Hard drive surgery

[skisteven1]

So my hard drive started spewing smoke the other day... And while there's nothing "mission critical" on there -- there's a bunch of stuff I'd like to save. So I'm hoping to attempt this [hackaday.com] recovery on it.

...Am I crazy? Anyone have some suggestions? Feel free to run the gambit with this one.

 

[imported_rod]

If it's really important, you can get professionals to do it for you, but that is fairly expensive.

But if it's not, then this is something that will give you bragging-rights (assuming you manage to pull it off)

RoD

 

[goobernoodles]

Well, I have to leave for work in 2 minutes, but that looks like it would be kind of fun. Especially if you pull it off.

Keep us updated. Take some pictures if you'd like

 

[poisonthewell]

Why not put up a disco ball and use your hdd as a smoke machine?

 

[Bozo Galora]

dunno if you should fix it, the smoke from the HDD might help mask the room smell from the marijuana bongs..

 

[Maxspeed996]

Brother , for all that is sacred to men.....YOU MUST DO THIS. And take many pictures to let us all see the process that you undertake. I have taken apart more things than most people could ever even dream of.....but isn't this the real reason why we all first cracked open our computer cases anyway!!!
Men everywhere will rally behind your cause....DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!

 

[firewall]

:thumbsup:

 

[goobernoodles]

Originally posted by: Maxspeed996
Brother , for all that is sacred to men.....YOU MUST DO THIS. And take many pictures to let us all see the process that you undertake. I have taken apart more things than most people could ever even dream of.....but isn't this the real reason why we all first cracked open our computer cases anyway!!!
Men everywhere will rally behind your cause....DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!

QFT hahaha

 

[skisteven1]

Has anyone done anything like this before? or replaced circuit boards? If I have a Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 9 250GB ATA/133 drive that went bad, does it have to be the same drive that i'm trying to stuff it into? or would a similar drive be ok? How about a Diamondmax Plus 9 80GB? 200GB? 160GB? etc.

Thanks!

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, It would need to be the same board for the drive. Version No. may not be an issure. It's worth a try. Only problem might be to find the right tool for the screws, but I've improvised many times. Good Luck, Jim

 

[Bozo Galora]

I have been through this type thing many many times. Nobody but nobody backs up data.

For the best shot you need not only same model CB, but same firmware version.
I just tried to save a maxtor 20GB that had two years of work on it for a friend, and made the mistake of letting him order the drive - the firmware was different.
So we had to send it back for another.
His drive only had one platter - thats the easiest.
Multiple platers means you have to mark the outside edge of the platters somehow so that they can index on motor shaft same way (synchronize to previous positions) and how they stack on spindle. (1-2-3-4, not 1-3-2-4)
You will only get one shot at it - once the drive is turned off it will not move head assemblies again. (air cushion disturbed by particles)
When first trying CB replace, you will have to carefuly lift board at 18 pin data connector so that you dont bend pins.
My friends drive (PC) had been dropped while being transported from 3rd to first floor in office building and wands were stuck past park position.
When he tried to boot, since the wands couldnt move, he then fried the servo voice coil.
Before knowing this I tried the freezer trick, which did free the wand assembly (green activity light no longer stayed on all the time), but it could not seek properly.
Frozen motor bearing or burnt voice coil or mag pickup head broken off means no recovery without disassembly possible.
He then sent it out and paid $2200 and got his data.

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
I have been through this type thing many many times. Nobody but nobody backs up data.

For the best shot you need not only same model CB, but same firmware version.
I just tried to save a maxtor 20GB that had two years of work on it for a friend, and made the mistake of letting him order the drive - the firmware was different.
So we had to send it back for another.
His drive only had one platter - thats the easiest.
Multiple platers means you have to mark the outside edge of the platters somehow so that they can index on motor shaft same way (synchronize to previous positions) and how they stack on spindle. (1-2-3-4, not 1-3-2-4)
You will only get one shot at it - once the drive is turned off it will not move head assemblies again. (air cushion disturbed by particles)
When first trying CB replace, you will have to carefuly lift board at 18 pin data connector so that you dont bend pins.
My friends drive (PC) had been dropped while being transported from 3rd to first floor in office building and wands were stuck past park position.
When he tried to boot, since the wands couldnt move, he then fried the servo voice coil.
Before knowing this I tried the freezer trick, which did free the wand assembly (green activity light no longer stayed on all the time), but it could not seek properly.
Frozen motor bearing or burnt voice coil or mag pickup head broken off means no recovery without disassembly possible.
He then sent it out and paid $2200 and got his data.

I hope he learned his lesson.

 

[skisteven1]

If my drive started literally smoking -- is my best bet to try replacing the cb first? or should i go straight for moving the platters?

And if I'm moving the platters -- does it matter as much if its not the exact same drive?

thanks!

 

[Bozo Galora]

Originally posted by: skisteven1
If my drive started literally smoking -- is my best bet to try replacing the cb first? or should i go straight for moving the platters?

And if I'm moving the platters -- does it matter as much if its not the exact same drive?

thanks!

Smoking from where???
Did you look to see???
Turn it on and see where its coming from - that will help tell you the prob.
Since its all screwed up anyway you wont hurt it anymore.
The inner drive is sealed from outside environment - smoke cannot come out unless seals are broken
Give the circuit board the smell test and check all componenets for burns with magnifying glass.

Edit: another thing to watch out for is vibrations greater than normal when spinning - warped platters - revealing extremely difficult recov situation.

 

[V00D00]

There is also some data stored on the chips of the circuit board with synch information different for each drive. If that doesn't mach up pretty closely or is just way out of the ballpark this trick will not work.

Best of luck though.