Seagate Hard Drive Data Recovery by Swapping Boards and Firmware

[@randomwalk4708]

A computer technician who works like a surgeon. Amazing. This what we all need.

[@cyberpope2137]

It’s called an electronics engineer, not a surgeon

[@limseehong]

Thanks alot. I recovered my 3TB Seagate HDD swapping the old BIOS chip to the new. Can't say how I appreciate your work.

[@HyenaEmpyema]

Thanks to this video, I was able to recover a friend-of-a-friends HDD with ALL her family photos on it from her 2 kids. I bought 4 identical HDD's and attempted to swap the boards but couldn't figure out why it wasn't working. This video helped me see that the BIOS (or serial eeprom?) is necessary to swap over. After a pitiful soldering job the drive fired up and I was able to recover the data. Thank you very much!

[@theviralshorts9747]

Can u please tell me we need same model harddisk or just same model pcb is enough???

[@HyenaEmpyema]

@@theviralshorts9747 I dont know, I bought same model disk and had success. PCB may not work because its programmed for a different disk.

[@CarloTheImmortal]

@@theviralshorts9747 maybe if the PCB is frmo the same model hard disk of the same model # of the same model PCB... I have a ST1000dm010 with a fried pcb [no dmg like in the video here] and it has pcb 100774000 REV C and I found another PCB 100774000 REV C as well but from a similar drive [both are seagate compute] however the donor drive is a ST500DM009 both are FW CC43 so I was hoping it'd work without the bios chip swap.. it didn't thankfully this series of PCB/drives dont get messed up when you switch different PCBs within the 100774000 family it seems so if i swap the bios my data could most likely be saved. other drives i tried a similar thing on [got a ton of drives here] did not work... honestly im just wondering if i tried flashing the donor board with its original drive with a firmware update of the target would it achieve the same thing? hm

[@salimbouacha9554]

As usual, clean work from generous men.

[@mohammedisa8979]

God bless you. It works for me. You really save a critical situation

[@linksrepair2851]

thanks for the great info and i learn a lot today about HDD,ONCE MORE THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO THE PUBLIC.

[@bewkfung]

Thank you for your video. I get back my daughter's childhood video.

[@kingofkisses2008]

Thanks brother, you are the real master, keep it up and all the best.

[@SRFDriver]

I don't know whether you respond to comments or not-however I will go ahead and ask the question: I have a 2.5 inch WD 2TB drive that was originally a C: drive. It failed with no symptoms (noise) except that it stopped working. I removed it and replaced it and the computer is running fine now. However, I still want to recover the data on the drive. I plugged the "bad" drive into a FANTOM brand USB SATA adapter and did the following: 1)I plugged the USB cable into my computer and attempted to boot it. However, the computer would not restart. 2) I unplugged the USB cable from the computer and restarted it. I pressed F2 during restart and the BIOS menu came up. I then plugged the USB cable into the computer. The BIOS recognized the "bad" drive. 3) I unplugged the USB cable and allowed the computer to restart and THEN plugged the USB cable back in. Device Manager recognized the FANTOM SATA adapter and the WD drive. 4) Disk Manager can see the drive as Disk 1: --it sees it in 4 pieces: 4a) a 529MB Healthy (Recovery Partition); 4b) a 100MB Healthy (EFI System Partition); 4c) a 1861.88 GB RAW Healthy (Basic Data Partition). This is shown as Drive D; 4d) a 513 MB Healthy (Recovery Partition). 5) Windows Explorer can see the drive as two separate drives: Drive D and Drive F. I right-clicked on Drive D and selected Properties. I got: "Location is not available. The parameter is incorrect. 6) So 4c) the 1861.88GB part is where my data is. However, it is being shown as RAW. Is there any way to recover the data without reformatting the drive? And is this the kind of problem that could be fixed by replacing the board/BIOS. I have a full production workstation available and have the necessary soldering/de-soldering skills, although I have no experience working on HDDs specifically.

[@syberpunk]

Sorry I don’t have any info to help you here, but curious if you ended up figuring out a fix?

[@Thomas_Hardy.]

R-Studio or Drill Down recovery software programs.

[@badalamour1876]

The guy is living legend Thank you man

[@ilahaservices9321]

brother you are the best teacher

[@rethomps1]

Awesome video dude. I love it.. You covered both issues I have and showed how to fix it. Thank you bro! I'm subscribing!

[@salimolive2143]

To be honest with you brother I am not into fixing electronics but I love your videos Peace

[@RearEntry]

Hello thanks for the great video I have the exact same issue but do not have the original PCB anymore. Is there a work around? Thanks!

