Rescuing data from dead hd's platters

[sk 0]

I need some advice about rescuing a dead hd, Seagate Barracuda IV, ST340016A, 40GB, Firmware: 3.05…..

 

I run my hd’s from a Promise Fasttrack 100 Raid Controller. Two of the above named Seagates and two IBM’s. A couple of nights ago I unpluged the power form the seagate, while the pc was running, and wanted to replug it again. Done that before no problems.

 

Very unfortunately twisted the power cable around so that minus contacted plus and vice versa. The PC un-powered instantly and the hd was dead. I unscrewed the cover of the control pcb, and a couple of chips visibly burn marks.

 

Now it’s dead, it does not even spin up!

 

If I exchange the pcb from the working Seagate to the burned one, then it spins up and makes sounds like it’s lightly banging the head of control arm against the chassis.

 

Now I don’t think that the platters them selves have been affected from the electric shock, and the spinning motor is running, the only electronics else in the hd is what controls the arm, right?

 

My plan is to get another hd with the exact same firmware and replace the broken parts.

 

Is there anybody here in this forum who have experience in opening hd’s, or know if can be done?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Best regards

 

SK

[Tomay 0]

Yes I've done that with a 800MB seagate and a 2Gb seagate. It can be done you only need the right tools and a clean place to do it (as few dust and airflow as possible). On the 800MB I changed the drive platters and the heads. Use latex gloves like the one they use in the hospital (You don't want finger prints on your drives) and if some dust gets on the platters do not blow!!! cos you'll only spit some saliva on the platters. You need some of those torx screwdrivers or it'll be very tough to get the disks apart. If you have an old drive that doesn't work take it apart first just for training.

 

I don't know if you can get to the control mechanism of the heads from the outside. Search the seagate.com for any info on the disk. I found assembly plans for the 800's (I think it was at the end of the manual) on their site.

 

Is the data on the drive very important?

You might have to change the heads with the control pcb, cos they might be in one piece. Depends on the drive type.

 

Hope it helps.

 

Post back if you have more questions. Good luck!

[AquaHalo 0]

I wouldn't mess with the drive yourself if the data on it is seriously mission critical or very important. You need microscopes and dyes to align the servos on platters if they have been removed. I am pretty sure these tools are expensive and you need a clean room as well so you dont get any dust or hair on the platter as well. I have had drives crash on me all the time and I won't touch them myself. Call some data recovery company to do the job for you. I have used several of them but as far as I know there is only one near where I live. http://www.renewdata.com they have recovered critical stuff for me before.

 

Hope that helps.

[Bursar 0]

We recently had a drive die on us, and sent it to Ontrack for recovery. They did the job in a couple of days, and recovered everything on it. Only problem was the £2000 bill

 

Still, the powers that be thought it worthwhile.