On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 07:25:46 GMT, "GHZpc" wrote:

I accidently broke Pin #1 on my Maxtor hard drive. Unfortunately, I had very important data that was not backed up. Yes, I have already learned my lesson.

The pin broke off so deep that there is almost no metal visible to make contact with. I tried a safety pin and attempted to use my average soldering skills to solder a new pin in place. I have still had no luck up to this pont.

I think my best bet (besides buying a new hard drive), would be to remove the daughterboard on the outside of the hard drive and then have more access to where pin #1 is located. Does this sound like a safe thing to do? I would have to be aware of any small thin cables sticking out of the hard drive so that they do not get broke too.

If you have any other suggestions, they would be greatly greatly greatly appreciated. And please, please tell me that there is still hope. After all, it's only one pin. I refuse to believe that an entire hard drive can be useless just because one pin broke.


Thanks for your replies.

I believe you can access the spot where the pin is soldered to the PC
board attached th the underside of the drive. Solder a thinish wire
to this spot. Do this carefully, do not over heat the solder
connection or accidently mess up the other solder spots that will be
close by. If the solder connection is dull in shine, it is a bad
connection. If it is shiny, it is good. I stress, do not over heat
the area.

Take the ribbon cable that connects the drive to the computer
mainboard. Find the wire that goes to the pin in question and cut it.
Cut just that one wire and no others. Solder the other end of the
wire that you soldered to the HDD to this cut wire. Plug in the ribbon
cable to the HDD and go to town. Once the drive is up and running,
do nothing else except back up your data.
This will trash the ribbon cable but it is a small price to pay. Once
you know you have your data retrieved, smash the old HDD with a hammer
to totally safeguard your data when you throw it away.

I have never tried this but in theory it will work. Just be very
meticulous in the bridge you make. Be meticulous and do one step at a
time carefully. You can do this. It will require a steady hand and a
fine tipped soldering iron.
I think it will work, I really do.