DaveC wrote in message
al.net...
On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 5:04:17 -0800, Stellijer wrote
(in message ):

I would hope it's the controller since it's external. I'm afraid of damage
if I have to replace the motor itself. It looks like you have to unfasten
all the platters and everything to get at the motor which exposes the
platters to more risk than I care for.

It's much more likely that the driver IC (on the PCB) or something else on
the PCB has failed rather than the motor. Usually the semiconductors are the
more-fragile component rather than the motor windings, in the motor drive
circuit, in general.

I've had good luck with changing the PCB on a drive (IBM).

It seems that contributors have covered all your options. You need to make a
chioce, now, and it seems that your only one left (reasonably) is to find a
similar drive and swap PCBs. (I don't believe it has to be the *exact* drive;
a series of HDAs (the mechanism) usually comes in several capacaties which
used the same PCB. A PCB from any of these should work.)

There is *no* possibility of replacing the motor if you don't have a real
clean-room environment. At least, I'd not consider it.


Yes, I believe the options have been covered; I'm just trying to gain as much
knowledge as possible.

I'm also seeing if anyone has experienced the "jerking" situation where there
are these little pulses from the motor. That would go far towards IDing the
problem.

As for choices; my next avenue of action is clear, unless there is any more
information which comes out in the mean time. That's to obtain a used drive and
try swapping out the PCB. It's surely the least invasive solution. I'm keeping
my eye out on eBay. There are plenty of drives of that MODEL, but finding the
same SERIES may take a little while. As for series - I know two 80GB drives of
WD make had notably different PCBs. MAYBE some would be interchangable but not
knowing, my best option would be to hold out for the same series. I would
imagine one would appear in no more than a few weeks.

Indeed, swapping the motor out would be the LAST resort. Who knows; if it's the
ONLY thing left to me at some future point, I may even find someone who has a
clean room in his/her office I may get to use at some point. Anything is
possible.

In the mean time I'll keep learning as much as possible; especially when it
comes to the other drive I spoke of.

I'm just a little surprised there aren't more documents or websites that people
have found valuable for this kind of information.

Thanks for the added suggestions.