The PCBs are of the exact same model. My fear is a DRM type scheme connected to serial numbers etc. stored on the platters having to match those of the controller.
doesn't even have to be DRM, just "media mapping" where its adjusting tot he individual platters and such. like factory low-level format stuff.
I don't know how complex HDDs have got, but I recall giggling at someone installing linux on an HDD controller board several years ago. So I bet its much worse now.
