Reviewed: 14 July 2026 by Michael Ganicz
Contents
How to use this guide
Treat the criteria below as a starting point for identifying candidates, not as an automatic compatibility decision. Confirm the exact family, head map, preamplifier requirements, firmware/adaptive data, PCB and production details using appropriate diagnostic tools and inspection.
Customers with a clicking or beeping drive should use the hard-drive recovery service rather than opening the mechanism. Technicians can browse the donor hard-drive inventory.
These instructions aim to optimize compatibility when seeking a donor head stack assembly. While there’s no absolute guarantee of a 100% match, adhering to these guidelines enhances the likelihood of finding a suitable donor.
Western Digital
Caviar 1st Edition
Drives typically over a decade old with a square-shaped PCB.
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Match the entire first part and three characters in the second part (e.g., WD800BB-55JKA0).
- Heads Map: Exact match; it’s acceptable if the donor has more heads.
- DCM: Locate the J or 2 in the DCM; ensure it matches on the donor.
- Country of Manufacture: Should be the same.
- Date of Manufacture: Within three months of the original drive.
- Serial Number: Match the first four digits.
- PCB Revision: The PCB Rev should be the same.
Marvell (version 1)
Identified by the family code in the model number.
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Ideally, match the whole number; if not, match the first part and three characters in the second part (e.g., WD1600JB-40TGB0).
- Heads Map: Exact match; it’s acceptable if the donor has more heads.
- DCM: Locate the J or 2 in the DCM; ensure it matches on the donor, with the preceding characters.
- Date of Manufacture: Within three months of the original drive.
- Preamplifier: Exact match for both vendor and revision.
- Microjogs: Each value should be within 300 of the original drive.
Marvell (version 2)
Encompasses most newer and modern Western Digital drives.
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Ideally, match the whole number; if not, match the first part and three characters in the second part (e.g., WD1200BEVT-22A23T0).
- Heads Map: Exact match; it’s acceptable if the donor has more heads.
- DCM: Locate the J or 2 in the DCM; ensure it matches on the donor.
- Preamplifier: Exact match for both vendor and revision.
- Microjogs: Each value should be within 200 of the original drive.
- Country of Manufacture: Should be the same.
- Date of Manufacture: Within three months of the original drive.
Seagate
Barracuda
Identified by a period (.) in the firmware number.
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Match exactly.
- Heads Map: Exact match; it’s acceptable if the donor has more heads.
- Serial Number: Match the second and third characters.
- Firmware (7-series or earlier): Optional.
- Site Code: Match the site code.
- Part Number: Match the 1st half; if the second half matches, it’s a better match.
- Date Code: Within three months of each other.
F3
Identified by NOT containing a period (.) in the firmware number.
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Match exactly.
- Serial Number: Match the second and third characters.
- Heads Map: Exact match; it’s acceptable if the donor has more heads.
- Preamplifier Type: Optional.
- Part Number: Match the 1st half; if the second half matches, it’s a better match.
- Site Code: Match the site code.
- Date Code: Within three months of each other.
Samsung
Older
Identified by a separate barcode sticker with two sets of numbers.
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Match exactly.
- Heads Map: Exact match; it’s acceptable if the donor has more heads.
- Country of Manufacture: Should be the same.
- P/V: To the right of the part number.
- PCB Revision: Should be the same.
Newer
2.5″ inch drives (series M7S2, M7E, MP4, MT2, M8E, M9T) and 3.5″ inch drives (series F3 or later).
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Match exactly.
- Heads Map: Exact match; it’s acceptable if the donor has more heads.
- Preamplifier Revision: Should be the same.
Hitachi/IBM
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Match exactly.
- Part Number: Match exactly.
- Heads Map: Exact match; it’s acceptable if the donor has more heads.
- MLC: Match exactly.
- Date of Manufacture: Within three months of the original drive.
Toshiba
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Match the whole number; if not, match the first eight digits of the model number and the family code.
- Country of Manufacture: Should be the same.
- Hard Drive Code: The first part of the HDD code should match.
Maxtor
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Match exactly.
- Four-Letter Code: 1st and 3rd digits are most important; if the 2nd and 4th digits match, it’s a better match.
- Date of Manufacture: Within three months of the original drive.
Fujitsu
Criteria for Donor Drive:
- Model Number: Match exactly.
- Part Number: Match exactly.
Need a donor or a complete recovery?
Provide the patient drive model, part number, firmware, site/date code, PCB details and observed symptoms. Donor availability and compatibility still require verification.