Damaged Micro Usb (Soldered) On WD Elements SE 1TB External. How-To Geek Forums

Damaged micro usb (soldered) on WD Elements SE 1TB External. ...
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Damaged micro usb (soldered) on WD Elements SE 1TB External.
(30 posts)
Started 2 years ago by Vennsoh

Latest reply from Lighthouse
Topic Viewed 13272 times
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Vennsoh
Posts: 17
Hi guys,
I have a problem with my WD Elements 1TB.
The product number is WDBABV0010BBK-00.
The SATA is WD10TMVV.
I have found some images online.
This is how it looks,
04-02-2015 10:37 PM
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My problem
The micro usb that is soldered on to the PCB is damaged. The external drive is working all good and okay until one
day I realize I could not plug in my cable to the micro usb port.
The micro usb is damaged.
Solutions
1) Get professionals to do a data recovery but that is too expensive. And there is a good link here showing you how
you could by pass the micro usb and wired the PCB.
http://www.datarecoverytools.c.....tor-suite/
2) Get a new micro usb and replace it. I will go with this. Do let me know if this is not feasible. I do realize the micro
usb on Western Digital is slightly different. There is this black color, 2 holes thingy underneath it.
--However before I start anything, I need to know what micro usb to buy. I did a bit of research and if I am not
mistaken, I think I need a Micro-B.
Here is an image,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.....sb_new.svg
I have a house mate who is a PhD in electrical engineering. He could do all the soldering for me.
But is there anything I need to tell him so he could be aware of when he is swapping out the damaged micro usb?
Do I need to take out the hard drive from the PCB before any soldering work is done?
Where would be the best place to get electronic parts? I did some research again, it seems mouser.com is the best?
Cheers,
Venn.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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Xhi
Posts: 6298
Are you sure that is an actual part of the drive and does not simply unscrew from what would be a normal SATA drive
ports which could then be put in a new SATA enclosure.
This is what a normal SATA drive looks like
04-02-2015 10:37 PM
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POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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raphoenix
Posts: 14920
Vennsoh,
Let the EE handle the issue in total.
The pictures, write up and comments are too unclear without "hands on hardware" and proper tools.
Rick P.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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Vennsoh
Posts: 17
Hey guys,
Thanks for the help.
Xhi: What you are showing are old external drives. Your methods only work on older WD models. In the newer
versions, there is no SATA but only USB on them.
On this model, you can't make it as an internal, you can't change the enclosure.
There are only 3 options for me,
1) Change the PCB (thanked god WD Elements doesn't have data encryption).
2) Change the micro usb.
3) Bypass the usb and wired the PCB.
Obviously, option 2 will be the easiest.
--My questions will be:
1) Do I need to separate the hard drive from the PCB before I do the soldering?
2) Is that a micro-b usb?
3) The micro usb on WD is slightly different. What is that black color, 2 holes thingy underneath that micro usb? It is
not the usual micro usb on the market.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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vistamike
Posts: 10945
That is a micro HDMI port, surely?

POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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Vennsoh
Posts: 17
That is a micro usb.

I am very sure as I have tried the cable to some other micro usb ports.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
TOP
G41M
Posts: 902
I think the soldering points for the pins are at the back (surface mounted) on some micro usb port so you have to
separate (the drive case covers this points). I do not know if this is the case on this wd drive. The black color thing
with two holes, I think, is some sort of a platform to raise the the port. If you can not find a similar port, maybe you
can dismantle the damage port and use that thingy or if this is not applicable, make the hole on the casing bigger at
the bottom so you can attach the usb cable. The key here is to replace the port correctly and as strong as possible.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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04-02-2015 10:37 PM
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germ-x
Posts: 5310
Have your EE look at under a good glass and determine how best to resolder the pin.
Make sure you use a low wattage iron with a pin point or else you might ruin the whole thing.
Here is another view of different USB ports. Yours looks like either an "A" or a "B".
If you can take the mating half to a computer store ( Radio shack in the USA) they might be able to match it.
If you can't find a match you can always remove it from the board, use some fine wire and solder point to point just
enough to get your data.
Don't know if your hdd is under warranty but you can also call WD "Tech Service" giving them the model and ask if
you can purchase a used board. They might be aggreable.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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Vennsoh
Posts: 17
WD customer service is really bad, they haven't been getting back to me for a very long time.
And obviously my WD external has ran out of warranty.
Can anyone tell me how I could bypass the micro usb and wired into the PCB?
If I could take a detail photos, front & back of the PCB board, will there be anyone here able to tell me where to
solder the wires to?
I have a link that tells you how to wire to the PCB.
http://www.datarecoverytools.c.....tor-suite/
Thanks guys!
You all are awesome.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
TOP
Lighthouse
Posts: 13598
Take the thing apart, and take it to a local TV repair shop. They can solder it back in less than 2 seconds. Or learn
how to solder properly (not easy)
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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Vennsoh
Posts: 17
Thanks guys!
You people are amazing.
I will post my findings and progress here.
I have few electrical engineering friends who will be looking at it for me tomorrow.
So I guess the external drive is in good hands. (Fingers crossed)
Cheers,
Venn.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
TOP
Vennsoh
Posts: 17
Hey guys, just to keep you all updated.

There is another solution that another person mentioned to me.
He was saying why all the hassle?
Why don't I just desolder the damaged usb and hard wire the cable straight to the micro usb's spot. I am thinking this
is different from bypassing the micro usb and connect it straight to the pcb. Something like this http://www.datarecoverytools.c.....tor-suite/ But I am not sure.
I know soldering the cable will be permanent but I guess it is easier?
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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Lighthouse
Posts: 13598
It's actually easier to solder the socket back on. And if one of your friends has a hot air solderer, then easier still.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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Vennsoh
Posts: 17
but I will need to source for a new micro usb.

I will see how my electrical engineering friends go with this. They would like to try and solder on the individual prong
with small gauge electrical wires and read the data off from the drive. But that sounds like a very challenging job to
do as the micro usb is the smallest usb.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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raphoenix
Posts: 14920
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9614
04-02-2015 10:37 PM
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TIP:
Purchase a Real SSD.
Rick P.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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Vennsoh
Posts: 17
Hey guys,
Good news!
My housemate has managed to get the data off from the drive by soldering fine gauge electrical wires to the
individual prongs in the micro usb. Those has to be some mad skills given the fact that micro usb is the smallest
among all.
The next thing I will do is to fix the external drive.
I will need to see if my housemate has an idea for that.
Will update.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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raphoenix
Posts: 14920
Great !!!!
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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Vennsoh
Posts: 17
I am going to share 2 links.

They are very helpful and they have the most comprehensive information you need an get when it comes to damaged
usb connector on external drives.
It explains clearly what you should do if your data is encrypted or what if your usb is soldered on to the PCB without a
SATA connector, etc.
http://forum.hddguru.com/weste.....17398.html
http://community.wdc.com/t5/Of.....d-p/353839
Western Digital external hard drives are wreaking havoc around the globe with their lousy usb connectors.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
TOP
Vennsoh
Posts: 17
It seems that the links are broken,

http://forum.hddguru.com/weste.....17398.html
http://community.wdc.com/t5/Of.....d-p/353839
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
TOP
raphoenix
Posts: 14920
eSATA is the way to go because of transfer speed and MB chipset architecture.

USB came along and was implemented to the detriment of eSATA because of "cheapness".
Most all Builder Motherboards still provide an eSATA Connector for external HDD.
The newer ones even provide an eSATA External Power Connector.
Rick P.
POSTED 2 YEARS AGO
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