[@DanielCardenas23]

Great work like Mr Rossman

[@diegoknyte]

Sometimes you can just swap just the pcb. Not always tho. If you can fine the exact same drive with the same firmware revision you may be golden.

[@ernestoalvarez9599]

If I have the same revision of the bios and I only swap the pcb. Is there any risk of damage to the disk?

[@acelalacelal3250]

Hello , thank you for your share .What is the transparent gel you use before heating the board please ?

[@MuncheeZRetro]

Flux

[@t.ali.gaming9833]

thanks can we take backup and program to other bios like laptop bios ?

[@CAROLYNMCEATHRONCPA]

I have two seagate drives that need the bios chips swapped. I bought the boards not knowing this had to be done. How much do you charge for this service? I will mail both of them in. Thank you!

[@akhilsingh5238]

I like your work love from India ❤

[@george78779]

This guy knows more than a doctor…..

[@nortongartino4602]

Nice clear explanation, thanks!

[@igloosoftware]

nice! If it is same FW version do you still need to swap the chip?

[@gaborm4767]

have you found the answer?

[@dallastv7346]

what are you using to magnify the board onto the screen? I need one.

[@lakmalsiriwardhana]

Microscope bruh

[@demonwithglasshand]

@@lakmalsiriwardhana he means the exact make/model.

[@wharris7594]

Only The Best Made In Israel For Border Security 😊

[@NIKONGUY1960]

Thanks for the no nonsense video. Much appreciated

[@Puppetnation71]

Hello. Is BIOS chip resoldering needed even if donor PCB has the SAME EXACT bios version (twin drives)? Thanks

[@gaborm4767]

have you found the answer?

[@musicdaniels]

Hi, thank you for this video. Is it possible to avoid the swap of the bios chip by using a tool like ch341? The idea is to read bios data from the old bios chip and write to the new one.

[@Justkubin]

How bout replace bios chip with another board hdd? Should replace too?

[@pjds1989]

In this case, probably not. That damaged part might not have allowed the other working parts to respond, or caused more damage along the way.

[@cengkarengtimur]

POWERFULL tools WORKSHOP AMAZING. thanks for sharing

[@Kur0iJin]

What is the gel you used to remove the bios chip from the new board.

[@livenfree]

Probably soldering flux

[@Powerman3000]

What is that liquid you put on the board on 2:46?

[@joefiruone8824]

Great!! Thanks for sharing!!..it's so useful for me. Let me try with my Seagate hdd that's not recognized by my laptop.

[@steve5123456789]

Do all of them need to have the bios chip removed?

[@sharfazhameed6382]

Wow what a great video with a vital information

[@demonwithglasshand]

This is often caused by folks plugging a HDD into a HD docking station which has had the wrong power supply plugged into it, that then burns out the board.

[@whitefata12]

how do you know if its the proper power supply? I'm currently using a docking station cuz my External Enclosure smells burnt and transferring to the docking station seems to work for now..

[@vbinamati]

How much AIR and HEAT to be applied to remove the chip?

[@repairsgalore9425]

Another wonderful work. Thanks for the info.😇

[@Drsuds]

u make it look easy bro

[@NewGenerationStudio]

Hello I have a Seagate Expansion 6TB that was plugged in a laptop charger. The PCB board it's not working, I have another 6TB working drive, if I swap the PCB, the bios has to be replaced in order to make it work? Then if it works, it's better to put the bios back on the working drive? Or it's better to fix the burned diodes on the bad board? Can this this diodes work from a 2TB drive or so?

[@King-Merlin]

Awesome, thanks for making this episode lots of info #Legendary

[@justinspiredfallout]

Brilliant job as always. Awesome! Say hello to Big Boss for me. :)

[@khamidulloxabduraficov6859]

My hdd's magnetic head is crushed. Will it be enough if i replace the head with the same model's head? Or i will have to do that BIOS staff?

[@thehorrorsociety]

What are you putting on the chip at 2:48? is that flux?

[@NorthridgeFix]

northridgefix.com/product/amtech-nc-559-v2-tf-flux-10g-syringe-plunger-2-needle-sizes/

[@scarmoh]

my PCB has integrated BIOS With Main controller IC , what to do after swapping this?

[@stevelaminack1516]

What would you charge the customer for this service?

[@jordstreamgaming]

Micro Center is charging $2500 USD

[@Riyaz-11]

Thanks for great information 👍

[@MauleyDE]

Why isn't it possible to read all information out of the BIOS Chip and flash all information to the other board? (for example with a CH341A)

[@gaborm4767]

have you found the answer?

