Here’s a Surprising Trick Repairing Hard Disk (HDD)
Received 1TB HDD for troubleshooting for not reading problem in desktop Computer.
Symptom: System showing error on Booting.
I have checked this HDD on another computer but the symptom is same.
Checked BIOS for detecting HDD in BIOS & found OK. So for further testing I have to remove the PCB of the HDD.
And on visual inspection I found very common problem for this type of error Gold plating contacts on PCB is oxidized.
As technicians always use the common trick for this problem is just taking a Rubber eraser and rubbing on the contacts. But as per my experience this process is temporary solution and you will get the same problem back in few days or months. So I have decided to try some another trick by applying solder on all the contacts.
(IF your HDD is still in the warranty do not attempt this process or you will void the Company Warranty on the Product) I have tried because this HDD is out of the warranty.
First I have cleaned the contacts by rubbing the rubber eraser. Then cleaned by applying IPA after drying the PCB I have applied soldering flux on the contact area and applied solder on the contacts and then cleaned it with Thinner. This trick is also applicable to Memory RAM gold oxidized Contacts by just taking care of layer of solder on it should very thin & of course memory should be out of warranty.
(Note: Use only 10 to 25W soldering Iron for this work or chances of damaging the PCB is very high.)
After completing the process I have put the PCB back on the HDD and connected the HDD to the Computer for testing.
And HDD is back to the life.
This article was prepared for you by Yogesh Panchal who works as a Computer Hardware Engineer in Mumbai India.
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Note: You can check his previous repair articles in the link below:
https://jestineyong.com/blown-smd-resistor-in-digital-multimeter/
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Anwar Shiekh
April 3, 2018 at 9:09 pm
I tend to put silicone oil on such contacts to avoid subsequent corrosion after cleaning.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Thanks for tips Mr. Anwar Shiekh.
Parasuraman S
April 3, 2018 at 9:15 pm
Excellent solution! Very innovative and very few would have tried this! Maany thanks for sharing!
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Thank you! Sir.
Robert Calk
April 3, 2018 at 9:23 pm
Good job, Yogesh.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Thank You Sir,
nkokana
April 3, 2018 at 9:38 pm
this trick is very useful and i am going to help one of my friends who had almost the same problem for about a month now.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Nkokana,
Thanks for your comment.
Suranga Electronics
April 3, 2018 at 11:32 pm
Good Job Mr.Yogesh.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:53 pm
Thanks! Suranga.
R Murali
April 4, 2018 at 12:53 am
Great. Thanks for sharing.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:54 pm
R Murali,
Your welcome!
Adrian
April 4, 2018 at 1:38 am
Excellent Job Yogesh
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Adrian,
Thanks!
Albert van Bemmelen
April 4, 2018 at 4:17 am
Always a good thing to check all contacts. In the past there was a German firm in Holland that sold a special Gold writing Pen to renew worn out gold contacts.
Sadly that pen can't be bought anymore. If I remember it well it only contained a few grams of Gold and did cost about 50 dollar.
Robert Calk
April 4, 2018 at 2:34 pm
Hi Albert,
Here is one that has silver. https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Trace-Tech-Conductive-Pen/IF317-054-1
Albert van Bemmelen
April 5, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Thanks Robert. I opened that American link and it showed only one pen left. Strangely when I was asked to go to the European ifixit store the product search was lost and couldn't be traced either. Apparently ifixit now also has a store in the Netherlands but it looks like most products can't be bought.
Robert Calk
April 6, 2018 at 11:13 am
I thought they were only in the USA. maybe they are having website problems. I would try to call them and see what is going on.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 4:05 pm
Sir,
This product is good if you are having continuous work of this type.
Because of shelf life of this product or may be your repair work would cost you more.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:55 pm
Albert,
Thanks for info.
angelo
April 4, 2018 at 4:37 am
thank you sir
did the same thing 2yrs back on my hdd
very usefull
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Angelo,
Your welcome!
Hesa
April 4, 2018 at 9:33 am
Thank you very much mr. Yogesh. I have so many troubled harddrive. I will try this trick.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Good luck! Hesa.
Nawual
April 4, 2018 at 4:34 pm
Thanks,i didnt know this trick.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 4:06 pm
Nawual
You are welcome!
James
April 4, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Yea, that might save a few Hard drives I have laying around, but I'll try my ole trustworthy WD-40 🙂 lol it's magical"
Robert Calk
April 6, 2018 at 11:19 am
Yuck, lol. If you want a dirt and dust magnet it would be cheaper to use dirty motor oil.
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 4:08 pm
James,
Some time "Magic" don't work.I have tried before.
any way Good Luck!
Robert Calk
April 6, 2018 at 11:11 pm
That's right Yogesh, it gets all sticky and gummy. When I was a kid I wouldn't even put it on my bicycle chain unless I had nothing else! Had I used WD40 on my fans they would probably pull 1 1/2 amps and burn up. lol I think he's just messing with us...
Paul
April 5, 2018 at 9:40 pm
That is a better idea on how to solve the hard disk error
Thank you mr Yogesh Panchal
Yogesh Panchal
April 6, 2018 at 4:09 pm
Paul,
Your Welcome!
Humberto
April 11, 2018 at 2:26 am
Very well-done Yogesh. Congratulations.
Dave
April 11, 2018 at 7:34 pm
I don't believe the contacts are Gold plated, certainly the ones I have 'cleaned' up weren't. In the early days of mainframe computers (70's) PCB contacts were 'tinned' (with solder) and they gave us continual problems - the next generation of plug-in PCB's were gold plated, and didn't oxidise, it was very rare that we had contact problems. If we did, then a LIGHT rub with a GREEN (Ink eraser) was all that was needed. Not too much as the Gold would be removed all together, now I prefer to use the 'Electrolube Contact treatment grease 2GAX' after cleaning the Gold Plated contacts (and indeed plain polished copper). It does all your suggestions and stays in place without oxidising - it's designed to fix exactly this problem.
Patrick
April 15, 2018 at 2:01 am
Thanks very much Yogesh for your informative articles.
Dan
April 30, 2018 at 6:12 am
that a good idea, nice to know now.
Anwar Y Shiekh
September 14, 2021 at 3:39 am
I believe the contacts are copper as gold does not corrode.