WD5000AAKX

This Western Digital WD5000AAKX hard drive (S/N WCC2EX530458) is part of the PCLab donor inventory, kept for data recovery work. It belongs to the Tahoe LT family: drives in the same family are usually compatible with each other for head transplants, though the exact firmware revision still has to be checked case by case.

Donor drives are used when a drive fails mechanically: seized spindle, damaged heads or a burnt board. The work is done in a clean room, and picking the right donor is what decides whether the data comes back. If your Western Digital WD5000AAKX is clicking, beeping or is no longer detected, do not open it — talk to the lab first.