Samsung S2 portable hard drive failure.

[graviti]

I have a two year old Samsung portable hard drive. The usb connector has broken off the controller on the board, and is looking pretty impossible to repair. This drive is not a SATA or IDE drive, but rather has a usb controller built into the drive. I have a lot of data on the drive I'd prefer to keep, so I'm looking for advice here. Does anyone have the capabilities to access data on these types of drives, or have an old drive with working casing that I can strip for a new controller board.

Thanks

Sent from my new robot. Viva the Droid.

 

[ponder]

Got a clear pic of the connector and board? Even if the pin/solder pads are busted you could always pic up a trace somewhere else for soldering on a temp connector.

You could try South_Bit http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/member.php/110079-South_Bit

 

[SouthBit]

Thanks Ponder.

We get these drives in fairly regularly, it's a common problem on both these and the WD externals.

Here's an example of what I think you are experiencing: http://i56.tinypic.com/2prhc9k.jpg
This is obviously what a functioning PCB should look like: http://i53.tinypic.com/2v1t79d.jpg

You can't use a PCB from another identical model on your drive as there is important calibration information unique to each hard drive stored in the controller chip on your PCB, the chip with the big 'M' on it. Without moving that info (ie the chip in your case) across, the drive won't initialise.

We can repair/recover your drive for you if you like.

Edit: If you're feeling adventurous you can research the board schematic and pinouts and wire up a standard SATA data connection to the drive, obviously you'll need to supply power too. This info to do this isn't easy to find though.

 

[Stick17]

@ South_Bit

I live in Holland. How to repair the loose connector? I have got a Samsung S2 Portable Drive 500 GB

When I put the connector in place. The blue flash is working, but the computer doesnot recognise the device.

Hope to hear something from you.

Kind regards

Nick
Holland

[email protected]

 

[ponder]

You will have to resolder the connector (possibly a new one) if the pads are not damaged but if the pads are damaged you would have to trace the tracks and pickup another solder point for a temporary job to get your data off. The alternative would be a board swap & transferring the relevant firmware etc.