WD3200JB control card has burnt bits. Replacement card possible?

WD Internal Drives Desktop & Mobile Drives
1

My WD3200JB does not spin up to speed.  A careful look through the magnifier reveals a burnt choke (L12) and a couple of cooked pins on the U1 motor-driver chip as well as the end of C6 cooked.  Clearly parts need replacing. :cry:

I can do microsurgery on PCBs if needed, but would prefer to simply replace the whole card.  I understand I might need to swap over the EEPROM U12 so as to keep the drive characteristics relevant.  However, if there has been a problem with U1 could U12 also have been damaged?

I tried asking WD Support if they could supply a replacement PCB, but it would not accept my ‘email’.  Will try again soon.

I would be grateful for any useful ideas.

2

WD does not sell replacement parts.  If there is data to recover from the drive, you need a replacement PCB of the same exact version.

3

You can always try Ebay. 

4

Chances are an ebay item will have a similar fault.

I am in contact with a data recovery firm, who seem to promise everything.  But we shall see.

5

U12 contains the boot firmware for the drive. If U12 were damaged, then the drive would fail its own internal POST and wouldn’t even attempt to spin.