[@salhiayoub]

thank you, I wish I saw your video before I ruined 3 hard drives !

[@livenfree]

How did you ruin them?

[@Abah_Vina]

This is what I need. Thank you sir

[@abdullai123]

Thanks sir i have learned alot from you i have one time probe to change the board from the hard drive but without succses i dont know that what i must to change the bios Respect sir thanks.

[@ademgdk6573]

Can we do this operation with copying firmware with an external programmer, like Ch341a, and SOIC programming clips instead of physically swapping the chips?,The chips are standard spi flash chips, can be read and program with an external programmer.

[@EbonyDragonFire]

probably a dumb question but does the board HAVE to be for the same model and BIOS chip?

[@MegaKbyrne]

Is the firm ware on two Barracuda ST500DM009 hard drives the same? This video leads me to thoughts they are different.

[@lauriehowell7371]

Trouble is, I replaced the circuit board and threw out the old one not realising that a chip swap would be required! So any options for my situation?

[@craigcarrillo]

I have a Seagate 1TB SATA drive die in my computer. BIOS stopped detecting it. Tried using in other position of power cable and SATA cable. Still not running. I opened it up and the head was in the middle of the disk. I moved it over towards the hub and it now ran but drive was getting pretty warm. I pulled the card off the drive and all the connections to the head and motor were dirty and corroded. I cleaned them all with an eraser and now drive runs cooler and quieter but only show up in explorer drives I can't access. I ended up buying an external 2.5" & 3.5" SATA to USB adapter to make the testing and repair easier. I ordered an identical working drive off of eBay and it even has the same firmware and circuit card. My board version is Rev A, new one I am waiting on is Rev C. I am so hopeful it will run and show up in the BIOS when I install it.

[@sistemas6854]

Excelent!! I have two Disks ST2000DM001 , but they have different serial numbers, Z240DE58 and Z1E6RSFX, do you think if I Switch the Bios just like you did would they work taking into consideration they are not 100% the same? Thanks!!

[@MariaTan-jl7bz]

hi sir just want to ask where can i buy a microscope with camera like yours in the video. thank you for the response 😊

[@JR_embroidery]

Awesome, very useful

[@InquilineKea]

WOW so the BIOS chip didn't get damaged when the old power board got damaged (was it overvolted)?

[@ms-ex8em]

i have another hard disc (scsi) hard disc at 3 tbytes in size? can u have a look at it please? thanks

[@redshirt1234]

I have blown my seagate with the wrong power suppy adapter. Will a pcb change be enough or will i need to do both steps on this video Thanks

[@billybegood466]

I have a Seagate hard drive that powers up, spins, and the arm moves, but BIOS will no longer detect it. Disk Manager in Windows will detect that some kind of storage drive is connected, but it can't tell me the size or initialize it. I don't have it attached as a master, so the MBR shouldn't be at play. Any tips?

[@grangerhipe2000]

what is called that you put like liquid?

[@GurpreetSingh-bc6mf]

It's amazing sir can I use any hard drive card of same company. Woll it work. ? Kindly update

[@erikthered7422]

Isn't there a method to extract the BIOS data with a computer without physically changing the BIOS chip?

[@gixerags750]

Magnificent video.....Great work mate... i have kept an old Seagate drive that for some reason has burn marks around the main board cpu...I am glad i kept it ..will have to dig it up and look for another HD with same board...ps i was told the it has to be of the same batch of HDD s?

[@eunjang1184]

This is great and I think we have the same issue. Where can we find a shop like you to fix it or can we also make the replacement at home?

[@npcDroneClass]

my bios is in a BGA chip, how much do they charge for such a swap?

[@baliqnama]

Im sorry to ask this, but I did swap the firmware but then its missing when I try to put hotgun... Can I replace the firmware IC or something to get the data?

[@GlorifyLife]

Wow... your macro camera is amazing. What's that??

[@rzcrow]

Is this the case for all seagate drives?

[@shelby50411]

ggreat video ive got a 250gb seagate 2.5in sata hd that will not read data and i need the data off of it...it has 2 platters inside..is there any way the platters can be swapped to amother good hard drive so i can read the data? ......my concern is the two platters on top of each other..are they lined up somehow?

[@wellimgtonmartins4534]

É o que mais faço na assistência, além disso sei desbloquear pra acessar as head , zones etc...

[@Hellmiauz]

I'm in this journey. For WD red 6TB. Should I switch the ROM or try first without switching?

