How to swap HD platters?

[Ozz1113]

Before I get all the crap that it can't be done, i really have no choice. So...

I have two 15 gig IBM deskstars. One works, one does not. I need to pull data off the non-working unit. I dont want to pay to have it done. Both drives are coasters for all I care and if I kill them both, so be it.

I have a video of what the HD is doing, the servo arm can't seem to find its place. I took the cover off so it is pretty cool to see. I'll have to email it to people who want it b\c I can't host it anywhere. It's only 1 mb.

It just started after I cleaned a virus off my dads computer, i mean the reboot after...I thought some software on the PCB board of the HD was corrupted after the virus. It was just too much of a coincidence. After swapping PCB's the problem remained.
I was thinking of taking the disk w\ the data on it and replacing that inside of the good HD case. Is there any possibilty this can be done?

 

[ribbon13]

Do you realize how imperative it is to NOT open a HDD unless you're in a absolutely dust free 'clean room' or 'wet room'?

 

[Ozz1113]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Do you realize how imperative it is to NOT open a HDD unless you're in a absolutely dust free 'clean room' or 'wet room'?

Yep

 

[sharkeeper]

I dont want to pay to have it done.

Sorry but the data must not be very valuable then.

If the data truly has value, hand it over to a pro and cut them a check and call it a day. Seriously.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

haha...

the umm closest u may get is a bathroom after a real hot shower > working quickly > with robotic precise movements.

Not to mention easily screwing up the arm and tether.

 

[Bozo Galora]

put it up on http://rapidshare.de/ and post the link here

and if the covers off, you aint getting nuttin off that drive, pay or not.

 

[tjmjr]

Hope this is helpful, this is a quote from here:

"Got a dead 7200 Western Digital drive (9 months old) I want to
get repaired. Just physically repaired. I will do the data
recovery.


Easy. Buy 2 identical drives. Buy a medium sized fishtank (usually
40-60 dollars), 1 set of heavy-duty black neoprene gloves, 1 sheet
of Plexiglas and nonmagnetic screwdrivers (nonmetallic if possible),
Damprid sillica gel packs (the one that changes color), silicone caulking (has to be
100% silicone) black electrical tape or ducttape,handi wipes (the
green or blue cotton cloth), sticky rat trap. a licensed copy of
nortons ghost.

Lay the fishtank on the side and measure the opening, with the
measurements cut a section of Plexiglas that fits snugly across the tank. then
with a drill and cutter, cut 2 circles for the gloves to fit but
make sure the hole is slightly smaller. glue the outer collar flat against the
Plexiglas so it seals and affixes the gloves to the wholes and no air can get
through. wipe the insides and the Plexiglas with isopropyl alcohol and be very
careful to get most of the dust out. clean all tools and place tools,small
pliers and a collection container of choice inside, sticky rat trap and place the
damprid silica gel packs (2 of them) inside, place the two drives (mark the
bad one) inside and seal the box and affix electrical tape around the whole
thing. let the whole thing sit for 5-8 days (allowing the silica gel
packs to absorb moisture, and allowing the residual dust to settle
on the sticky rat trap.

Take apart the bad drive removing all parts and carefully dropping
them on the collection container. try not to stir dust or move
quickly. the final step is removing the platter assembly and placing
it aside carefully. Open the good drive and remove the heads and
platter assembly and swap the original drives assembly into the new
drive. reinstall head assembly and close drive.

With the rigged drive place it as the primary master in your PC,
place the Brand new drive (remember when I said buy 2 new identical
drives) as secondary master. Boot with the Norton ghost Diskette and
image the rigged drive to the new identical drive. And there you
have it, a recovered drive.
This is what those 600+ recovery outfits do anyways.

Maxtors/Quantums are easy to do, I am not sure about the WD and how
hard they are."


I know there is a step by step website out there w/pictures but I can't find it right now, good luck!

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Clean room is used by manufacturers to maximize the yield of new drives. You still wont have much luck changing platters. If those drives are identical, you may have better luck swapping the circuit boards. Jim

 

[Bassyhead]

You're going to need a lot of luck. I doubt it'll work if you already tried swapping the controller cards.