[Markhig2]

Hi,

I am looking for some help with regards to changing a western digital pcb.

In this case the drive in question is: WD5000AAJS.

In the past all i have had to do is find a donor pcb, de-solder the u12 Rom chip,and put the original rom chip in its place.Depending on the condition of the drive, this has worked most of the time.

When removing the pcb from the above drive(WD5000AAJS)there is no rom chip, just an empty space marked U12.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[raptor_pa]

If that is empty, then you are probably hosed, the Firmware code on that one would be internal to the MCU chip - probably a Marvell chip?

 

[Markhig2]

Hi and thanks for your reply,

From what i have read,it looks like you are spot on. I still have a few questions, How do i know if my drive is part of the Royl series?(doestn say anywhere on the drive)It appears that royal drives have no U12 chip, but as u already said, an internal marvell chip. I think salvation data may have a tool to fix this.

Thanks again

 

[raptor_pa]

You can read the data with the WD Disk doctor, and should be able to just copy the modules you need from teh MCU of the patient to the MCu of the donor. If you can DL the manual for the salvation WD Disk Doctor, it has pictures to Identify the drive family by PCB shape/layout