[@rochdichawali3150]

i have two hard drive the same motherborad model one with 150 gb and the secend 320 gb can i save the 320 gb hard drive by replace the bios chip from the 150 gb to the 320 .... please reply and thnx

[@JeffZiegler76]

If you don't care about the data, what terminal commands can you send to the new board to get it to work again?

[@gaborm4767]

have you found the answer?

[@JeffZiegler76]

@@gaborm4767 No

[@calcminde4058]

Seagate c drive HDD PCB bios leg broken , kindly suggest the data on the disk can be recovered through platter replacement. Appreciate your advise. Thank you

[@noemannoeman2176]

I have the same problem but i fixed the original pcb and the hard start spining but it shows raw partition and some times it fail to initilize got the message Gpt initialise

[@sohaiballabaksh3662]

We should do this even if the p/n no is same??

[@jogijay7091]

Sir, i have same pcb with same F/w version nd all same year everything is same but i got GPT / MBR problem.... If our firmware is same so thill we need to replace Bios...?

[@Joseph_kamura]

What if the bios chip is burnt or damaged?

[@markustuma6923]

I try to repair a 2,5“ seagate (it makes a periodically sound and after a specific time the sound stops)! First I made the same mistake (I did not swap the bios chip). Afterwards I swapped the chip, unfortunately the hard drive didn’t start(no „sound“ no power, nothing) 🤦‍♂️😟😟

[@saikalyanmishra21]

What kind of diode is that? I got something like that there is an F sign on it. The SMD number is AE 7L656 any idea?

[@khaleddiab]

you still the best 😊

[@chapelgrovefilms]

Great video! One question. You mention setting the hot air gun to 350 degrees -- is that Celsius or Fahrenheit? Thanks for the great information!

[@Powerman3000]

Still waiting!

[@jodezza3381]

Celsius

[@chaddino7601]

Soldering tin need to be heated to over 300°C to melt

[@mr.bright684]

Why you changing the bios ?

[@ayoubsabery]

One question it can possible to rewrite bios i have done with tv but I'm sure about hard drive?

[@rndea100]

nice info bro your a good teacher !!!

[@kenshafamily1411]

Amazing, mantull um, suwun.

[@ms-ex8em]

hello can u tell me please whereabouts u r ? i want to send u a broken hard disc? the head unit is broken on a 2.5 inch hard disc? thanks.....

[@NorthridgeFix]

We don't do broken heads on hard drives.

[@ms-ex8em]

@@NorthridgeFix hello It’s the coil wire at the other side of the head unit with in the hard disc itself yep thanks it is cut into two and needs replacing yep not the actual heads themselves which are broken yep thanks The heads themselves are not broken it’s the coil wire copper colour yep

[@ms-ex8em]

@@NorthridgeFix can you not maybe replace the entire hard disk head unit ?? Thanks

[@abelphotographyandvideofig4622]

Hello I got the same problem where can I send it to you guys or where is your location

[@skim32]

How much do you charge for this type of service? For the labor if the customer provides the parts.

[@mohamedhamoudan6228]

GOOD WORK MY TEACH

[@808chadda]

I need help with my Seagate HDD, it just "magically" stopped working. It makes the sound as if you've plugged something in windows but when you feel the drive it powers on for less then 5 seconds and then off but it does not make the sound when something is being disconnected from the PC. Here in South Africa there aren't any places you can take it too. I have stuff on it that I really need and I had no time to save the stuff on another drive as it was only used as a back up drive. Barely used and if it was used it would just be used to store or copy things I need and then I packed it away. I used another drive way harder than this by playing games on it etc but it still works and it wasn't bought brand new yet it lasted longer than the Seagate one

[@balakrishnagogulamudi219]

My WD hard disk spins and stops and I am not able to access it, what is the problem. can it be repaired?

[@christopolis1]

i've got a seagate st2000dm001 with the same issue spins up but not detected in windows. i ordered a new pcb and am just waiting on it to get here. i did manage to get the bios chip off of it

[@syberpunk]

Hey, did you end up fixing this?

[@christopolis1]

@@syberpunk no it didn't. I'm going to put the bios chip back on the old PCB and I'm gonna take it to a data recovery place when I've got the money for it

[@pgribangodua2762]

how to create microscope digital ?

[@marshus]

consider data not important, if i just swap board without flash the firmware, can i use it as a new disk ?

[@kikia-z5n]

I replace head of my harddisk now the head only spinning left to right for 7 times and then the plate stop spinning, what could be wrong?

[@jamesmcgraw100]

can it be fixed with out the old board

[@rmonmndoza1537]

this is a great job-.... congrats