WD5000LPVX-08V0TT5

This Western Digital WD5000LPVX-08V0TT5 hard drive (S/N WX81AA4P3CD7) is part of the PCLab donor inventory, kept for data recovery work. It belongs to the Hubble 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. Its board carries the number 2060-771959, 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 Western Digital WD5000LPVX-08V0TT5 is clicking, beeping or is no longer detected, do not open it — talk to the lab first.