Can I get the data off this 2.5" HDD?

Hi all:

I'm trying to see if there is any way to retrieve data from an old Samsung 2.5" mechanical spinner.

The tech. who worked on it earlier told my friends that he could "See files" on the drive.

I'm not getting that. I'm attaching it via a USB enclosure, or via a Vantec USB->>Sata adapter. When I do, Windows recognizes it, but it shows in Disk Management as "No media". As I understand it, that means the controller is dead, right?

If it is the controller, if I replace the PCB on the drive, is it likely to work, or is there some mojo that has to be done with some sort of firmware ID authentication or something like that?

Thanks

Edited by Shplad, 07 April 2024 - 05:55 PM.

If it is the PCB the bios chip on the board needs to removed and soldered to the new replacement board. Instead of using a USB adapter can you attach the drive directly to a SATA port on a desktop? But yes, if Windows shows no media it usually means a controller problem. I got that on a flash drive because of an error between the memory controller and the NAND.

https://www.harddriveparts.com/swap_replacement_guide.html

Ah, I was hoping you'd reply, John! I know you are an expert with drive issues.

So, a proper repair would involve removing the PCB and replacing it (with a used one?) and also moving the BIOS chip to the replacement board?

I assume I'd need some SMD soldering skills or a rework station to do that? I'm handy, and have a good soldering station, but my hands are kind of shaky...

As long as the board has the same number then that would work. I think that site I linked to will do a bios swap for a fee but don't quote me on that.

Is there some way I can easily tell which chip is the BIOS chip? Like, is it an 8-pin DIP or something?

Edited by Shplad, 07 April 2024 - 06:42 PM.

I don't have much, in any experience with BIOS swaps or what the chip looks like.

On that site I linked to is does show a 8pin BIOS chip.

https://www.harddriveparts.com/samsung_pcb_board_replacement.html

Edit: This link shows that if you don't have the 8pin chip then you need to remove the main chip which would not be easy.

https://www.datarecoveryunion.com/bf41-00249b-samsung-hdd-printed-circuit-board/

Edited by JohnC_21, 07 April 2024 - 07:11 PM.

Sorry, I just noticed that before you posted. Got it. Thanks very much, John!

I was wondering about that. I've had zero trouble getting drives to work in this enclosure. I've forgotten which connectors are on the rear of a SATA laptop drive. Same as regular internal cables?

If the connection interface were a problem, wouldn't the drive not have been enumerated by hardware at all?

Okay, I removed my BluRay drive via the rails and used its SATA connectors to connect the drive directly. The drive appeared to be recognized as the correct model in Windows via a popup in the System tray, but Windows is destabilized when it's connected. The Safely eject hardware button also doesn't respond to clicks.

In Disk Management, It reads "Connection to Virtual Disk Service..." for about 8 or 10 minutes. That tells me it's having trouble connecting to the drive. 

So it looks like it's the controller.

Edited by Shplad, 07 April 2024 - 07:42 PM.

And...I spoke too soon.

After more than 10 minutes, I got this in Disk Management:

IIRC, RAW means Windows sees it as unformatted. So...is the verdict still the same or has it changed?

This is what Testdisk is showing.

I'm guessing the main data is in the 4th partition listed? I tried viewing it and it's reporting problems. I'll go through a few steps to see if it can recognize the partitions better and post back.

It seemed to say the partition was damaged or similar. Shame on me for not writing down the error. It prompted me to Deeper scan (was that for partition data), so I did that. It's very slow.

Edited by Shplad, 07 April 2024 - 08:08 PM.