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WD Head Compatibility

Posted: 27.07.09, 07:13
by Balvan
There is a lot of contradictory info about DCM codes and matching heads on more current WD drives.

What should match on a donor for heads compatibility?

For example,

I've got a WD2500JS with a heads issue:

WD2500JS-00NCB1
DATE: 11 MAY 2006
DCM: DSCACTJAA

I've also got two drives from the same family in inventory, and wondered if either would be suitable donor:

#1) WD2500JS-22NCB1
DATE: 11 MAY 2006
DCM: HBCHTJCHN

#2) WD2500JS-60NCB1
DATE: 23 NOV 2006
DCM: HBBANTJAHB

My guess is that neither is close enough.

Thanks in advance.

Re: WD Head Compatibility

Posted: 27.07.09, 07:49
by steven
it should wotj
but first check head map

Re: WD Head Compatibility

Posted: 08.09.09, 08:48
by ACE_Admin
What are the rules for that "DCM" symbols?

As far as I know WD Marvell families have heads settings in its ROM, and head swap is possible in the case, where donor settings match patient's.

Tell me please Balvan, have you managed to get the data after head swap?

Re: WD Head Compatibility

Posted: 08.09.09, 15:20
by Balvan
The heads were compatible. We were able to extract some of the data before the heads hit media damage and died again.

Re: WD Head Compatibility

Posted: 08.09.09, 15:20
by Balvan
The heads were compatible. We were able to extract some of the data before the heads hit media damage and died again.

Re: WD Head Compatibility

Posted: 17.09.09, 18:21
by Datatrack
Roustam wrote:What are the rules for that "DCM" symbols?

As far as I know WD Marvell families have heads settings in its ROM, and head swap is possible in the case, where donor settings match patient's.

Tell me please Balvan, have you managed to get the data after head swap?


In order to find compatible heads, what are the tolerance levels of the Micro Jobs in the rom information? How different can the values be before the heads are not compatible? How similar should the values be? Is there a way to alter these values to enable head compatibility?