The Donor for data recovery

How to judge the original and donor drives are compatible? However, the match donor is a crucial step in data recovery

There is a summing-up about the compatibility for original and donor drives.

1. Maxtor
   

    

   Firmware compatible
   

   1. Same Code number
   2. Same Model number
   3. Same first three SN number.

   

   As the above picture show, if we want to find the donor drive, the parameter should be same as follow:

   Model: 4R060L, Code: RAMC1TUO, SN: R2Sxxxxx.

   PCB compatible
   

   The first thing to consider while searching a suitable PCB the processor chip label, like ARDENT-C5C1—84OUK, and the present of serial ROM, but usually we don’t care about it, if we could find the donor drive with same model, same Code and same PCB number, it should be compatible.

   Head compatible
   

   Same as the firmware compatible

    

2. Seagate
   

    

   Firmware compatible
   

   1. Same model
   2. Same firmware version
   3. Same ROM version

   

   All those info we could find on the label and CMD mode. Look at the above picture, ALPINE-1 is the series number, S.15 is the ROM version, 3.06 is the firmware version.

   PCB compatible
   

   Same as the firmware compatible

   Head compatible
   

   Just request the same model

    

3. West Digital
   

    

   Firmware compatible
   

   White I series:

   1. Similar Model Number (same capacity is required)
   2. Same firmware version

   White II / Black I&II / ROYL series:

   1. Same model Number (new WD drive’s model number consist of two parts, we need find the donor one with same first part and the middle of second part, for example: the patient model is WD1600BEVS-22RST0, so we need find the donor one with WD1600BEVS-xxRSxx)
   2. Same firmware version

   PCB compatible
   

   1. Same Model Number
   2. Same PCB version (a string number on the PCB, like 2060-701450-011 REV A. Not request all the same, but the more similar, the more success rate.)

   Head compatible
   

   1. Same Model Number
   2. Same first three DCM Number (for example, patient drive’s DCM number is HHCTJHBB, so at least we need find the donor one with HHCxxxx DCM Number)

    

4. HITACHI
   

    

   Firmware compatible
   

   For most case we could use the SA-C firmware. Difference with Maxtor, HITACHI drive could use the firmware in SA-C take place the firmware in SA-A, but except RAM0 and RSVD, be careful about it, if you have taken place them, the drive may always click.

   If the SA-C was broken too, you want to find the donor drive, just need the same series…for example, the patient drive is 5416 series, another 5416 series (same capacity) would be compatible.

   PCB compatible
   

2.5′ HDD

1. Same model Number
2. Same PCB version

Then we must do NV repair, then the drive would work well. (Reference NVRAM Repair case)

3.5′ HDD

Just request the same model number, but after PCB changed, we need to do DYNAMIC REPAIR.

Head compatible

1. Same Model Number

      2. Same MLC Number

Roy

Bookmark

• June 28, 2009 -- Does not Find Module
• July 28, 2009 -- Pre-check when we got a patient drive
• July 3, 2009 -- A f-level data recovery case
• June 28, 2009 -- Recover NVRAM Data
• June 24, 2009 -- The firmware problem for Maxtor drive