WD Clicking Hard Drive Not Detected: Head Swap and ROM Transfer
This video shows how we recover data from a Western Digital hard drive that is clicking and not being detected.
We start by opening the drive, removing the cover and magnet, then preparing to remove the heads using a head comb. The goal is to reduce the risk of platter scratches and prevent the heads becoming more badly damaged. The heads are labelled so we can keep track of which head stack belongs to the customer.
Next, we inspect the platters for signs of scratches and media damage, including checking the underside. In this case, the media did not look too bad, so we moved forward with a head replacement using an identical donor drive. We open the donor drive, remove the magnet, label the good heads, and remove them using the head comb so they do not stick together or damage the platters. The donor heads are then installed into the customer’s drive, the magnet is reattached, and the drive is reassembled.
The next step is PCB work. We remove the original PCB and convert the job to SATA because we do not like working with USB PCBs for this workflow. We transfer the ROM chip using controlled heat, cool and clean the board, then test the PCB before refitting it to the customer’s drive.
After that, we plug the drive in. The good news is it identifies and is detected, and we can access the data area. We then image the drive to a good SATA 3.5-inch drive to capture the data.
Payam Data Recovery is based in Australia with labs in Sydney CBD, Rhodes NSW, Melbourne CBD, and Brisbane CBD. We also have secure drop-off points in Adelaide CBD and Perth CBD. International customers are welcome, and we regularly assist clients across the USA, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
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