Barracuda XT, Barracuda, Barracuda Green, DiamondMax and other desktop SATA and IDE drives

[uncanguro]

HI,

my power supply unit decided to kick the bucket and take down 3 HDDs with it.

I've replaced the power supply and now I have 3 dead drives and I need to recover data from them.

I'm not sure if I can resolve my issues easily just by snipping off the TVS diodes as I have repeatedly read.

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 (MDL ST3100034AS - Firm/W: 8D15)

http://picasaweb.google.com/104166625683167691314/HDD#5528378991214742146

WD Caviar Blue WD500 (MDL-WD5000AAKS)

http://picasaweb.google.com/104166625683167691314/HDD#5528378993116458930

Hitachi 2.5" 5K500-500 (MDL: HTS545050KTA300)(5400RPM)

http://picasaweb.google.com/104166625683167691314/HDD#5528378989525601538

any ideas?

Thanks

[fzabkar]

If you don't have a digital multimeter, this would be the time to buy one. It should cost you no more than US$10.

I would set the DMM on the 200 ohms range and measure the resistance between ground and each of the +12V and +5V inputs at the SATA power connectors of each drive.

Here is the pinout:
http://pinouts.ru/Power/sata-power_pinout.shtml

The Seagate ST31000340AS has two TVS diodes. The 12V and 5V diodes appear to be marked "12L" and "5L", respectively.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_RvLbGKPQqEI/TLi_ZuMWSoI/AAAAAAAAABA/GV2lS-ZqSCw/ST31000340AS-PCB_resize.JPG

The WD5000AAKS also has two TVS diodes, D3 (5V) and D4 (12V). There are also two associated zero-ohm resistors, R67 and R64.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_RvLbGKPQqEI/TLi_Z1RwL7I/AAAAAAAAABE/vHxWTGtG-co/WD5000AAKS-PCB_resize.JPG

The 2.5" Hitachi drive uses a single 5V supply. There is a fuse F1 and a 5V TVS (?) diode D1. I believe the smt fuse is 2 amp rated, and is marked with an "N".

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_RvLbGKPQqEI/TLi_Zn5oDQI/AAAAAAAAAA8/7TIECcK206Y/HTS545050KTA300-PCB_resize.JPG

If you can report back after measuring all the identified components, then we will have a better idea what to do next.

Good luck.

[uncanguro]

thanks fzabkar... I'm off to purchase a multimeter - this is the easy part.

[uncanguro]

ok got the multimeter... set at 200ohms:

for the Seagate ST31000340AS i get a reading of 95.4 on each of the +5V pins and no reading on the +12V

for the WD5000AAKS i get no reading on the +5V nor the +12V

and for the 2.5" Hitachi i get no reading.

[fzabkar]

Can you now take the same measurements for the diodes, resistors, and fuse?

[uncanguro]

WD no reading on both diodes

Seagate - on the 5V diode i get a reading of 95.1 and no reading on the 12V

on the Hitachi - no reading on the fuse F1 no reading on resister and a reading of 126 on the diode D1

[fzabkar]

I'm a little confused by your "no readings". Also, the resistors that you need to test are on the WD drive, not Hitachi.

Just to be absolutely clear, a short circuit is when you measure close to zero ohms. It is the same reading you see when you touch the probe tips together.

An open circuit, or infinitely high resistance, is what you see when you hold the probes apart. Some meters show "OL", mine shows "1.".

[uncanguro]

my meter shows a "1" which is what I meant by no reading.

so on the WD drive:

D4 - open circuit

D3 - open circuit

with the resistors R64 & R67 I get differnt results depending where I postion the probes (see image).

http://picasaweb.google.com/104166625683167691314/HDD#5530626373685361826

[fzabkar]

Hmm, that throws all your measurements in doubt. You need to gently scrape the solder with your probe tips to remove any lacquer or flux that could be preventing your probes from making good contect.

[uncanguro]

I'm way out of my league... is getting a replacement board an easier solution?

or should I try lifting one side of the 5V diode?