ST500LM012

This Samsung ST500LM012 hard drive (S/N S2ZYJ9BGB06201) is part of the PCLab donor inventory, kept for data recovery work. Its board carries the number BF41-00354A, which matters when the failure is electronic and the PCB has to be swapped — the ROM must be transferred from the original board.

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 Samsung ST500LM012 is clicking, beeping or is no longer detected, do not open it — talk to the lab first.