Pulling data off of hard drive with bad controller

[bfldworker]

What is the best way to get data off a hard drive with a bad controller? It is mainly pictures and home movies. I am 100% certain that it is the controller and the not the platters or stepper motors.

Advice.

[phuckphace]

swap its PCB with one from an identical drive. it's the least expensive way compared to what you'd pay for professional recovery.

[bfldworker]

I have a few other TB HD's gotta see if they are the same model.

[northy]

If you can't do what phuckphace suggested, which btw is a clever idea I never thought of, you will have to pay a specialist to transfer the platters I expect, which will be very costly.

[phuckphace]

I've done a PCB swap before with two 1TB WD Blacks and it worked great, but keep in mind the donor drive has to be 100% identical. if it's a different model it'll have different firmware and won't work, even if it's the same manufacturer.

[dzoni]

You may be able to find a PCB on eBay. Bottom line, find a good recovery service and see if they can give it a go..

[bfldworker]

I came across a hard drive with bad platters that is the same exact model with identicle Firmware.

And... It worked. Thanks you!

[WyattTheWise]

If someone else sees this, you have to be careful doing this. It will only work with the same model and firmware of drive.

[Turbofan explosion]

Look on eBay for the exact same model. It cannot be a similar but different model, even if it is same brand. It's fine if the one you are buying has bad sectors. Then swap the PCB on it.