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Find Hard Disk Donors

hard disk donor

How do  Find a Hard Disk Donor Drive 

Hard disk donor drive guidelines are designed to help you maximize compatibility when searching for a donor head stack assembly. While a perfect match cannot be guaranteed, following these steps will increase your chances of success.

Begin by identifying the make of the hard drive and matching the specifications provided. Note that this guide does not cover quantum drives or older Western digital models (pre-Caviar). For reference, we’ve highlighted where to find the relevant details on the label in the sample images provided. Keep in mind that your label may vary based on the product line or manufacturing date.

Each specification is prioritized and color-coded to indicate its importance. While finding a donor that matches all the criteria might not be possible, the color-coding will help you focus on the most critical details.

  • RED: Essential. You almost certainly cannot use a donor without this matching.
  • ORANGE: High priority. This information is often required to match for a donor to be compatible.
  • YELLOW: Medium priority. This information can help increase the chances of compatibility if a match is available.
  • GREEN: Low priority. This is normally not a factor, but can be used to choose between multiple donors matching everything else.

Select a Brand

Western Digital
Caviar 1st Edition

These are generally drives that are 10 or more years old. They can be differentiated by having a PCB that is, more or less, square compared to the L-shaped PCBs of later models.

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive.

  • Model number: Match the entire first part of the model number as well as three characters in the second part. Eg: WD800BB-55JKA0
  • Heads map: Match the physical heads (PH) map exactly. It is OK if the donor has more heads than the original drive, but all heads before that should match.
  • DCM: Locate the J or 2 in the DCM. It should be towards the end. Make sure that the J or 2 as well as the preceding character match on the donor.
  • Country of manufacture: Should be the same.
  • Date of manufacture: Should be within three months—the closer the better.
  • Serial number: Match the first four digits of the serial numbers.
  • PCB Revision: The PCB Rev should be the same.
Marvell (version 1)

These drives can be identified by the family code in the model number (the 3rd and 4th digits after the hyphen). The following families are part of this type: Mammoth (family codes EY, EZ, FA, FC, FJ, FM, HE, HF, JE, JS, JT, JY), Sabre (JH, JJ, JK, JL, JM, JN, JP, JR, JU, KS, LN, MG), Hawk (MH, MJ, MK, ML, MV, MW, MY, MZ, NC, ND, NE, NF, NG, NH, NJ, NK, NT, NV, NY, PA), Hawk-2 (SG, SH, TG), Starling (RD, RE, RF, RJ, RK, RL), Buccaneer (KE, KF, KG, KM), Zeus (MN, MP, VJ), and Raider (PC, PD, PE, PF, PG). Even if these families of drives say “Caviar SE” on the label, they belong to the Marvell architecture.

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive.

  • Model number: It is ideal to match the whole model number, but if none is available, you can try one that matches the entire first part of the model number as well as these three characters in the second part: WD1600JB-40TGB0
  • Heads map: Match the physical heads (PH) map exactly. It is OK if the donor has more heads than the original drive, but all heads before that should match.
  • DCM: Locate the J or 2 in the DCM. It should be towards the end. Make sure that the J or 2 as well as the preceding character match on the donor. If the three characters before that match as well, it will have an even better chance of being a match.
  • Date of manufacture: Should be within three months—the closer the better.
  • Preamplifier: Exact match for both vendor and revision.
  • Microjogs: Each value should be within 300 of the original drive—the closer the better.
  • Country of manufacture: Should be the same.
Marvell (version 2)

These encompass most newer and modern Western digital drives.

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive.

  • Model number: It is ideal to match the whole model number, but if none is available, you can try one that matches the entire first part of the model number as well as these three characters in the second part: WD1200BEVT-22A23T0
  • Heads map: Match the physical heads (PH) map exactly. It is OK if the donor has more heads than the original drive, but all heads before that should match.
  • DCM: Locate the J or 2 in the DCM. It should be towards the end. Make sure that the J or 2 as well as the preceding character match on the donor.
  • Preamplifier: Exact match for both vendor and revision.
  • Microjogs: Each value should be within 200 of the original drive—the closer the better.
  • Country of manufacture: Should be the same.
  • Date of manufacture: Should be within three months—the closer the better.
Seagate
Barracuda

These drives can be identified by containing a period (.) in the firmware number.

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive. 

  • Model number: Match the model number exactly.
  • Heads map: Match the physical heads (PH) map exactly. It is OK if the donor has more heads than the original drive, but all heads before that should match.
  • Serial number: Match the second and third characters of the serial number.
  • Firmware (7-series or earlier): Optional—For drives that are 7-series or earlier, match the firmware number.
  • Serial number: In addition to the 2nd and 3rd digits, match the first character of the serial number.
  • Site code: Match the site code. This indicates the location of manufacture.
  • Part number: Match the 1st half of the part number. If the second half matches, it is likely to be an even better match.
  • Date code: Convert the date codes. They should be within three months of each other—the closer the better.
F3

These drives can be identified by NOT containing a period (.) in the firmware number.

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive. 

  • Model number: Match the model number exactly.
  • Serial number: Match the second and third characters of the serial number.
  • Heads map: Match the physical heads (PH) map exactly. It is OK if the donor has more heads than the original drive, but all heads before that should match.
  • Preamplifier type: Optional—Match the first two digits of the preamplifier type.
  • Part number: Match the 1st half of the part number. If the second half matches, it is likely to be an even better match.
  • Site code: Match the site code. This indicates the location of manufacture.
  • Date code: Convert the date codes. They should be within three months of each other—the closer the better.
Samsung
Older

These drives can be identified by having a separate barcode sticker with two sets of numbers on it.

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive.

  • Model number: Match the model number exactly.
  • Heads map: Match the physical heads (PH) map exactly. It is OK if the donor has more heads than the original drive, but all heads before that should match.
  • Country of manufacture: Should be the same.
  • P/V: To the right of the part number. Some drives may be missing this field.
  • PCB revision: PCB Rev should be the same.
Newer

These are 2.5″ inch drives, series M7S2, M7E (i.e. Mercury / Rev .07 / S3M), MP4, MT2, M8E, and M9T, as well as 3.5″ inch drives, series F3 or later. The series can be found printed on the PCB or, in some instances, on the drive label.

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive.

  • Model number: Match the model number exactly.
  • Heads map: Match the physical heads (PH) map exactly. It is OK if the donor has more heads than the original drive, but all heads before that should match.
  • Preamplifier revision: The preamplifier revision should be the same.
Hitachi

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive.

  • Model number: Match the model number exactly.
  • Part number: Match the part number exactly.
  • Heads map: Match the physical heads (PH) map exactly. It is OK if the donor has more heads than the original drive, but all heads before that should match.
  • MLC: Match the MLC exactly.
  • Date of manufacture: Should be within three months—the closer the better.
Toshiba

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive.

  • Model number: Match the whole number. If you cannot do this, you may be able to match the first eight digits of the model number and the family code instead.
  • Country of manufacture: Should be the same.
  • Hard drive code: The first part of the HDD code should match.
Maxtor

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive.

  • Model number: Match the model number exactly.
  • Four-letter code: The 1st and 3rd digits are most important. If the 2nd and 4th digits also match, that further increases the likelihood of a match.
  • Date of manufacture: Should be within three months—the closer the better.
Fujitsu

Use the following criteria to find a donor drive.

  • Model number: Match the model number exactly.
  • Part number: Match the part number exactly.
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