How do I transfer the HDD internal chip/instruction set w/o cracking case open?

[fitzm]

I have recently replaced the IC board on my original Hitachi SATA 320 Gb HDD as a power surge or static zapped it and would not power up the old board any longer. After much research I followed protocol, matching 3 of the first 4 set of reference numbers, and purchased a matching drive from a reputable vendor on fleabay. The new board immediately fired up the old drive but was still not recognized by OS/Disk Mgmt, swapping ports, multiple boots-reboots, etc. After more research, I discovered that swapping the ROM chips may work. However, I also remember reading something about other firmware/software information involving the heads or information in a "chip?" near the heads internally which requires "synched" IC boards or compatible info to read the platters. I am already intimidated with the process of replacing the ROM chip. If there is a chance that another and a potentially more complicated swap of more parts, especially internal drive parts, I definitely do not have the "clean room" necessary for such a delicate operation. What should I do?

 

[nightspydk]

No just replace the controller board same brand same firmware, if that's what you mean. Plenty of how-tos and as you know the board do not require dust free environment. It just need be exact same drive and no guaranties.

Is that what you mean?.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oqtJjgZU7c
(jesus what a terrible video. )

You don't swap the rom you swap the entire board. Then the drive might have been damaged beyond all repair. The arm getting stuck fried whatever and then the mechanics needs repairs in a dust free environment.

//adding a bit.

PS - Like with a mobo it's called a revision number

 

[fitzm]

No, as I said I've already swapped boards w/ at least partial success (new board powered up drive/platters whereas original board couldn't even do that any longer). However, drive is not recognizable by OS yet. Over a hundred hours of research and several experts later pointed to ROM chips "marriage" of sorts to it's original drive or other married firmware or instruction set inside drive. Simply swapping boards does not always work but swapping ROM's does-sometimes. Thanks for your advice though.

 

[fitzm]

Thanks for the utube link nightspydk. There was another video on the same page that helped clarify some things.

 

[bryanl]

You replace the entire controller board but take the BIOS chip from the original board and substitute it for the chip on the new board since the origional BIOS contains parameter information for the servo system and the current setting of each head. If the original board's BIOS chips is damaged, you'll need to find a data recovery company that can either transplant the platters or tune the settings of a working BIOS chip.

 

[fitzm]

I wonder why servo data, parameter information or head info would be so drive-specific that it's instruction set changed drive to drive. The hardware isn't different between drives. What am I missing?

Also, by "tuning the settings of a working BIOS chip" do you mean basically cloning data from original BIOS?

 

[PottedMeat]

I wonder why servo data, parameter information or head info would be so drive-specific that it's instruction set changed drive to drive. The hardware isn't different between drives. What am I missing?

my guess - assuming the same conservative platter and servo data for every drive will get you some level of performance, in reality no platter and no servo are physically identical and giving the controller those extra details -> a little better performance.