Audience:Data Recovery EngineersDec 2023

Hot-swapping is a widely used method for recovering data from hard disks that exhibit the following issues:

  • Damaged ROM
  • Damaged firmware
  • Excessive bad blocks in the firmware area
  • Clicking sounds during spin-up and failure to achieve READY status

Step 1: Collect Information

The first and most critical step is to gather all necessary information about the customer’s data disk. This includes the serial number, model, RAM size, and SPT size. It is highly recommended to write this information down to avoid errors during the hot-swapping process.

For instance, when swapping the PCB between the data disk and the donor disk, it is crucial to verify the serial number before making any changes to ensure the integrity of the data disk.

Step 2: Backup Donor Resources

  1. Spin up the donor disk and back up its resources.
  2. Back up the ROM and modules from the donor disk.

It is essential to perform this step carefully, as you may need to write modules from the data disk to the donor disk during the process. This step might require multiple attempts. If the process fails, the donor disk may not achieve READY status. To avoid losing the donor disk, always ensure backups are secure before proceeding.

Step 3: Swap the PCB

  1. Spin down the donor disk completely.

  2. Once confirmed, swap the PCB from the donor disk to the data disk.

  3. Use the Backup Resources feature to read the following modules:

    03, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 49, 148

Step 4: Override Modules

  1. Spin down the data disk and return the PCB to the donor disk.
  2. Write the previously read modules from the data disk to the donor disk.
  3. Power the donor disk off and on.

This process may take time depending on the model, as the modules are no longer original.

Step 5: Read Data

  1. Once the donor disk achieves READY status, spin it down and swap the PCB back to the data disk.
  2. Confirm that sector 0 is readable and that 55AA is present.

IMPORTANT: Disable Power On/Off During DE Task Creation

When creating the Data Extractor (DE) task, ensure that the "POWER ON/OFF" feature is disabled. If the disk is powered off and on, the READY status will be lost, and the hot-swapping process will need to be repeated.

By following these steps carefully, you can recover data from WD non-SMR hard disks with damaged firmware or hardware issues.