I have a new PCB that I ordered for a dead WD hard-drive. Same board number, same controller chips, etc... I was told I will need to swap on the new controller ic onto the new board and that a heat gun was the best, cheap way to do it. I am looking for some insight on exactly that best way to swap this chip, or if anyone knows of a place I could send it in.
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Swap ic on Hard-drive PCB
- Thread starter awesomo
- Start date
Butcher9_9
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2010
- Messages
- 146
as far as i am aware the PCB stores calibration data about you drive ect, so even if its the same PCB ect a straight swap might not work.
I've done a lot of research and Butcher9_9 is correct. A pcb swap generally will not work unless everything, including the firmware, is the same. I have good soldering skills, I have an idea how to do it, , I was just looking for tricks and possible places I could send it in if I can't get the tiny soldering down. Also, I found out heatguns are a good way to damage it and will try using chipquik instead.
Sounds like SMT (Surface Mount Technology) soldering to me... I've never done it (I let my father do the hard stuff 
) but there are videos and guides all over the Intarwebs. Ya just hafta look for 'em.
FWIW, the big rule that I remember for doing that stuff (which goes *completely* against "good soldering practice" as I understand it) is that you put a big lump o' solder down that bridges all pins in a line, and then you use copper braid to soak up what you don't need.
That said, the tutorials you can find online are going to be much more helpful than I can be.
) but there are videos and guides all over the Intarwebs. Ya just hafta look for 'em.FWIW, the big rule that I remember for doing that stuff (which goes *completely* against "good soldering practice" as I understand it) is that you put a big lump o' solder down that bridges all pins in a line, and then you use copper braid to soak up what you don't need.
That said, the tutorials you can find online are going to be much more helpful than I can be.