Switching Circuit Boards on Maxtor Hard Drives- Has anyone ever done it?

[Lecho]

I have a Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40 series harddrive. Model number 51536U3, 15.3GB, ATA 66, 7200RPM. My power supply recently blew up and took some of the things in my system with it. The hard drive is not detected by the system any longer, but I'm sure the data is still there. I have another drive of the same model number in working condition. I tried switching the circuit boards, but to no avail. The other PCB will allow the drive to be detected, but then immediately fail. The two boards are slightly different, and since I think each Maxtor drive has a unique number, I might never find a matching board. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can get the drive detected by the system so I can backup the data? I don't care if the drive is destroyed in the process, as long as I get the data off first.

 

[Codewiz]

The data is probably still on the platters but the heads could have been damaged. I have successfully switched boards on old western digital drives. If you live near a university and your data is really valuable then see if they have a clean room they will let you use. If they do them go in there and swap the platters in the drive.

I have also done this at my university. It is pretty cool stuff.

 

[copyfixer]

My thoughts are that the physical drive on the hd also got fried, that is why switching the controller boards allows you to detect the hd, but it fails because of the physical drive. I've never tried to physically switch the platters. I would chalk this one up as a lost cause. Sorry.

 

[morkinva]

Langa

 

[zepper00]

From what you've said, there are really only two options:
1- Your Maxtor is probably in warranty which they back very well! Call and see what their tech support can suggest but don't mention that you think that your PS failure took the drive with it or that you swapped circuit boards<g>. IAC, you will have to check with them before doing option-2 to make sure you follow proper procedures to get a replacement drive after you get your data off.
2- If you really need your data, call a data recovery service like Ontrack. Such companies can get data from just about anything, but it will probably cost you dearly. Only you can judge the value of your data.
Good luck!
.bh.
PS: In case no one ever told you before... BACKUP - BACKUP - BACKUP your data!!!!!! If you don't, you're cruisin' for a bruisin'. .bh.

 

[dude]

You can switch them without problems if the drives are of the same family or series. Look on the board. Maxtor drives usually have some sort of animal name on them (such as a fish or feline) with model number. Same goes with something like IBM 75GXP series, 120 GXP series, 60 GXP series, etc.

Just watch out for those small, flexible, but easily damaged ribbon wires.

 

[Lecho]

The drives are identical model numbers, but I think Maxtor's have a unique final few digits which will vary. And like I said, the circuit boards are slightly different. One says "Fish'n" and the other says "Draco II". I am begining to think that I'm not going to be able to get the data back.

 

[corkyg]

You can increase the odds of success by finding another Maxtor exactly the same model, etc. Check E-Bay or used hardware shops locally.