Broken pins on IDE drive - how to repair?

[Jester666]

Like an idiot, I broke a couple pins off this drive and it's no longer recognized. I don't think I have any critical data on it, but I would like to make sure. I was thinking of swapping the entire logic board, but was wondering if I need to get one from the same exact drive, or if I can get one off the same model drive with a different capacity with the same firmware.

I have the following:

Seagate 7200.9 400GB PATA/IDE
ST3400633A
P/N: 9BD045-304
f/w: 3.AAH

Would appreciate any advice on what will work.

 

[Blain]

As old as those Seagates are, you should be able to find a drive cheap, to pull off a board swap.

 

[Jester666]

that's what I'm hoping, do I just need firmware match? or will different firmware work?

 

[Blain]

I would think, just the same model would work.
Maybe just a board from a 7200.9 (any capacity)... Maybe...

 

[techmanc]

I remember once trying to get my warrantied hard drive replaced with advanced shipping of the replacement drive. It board had been fired buy the power connector being connected backwards.
So they sent me the replacement drive and I was like man I didn't want to send this full hard drive back to them as I assumed the data was complete on it and I decided to try a board swap to see if drive was still working. It was so I just but the burnt board back on my replacement and shipped it back.

 

[RyanF]

If its an IDE drive, depending on where the pin is broken, and your soldering skills it shouldnt be hard to solder a piece of solid core copper wire in place of the pin. I've used this fix on a few drives.