WD PCB Compatibility - What needs to match?

[redarrow]

Hi All,

I often get many Western Digital PCB's with burnt motor controller chips, until now i have found no way to replace this. I usually look for an identical hard disk with a matching model #, DCM code and the series of numbers like this matching on the white sticker on the PCB (e.g 2061-001179-100 AD) then the remaining numbers after that on the right i ignore.

This makes it nearly impossible to find a match, i am often looking for months using several different sources and sometimes give up.

Asides from this, when i get the PCB, i swap the firmware chip by desoldering/re-soldering the firmeware chip from the faulty PCB to the working PCB.

Do all 3 criteria need to match? i.e do i really need to be matching the full model # (e.g WD2500JB-00FUA0) and the DCM (e.g HSBHNAJCH) and the number white sticker on the PCB (e.g 2061-001179-100 AD) ?

Is there any way to either repair this motor controller chip or to find a compatible board?

Keep in mind that when looking on ebay or emailing suppliers they are usually not willing to remove the screws from the PCB and read the numbers printed on individual chips, usually i can only rely on what's printed on the drive's label or PCB from the visible side only.

Thanks for any help, WD PCB problems cause me a lot of ongoing stess!

[Igor]

Hi redarrow,

You don't need all of those criterias to match.
Exist only one criterion: Two symbols at the middle of second part of donor drive should be the same as on patient drive.
On your model they are FU in WD2500JB-00FUA0.
If they are matched you're on the right way.

--
Kind Regards,
Acelaboratory support
Igor mailto:ts2@acelab.ru

[redarrow]

Thanks, so if i find a board like this:
WD2500JB-**FU** with the * symbol meaning 'any letter' and i swap the firmware chip/eeprom chip it should work regardless of the date, DCM and numbers on the white sticker on the PCB?

Are you sure this will work? I don't want to be wasting money on parts..i am looking for over 20 WD PCBs at present. If what you are saying is true it's going to make my life so much easier.

[redarrow]

Igor?

[AJ2008]

I think by matching the **FU** code, the PCB will be from same family and will be same in size and shape. Transferring ROM will make donor PCB compatible.

Unsure of the criteria to match with newer drives without external ROM though....

[superhik]

Hi All,

I often get many Western Digital PCB's with burnt motor controller chips, until now i have found no way to replace this. I usually look for an identical hard disk with a matching model #, DCM code and the series of numbers like this matching on the white sticker on the PCB (e.g 2061-001179-100 AD) then the remaining numbers after that on the right i ignore.

This makes it nearly impossible to find a match, i am often looking for months using several different sources and sometimes give up.

You need only second number to match...
PCB (e.g 2061-001179-100 AD) = 001179