Any of you done data recovery?

[dmurray14]

Hey guys,

I have a failed western digital HD that i'd like to get some info off of. I fried the controller board accidentally. I requested a replacement drive expecting them to send the same model, but instead they sent one with a different controller on it. Any ideas as to how I can get this data off? Switching platters are out of the question because I want to get my money back when I return the failed one. I was looking on ebay, but none seem to have exactly the same model info as mine, so I can't tell which controllers would be compatible. Any help much appreciated!

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Matthias99]

If you want to try switching the PCB, you need to find one with the *exact* same model. If you call up WD and manage to talk to someone non-clueless, they might be able to send you one (assuming *they* have one!). It probably won't be free, though; they don't cover data recovery as part of their warranty/RMA process.

There are also a number of data recovery services that can do the work for you, but this would probably cost a few hundred dollars at least.

 

[dmurray14]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
If you want to try switching the PCB, you need to find one with the *exact* same model. If you call up WD and manage to talk to someone non-clueless, they might be able to send you one (assuming *they* have one!). It probably won't be free, though; they don't cover data recovery as part of their warranty/RMA process.

There are also a number of data recovery services that can do the work for you, but this would probably cost a few hundred dollars at least.

Yeah, that's the thing, I'd like to have the data recovered, but it's not so important that I woudl send it away...

Dan

 

[dmurray14]

^

 

[alanore]

A platter transfer would have never worked, the read heads sit a 1/10th of the width of a hair off the plater surface, not something that can be set by hand.

Like the above said you'll need an identical PCB, you could try ebay for a donar part, just question the seller asking which model/revision it is.

 

[dmurray14]

I think that's going to be the way to go. I found one on ebay, and although the numbers aren't identical, quite a few match, and the drive was made only 6 days after mine. Plus, the PC board looks exactly the same. I think I'll give it a try.

Dan

 

[imported_carson]

First, it has a chance, you also fried the heads inside your HDD.
Second, you can't just match the model number and hope it would be compatible.

Anyway, give it a try. If it doesn't work, try JP idata Recovery Lab.
They charge a reasonable price.

http://www.jpidata.com

 

[Green Man]

Good Luck.
I have successfully recovered several user's data by swapping the PCB on dead HDDs. All I ever had to go on was same manufacturer and family of drive and same size. You don't need to have an exact number match.