Computer /Hard disk / Lost Data Gurus...Need info!

11/12/2007 11:39:50 AM · #1

Hello,

I have some files on a hard drive that stopped working. (I dropped it) I feel the data is there and I just broke some other hardware. The data is not very important so I thought I might try to dig out myself.

I want to open the damaged drive and move the "disk" to an old drive that is currently working (but I don't need).

EDIT: had backwards:
My damaged drive is an IDE 30GB Western Digital.
The drive I want to move it to is a 4gb drive. Are they the same "mechanically"?

Is this as easy as just unscrewing the disk inside and placing it in the other drive?

Should I get hold of another 30gb drive to tranfer into or can I go from a 30gb to a 4gb?

What about "head" "cylinders" etc...

BTW:
I DO HAVE ACCESS TO A CLEAN ROOM.

Thanks

Message edited by author 2007-11-12 11:42:26.

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

11/12/2007 11:52:01 AM · #2

I'm assuming that they are both IDE 2.5"HDD right? I'm not sure that the hardware inside is the same but it should be pretty close.

Does the disk spin at all???

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZF f/1.4 Planar T

11/12/2007 12:11:41 PM · #3

Since I didn't open it yet I can't tell if it is spinning. It seems to be doing something b/c it makes some clicks and clanks.

Originally posted by Lowcivicman99:

I'm assuming that they are both IDE 2.5"HDD right? I'm not sure that the hardware inside is the same but it should be pretty close.

Does the disk spin at all???

nikolaos

Nikon D200

11/12/2007 12:29:07 PM · #4

Originally posted by kenskid:

Since I didn't open it yet I can't tell if it is spinning. It seems to be doing something b/c it makes some clicks and clanks.

Most likely broken head/motor. If the head hit physicaly the plates when you droped it (most likely) the data in that arrea is gone.

I know people who have replaced the board (the green thing in the back) with an identical one (in case there's a burned circut - not likely your case) but I never seen someone replacing (succesfuly) a motor/head. Opening the disk and exposing the plates is not a good idea if you care about the data on them... the dust will render it useless.

-N.

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZF f/1.4 Planar T

11/12/2007 12:38:29 PM · #5

I wouldn't be replacing the motor/head. I would be putting the disk into a drive that "machanically" works.

Like I said, the data is not very important so I surely don't want to pay $500+ for someone to get it.

I'll take my chances with dust b/c even if I destroy the disk, I'm still where I started b/c it is not working now!

Originally posted by nikolaos:

Originally posted by kenskid:
Since I didn't open it yet I can't tell if it is spinning. It seems to be doing something b/c it makes some clicks and clanks.

Most likely broken head/motor. If the head hit physicaly the plates when you droped it (most likely) the data in that arrea is gone.

I know people who have replaced the board (the green thing in the back) with an identical one (in case there's a burned circut - not likely your case) but I never seen someone replacing (succesfuly) a motor/head. Opening the disk and exposing the plates is not a good idea if you care about the data on them... the dust will render it useless.

-N.

nikolaos

Nikon D200

11/12/2007 12:47:41 PM · #6

Originally posted by kenskid:

I wouldn't be replacing the motor/head. I would be putting the disk into a drive that "machanically" works.

So, you would be putting the "data" (aka plates) on a drive that "works" (motor and heads are working ok). It's the same thing.

Here's some info about the isides of a drive.

-N.

11/12/2007 12:58:05 PM · #7

Thanks for the link...I'm checking it out.

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s