How to get data from failed Hitachi HDD

[rkoenn]

I am helping my next door neighbor try and recover data from his IOmega external HDD. When connected either in the housing with a USB port or out of the housing and directly connected to my SATA port the computer fails to recognize the drive at all. My best guess then is that the circuit board interface is likely failed and that the data is probably still on the platters. I looked on eBay and there are circuit boards for sale and at least one has the same circuit board P/N except for the final four characters. Could I safely assume that purchasing such a board and installing it on the HDD might allow me to get the drive operational again and recover the data? I just wanted to make sure at least my approach had a reasonable chance of success before spending the $50 these boards are selling for. If anyone has any experience and recommendations I would greatly appreciate hearing them. Thanks in advance.

 

[Elixer]

I am helping my next door neighbor try and recover data from his IOmega external HDD. When connected either in the housing with a USB port or out of the housing and directly connected to my SATA port the computer fails to recognize the drive at all. My best guess then is that the circuit board interface is likely failed and that the data is probably still on the platters. I looked on eBay and there are circuit boards for sale and at least one has the same circuit board P/N except for the final four characters. Could I safely assume that purchasing such a board and installing it on the HDD might allow me to get the drive operational again and recover the data? I just wanted to make sure at least my approach had a reasonable chance of success before spending the $50 these boards are selling for. If anyone has any experience and recommendations I would greatly appreciate hearing them. Thanks in advance.

Usually, if it isn't the same #s down to the revision code then usually, it won't work, and you can screw things up.
I tried that on another HD, and the revision code was off by a couple, and it spun up, but, data was scrambled.
So, could it work? Really depends on what the HD maker changed. I'd give it 5-10% chance of working if you don't get the exact #s

Though, at this point, if the data is really important, give it to the pros. It will cost lots of $$$, but, that is your best course of action.

 

[Rebel_L]

I am helping my next door neighbor try and recover data from his IOmega external HDD. When connected either in the housing with a USB port or out of the housing and directly connected to my SATA port the computer fails to recognize the drive at all. My best guess then is that the circuit board interface is likely failed and that the data is probably still on the platters. I looked on eBay and there are circuit boards for sale and at least one has the same circuit board P/N except for the final four characters. Could I safely assume that purchasing such a board and installing it on the HDD might allow me to get the drive operational again and recover the data? I just wanted to make sure at least my approach had a reasonable chance of success before spending the $50 these boards are selling for. If anyone has any experience and recommendations I would greatly appreciate hearing them. Thanks in advance.

If it is the board and you want to recover the data usually the main control IC needs to be moved from the old to the new board as well. Some older drives dont require this as far as I know, but I think if your working with sata age hardrives its a must. If your trying to save money on the attempt and dont have ability to move the chip from one board to the other you can probably get a data recovery shop to do just that for you at less cost then for them to diagnose and repair the whole drive.

Does the drive spin up when it gets power? Does you neighbor remember it making weird noises before it stopped working? Does it show up in your bios or windows disk management in any way?