3/52 - Unidirectional 600W TVS diode 12V DO214.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/tvs/6287629/

But I am not entirely convinced it is what I need as the diode has the following specifications that I am unsure of :

Uni-Directional [Do I need this]
Maximum Clamping Voltage 19.9v  [seems high]
Maximum Reverse Stand-off Voltage 12V  [could be correct ?]
Minimum Breakdown Voltage 13.3V       [could be correct ?]

Again I am apologising for my lack of understanding, but I would like to check before buying and installing a new diode..

Thanks

[HenrikT]

Hi guys.

Just wanted to say Thank you very much.

You guys have just saved my WD 2TB by this tread. Had connected a 19v to the drive, so just removed the D4 from the board, and the drive was fine again

THANKS AGAIN.....