LITEON DG-16D4S - SLIM How exactly does the kamikaze hack work?

[o0whiplash0o]

While I wait for my drive to be professionally unlocked, I'd like to know what exactly is happening when you apply 3.3v to that particular trace inside the chip. According to this picture:

the trace that needs to have current applied to it is connected to an external pin. Why even drill, then?

 

[Martin C]

Because if you check the datasheet for this chip, the 3.3v connections are linked, so isolating it is almost impossible.

 

[o0whiplash0o]

I'm having trouble finding that datasheet. A couple of google searches turned out nothing. Just so I know, what was I supposed to be googling to find the datasheet?

 

[Martin C]

The name of the chip.

TBH this is all you need:

 

[o0whiplash0o]

Hmm, I still don't quite understand what's going on. Are you saying that you need to apply 3.3v to that one trace, while ensuring that none of the other 3.3v pins get this current? If so, why can't you just go back to the pin the trace is connected to? Wouldn't the current flow that way anyway if you completed the circuit between the hole drilled and that external pin?

 

[tingedace]

The Write Protect pin is hard wired to ground inside the chip. So lifting the leg on the outside of the chip doesn't help. The bond wire needs to be severed between the silicon and the point where the other ground bond wire connects with it.
Then Vcc applied (or alcohol trick) and voila!

 

[o0whiplash0o]

I think I get you now. The 3.3v and GND are fused, so that's a logical 0 going into the chip. By drilling, you're breaking this link and reproducing the 3.3v pin's original function by having current flow through the drill?

 

[SlothGSR]

very interesting to see how this works.