BIOS Chip

I was reading on your site about replacing the PCB. It stated that in “most cases, one needs to replace the BIOS chip”. So the question is, in which cases it doesn’t need to be replaced?

I ask this because I have a disk with a broken PCB, and would like to replace it. Wether the fisk still works remains a question that only will be answered with a good functioning PCB. As this disk is from 2015, I am not even sure what happened to it anymore, nor I can’t remember if the data is worth rescuing. I know I used it as a backup, but all or a big part of the  info might also be present in other disks.

Long story short, I am looking for an easy and affordable fix, not involving any soldering.

I hope you can shine a light on the exeptions for not needing to move the BIOS chip from one board to the other. Thanks in advance.

Every PCB’s BIOS includes the unique info. If you don’t change it, the HDD may not work,

Are you saying it could only work by chance? A licky shot?  Like there is no way to tell up front? Even if it is exactly the same harddisk in terms of size, brand, type and series?

You can direcly swap PCB to try. If the HDD can’t work, you should change BIOS.