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If you still have those drives can you check and see if "Recertified" is written on the plastic case and the drive label? I think that model number is used for recertified 1TB hard drives.

We use Hakko CHP 7A-SA (curved) and Hakko CHP 3-SA (straight) stainless steel non-magnetic precision tweezers for hard drive and flash recovery work. For pliers look for smooth-jaw jewelry making needle nose.

The Dolphin DVR/CCTV data recovery program works great and it's priced right. They update the software often. For the last major update a DFL engineer logged in and updated the dongle so the license would work with the newest version. There was no charge.

Well, not if it's a model that is encrypted using the microcontroller :) The key is unique and you will need the original microcontroller to decrypt.

You mention lock, but can you clarify your issue? Are you trying to unlock the drive? Or you are just trying to save the data and it appears encrypted? Many of the newer 2TB Chargers we see these days have microcontroller (MCU/CPU) based encryption. What is your model number? If it's MCU...

If it's an external drive there is always the possibility the data could be lost to TRIM. Here is some information about WD SMR drives.

Very nice, thanks for taking the time to make that video.

Hi Larry, it's been a while. I hope all is well.

I have purchased them with refurbished Palmers inside. See photo proof here.

If you are referring to hddheadtools.com then, yes, they are actually DFL. I have purchased from both the DFL website and the HDD Head Tools website. They have always been easy to deal with and ship very fast. P.S. I did not buy that set of PCBs though.

I agree, it's important to buy quality tools. I use Felo and Wiha brand for Torx drivers.

It should be a T7. I suspect you were using a T6 which would get the loose screws but strip on the difficult screws. If your T8 fits then it's worn out :)

Your ST500DM009-2F110A has a preamp code D0 07.

According to Western Digital TRIM/UNMAP is supported in the external versions of their SMR drives.

One more thing, don't waste any more good heads if that donor you tried doesn't work any more :)