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redhat81
07-09-2003, 08:22 AM
A recent thread by another poster who recently lost his drive prompts me to ask:
If a hard drive dies, it's usually because the motors that spin the drive have given out, right? The platters where the data is stored should be intact, shouldn't they?
Can't these platters just be removed and put into a new hard drive case so that the information on them can be restored?
I think it depends.
Some months ago my 40gb got broken, I sent it to reparation and they told me that it couldn't be repaired. Anyway, since the firsts sectors of the hd were #$!&^ I can still using it as secondary hd, for data storage.
Icarus
07-09-2003, 08:46 AM
I think most minor damage can be repaired (motors, connectors, ect...) but if the platters get damaged you'll never be able to use it again except as a paperwieght/doorstop
joelc
07-09-2003, 08:51 AM
It's not always the motors. Sometimes the read/write heads break, too. If that happens, they can scratch the plates, and then you're hosed.
terribleRobbo
07-09-2003, 09:06 AM
Originally posted by serz
Some months ago my 40gb got broken, I sent it to reparation and they told me that it couldn't be repaired. Anyway, since the firsts sectors of the hd were #$!&^ I can still using it as secondary hd, for data storage.
Was it a Seagate Barracuda, perchance...?
mdwatts
07-09-2003, 09:15 AM
Most of the time it's due to a head crash which damages the platters and read/write heads.
mrBen
07-09-2003, 09:26 AM
In some cases you can remove the platters and place in another drive ie. in some cases the heads get stuck on their ramp and don't get near the platters.
However, given how sensitive the platters are to dust, you need to do it in a clean-room environment, which is why data-recovery companies charge £1000+ for this service.
Originally posted by terribleRobbo
Was it a Seagate Barracuda, perchance...?
No, a Fijitsu.
i have 2 dead ones that i have turned into art.
i opened one up and left the other one intact and have them arrange artfully on my desk :)
mdwatts
07-09-2003, 11:54 AM
Originally posted by Hayl
i opened one up and left the other one intact and have them arrange artfully on my desk :)
In other words you have a lot of crap on your desk that serves absolutely no purpose. :p
Originally posted by mdwatts
In other words you have a lot of crap on your desk that serves absolutely no purpose. :p
nope. i threw away all those posts from you that i had printed :)
redhat81
07-09-2003, 12:09 PM
You guys make me laugh :)
mdwatts
07-09-2003, 12:23 PM
Originally posted by Hayl
nope. i threw away all those posts from you that i had printed :)
Hey !!! :(
Now what are to do when you have a problem? :p
mdwatts
07-09-2003, 12:24 PM
Originally posted by redhat81
You guys make me laugh :)
You can catch us at the Comedy Club this weekend. Hayl is the janitor. :eek:
Originally posted by redhat81
Can't these platters just be removed and put into a new hard drive case so that the information on them can be restored? In a clean-room environment only; hard drives are hermetically sealed for a reason.
There are many companies that specialize in that kind of data recovery, but the service is very expensive; not something the average home user would do.
Originally posted by Hayl
i opened one up and left the other one intact and have them arrange artfully on my desk :) I once gathered an assortment of dead drives together, opened them all up, arranged them in different orientations on a piece of plywood, and hooked them up to an old power supply. Made a great conversation piece, and I could actually show my clients how hard drives worked.
:)