CEOs 80GB Baraccuda died

[TheInternet1980]

Yeah, yeah, he didn't back up anything.

I need to transfer the platters from the dead Baraccuda, to a brand new one. The drives are exactly the same, down to the firmware revision. How difficult is this task?

Any issues I'll run into?

The drive was knocked out by a power surge in our building, so I imagine just the PCB or electrical components would be affected? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Gillbot]

Try swapping the PCB first?

 

[Nothinman]

You need a clean room to do that properly.

 

[taltamir]

... get professionals to do it for you.. 300$, the CEO should be able to afford that.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
Try swapping the PCB first?

I had planned on doing that firstly, before i messed with the platters

Originally posted by: Nothinman
You need a clean room to do that properly.

I'm aware that is recommended. However, we have no such room, and really no time for data recovery services. This would be a quick and dirty platter swap/backup drive immediately.

Originally posted by: taltamir
... get professionals to do it for you.. 300$, the CEO should be able to afford that.

Said CEO needs the data the drive contains immediately, and does not want to pay 1-3k for expedited services. Were that really an option, I wouldn't have posted here.

 

[Denithor]

No clean room = dusty platters = dead drive

Your call.

Hope the PCB transplant works.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Originally posted by: Denithor
No clean room = dusty platters = dead drive

Your call.

Hope the PCB transplant works.

Meh. I made it 100% clear that the data could be lost if I attempted to swap the platters to another drive. I was told to do it anyway. So I'll try the PCB replacement, and see what's up from there I guess.

 

[Denithor]

Good luck either way!

Sad part is, CEO won't learn his lesson and back stuff up unless you fail in the transplant and his drive is a complete loss. And even then he probably won't make any effort to back things up.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Yeah, the lack of foresight is irritating. I purchased a bunch of 750GB Samsung Spinpoints, when they were going for like $90 each, for all the executives to back up crap. Threw them into some enclosures, and I offered to setup scheduled backups for each of their workstations, but all declined. I'm guessing this one is feeling pretty retarded about that currently.

 

[VirtualLarry]

CEO Cranial-rectal inversion syndrome?

Backups should be manditory, not optional.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Tell me about it. I dictate IT policy to the rest of the employees...but the owners...well...I guess they consider themselves above the "law". So to speak. At least I won't catch hell for them not listening to me...lol. Funnily enough, every other workstation in the building is backed up monthly.

 

[RebateMonger]

You can't do a multi-platter swap without special tools to hold all the platters in alignment. You'll lose all the data.

Scott Moulton Presentation on Hard Drive Repair.

Video showing platter swap process with proper tooling.

If the problem was caused by a power surge, it's likely the PCB or motor, anyway.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Here's a whitepaper that even the stupidest CEO can understand:

Uh, I think it needs to be condensed down into five Powerpoint slides for CEOs to understand.

 

[capeconsultant]

There is only one guy I know who could maybe do this. I will try to find the web site. I have never seen anyone who knows more abourt hard drives. the guy is a genius, and has online lessons on how to swap platters. I WOULD STILL NEVER RECOMMEND DOING IT. Hvaing a "learning experience" with the CEO's data at stake is simply not "best practice".

took me 15 minutes, but I found it.

Here is a video on head replacement link and his web site link. If you find a guy that knows more than this guy, HIRE HIM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIPZtJyrVPw

www.myharddrivedied.com

Enjoy.

 

[capeconsultant]

Whoops, I did not see that someone already mentioned Scott.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

sounds like he's the complete opposite of my boss. we have 2x backups of everything @ the office.
My main duty is to oversee the backups