WD HDD Head Swap Experiences

[Jared]

They might work, but typically you'd want the letters "VJ" to match in the DCM. But, it's an older drive and I'd say there's a good chance they still work.

 

[RSCitro]

Thanks Jared! I've read many topics on the forum, this HDD had quite a story. Fist suspicion was dead PCB, so it was swapped with a few donors, without any success. Few days ago I found exact PCB, changed the MCU and HDD started spinning but not recognized in BIOS or Explorer. It was opened before, but it looks like nothing was touched inside.

Will order some low-budget head swapping tool from Ebay and give it a try - if unsuccesful, it wil end as paperweight anyway.

 

[DigitalVeriKurtarma]

It's also important to check if the PCB of Patient spins Donors HSA continuously...

My bad experience. Patient PCB Killed donors head. It happened once till today

PATIENT WD10JMVW-11AJGS0 17 DEC 2013 EBMTJBKB 2060-771961
DONOR WD10JMVW-11AJGS1 18 AUG 2013 HBOTJHN 2060-771960

And another experience,

I have connected working drive over SATA to PC with Random rom. , SA files mixed after I have checked them on MRT. I have writed all modules and rom again and drive turned back normal. Non original PCB could damage all modules. I have at least 1 or 2 experiences

 

[DigitalVeriKurtarma]

I need advice for this .
I guess not compatible.

Spt
Donor 1430
Patient 1480

 

[Jared]

Although I've been told that Firebird and FBLite are cross-compatible, that hasn't been my experience.

I've also observed that FBLite has a different aerial density in their USB versions compared to the SATA ones. You should look for a very close matched USB donor and also check how far off the microjogs are. I've seen a few cases where even with microjogs just 200 off I couldn't get a certain head to reliably read. It's not a fun family to work on in some cases.

 

[DigitalVeriKurtarma]

I am using MRT. How could I check microjogs.

 

[Jared]

I don't know, I never use MRT. Check your manuals (just kidding, I know they have zero documentation)

 

[DigitalVeriKurtarma]

I don't know, I never use MRT. Check your manuals (just kidding, I know they have zero documentation)

Lol. Thanks

I should buy PC3000 as soon as possible

 

[DigitalVeriKurtarma]

Donor... WD10TMVW-11ZSMS4 Helios HHMT2BB 0,1,2,3,4,5 -12 Aug 2012 Thailand
Patient WD7500KMVV-11TK7S1 Helios HBMTJBBN 0,2,3,4,5 -25 May 2011 Thailand

Donor... WD6400BPVT-80HXZT1 Zephyr HBCVJBB 0,1,2,3 -03 ARP 2011 MALAYSIA
Patient WD500BMVW-11AMCS0 Zephyr HB0TJHB 0,1,2,3 -02 JAN 2011 MALAYSIA
Patient WD5000BPVT-22HXZT3 Zephyr HBOT2HB 0,1,2 -26 Nov 2011 MALAYSIA
Patient WD5000BPVT-24HXZT1 Zephyr HB0TJHBB 0,1,2,3 -16 Mar 11 Tahiland

TJ / T2 not important for me after my new algorithm to matching donor

 

[pclab]

Good work!