Disk condition:
Detectable with usb casing but partitions showing 0 size
Only one Partition is detectable or identified by spinrite
Partition tools say bad sectors
Used 40-44 pin converter to boot with Hiren or system recovery disk identifies only partitions but with 0 size
Requirement:
First data recovery and if rectifiable then can manage to get the HDD replaced under warranty
Symptoms n Scenario
The HDD was throwing ticking noise
Spinrite when executed initially the ticking sound was there while disk initialising and after option 2 execution the noise went down and the hdd sector scan continued
Queries
Help me with some good suggestions on how to get my data back please

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sillyminds

Common for one head or more to fail on these.

Where are u based?

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Well ... Bangalore India
Can you help me on the scenario any detail sum up pl or a practically precise approach so that I can diagnose this.
How many platters on this disk.
Do you mean to say that if 2 platters are there one if the head is failing ??


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sillyminds

There are two platters and four heads in these drives.

If it's ticking, there's a good chance the heads need replacing.

If you need your data, then send to a pro. But he'll have to open the drive up and therefore void your warranty anyway.

Sean

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Then how is it that the spinrite is able to do the scanning. Is it unique by principle ??
Is there any way that I can take raw clone of the disk and do the PRO approach.
Which is the best of the breed RAW Disk Cloning software available?
Acronis True Image vs FTK imager ... any light on this pl

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sillyminds

Get rid of Spinrite, period! It should be renamed HD Killer. Did you check the motor for binding?

_________________
Buy your friends Toshiba\Hitachi and your enemies Seagate.

The clicking is a sign of hardware failure, like I said one head could well be failed, I got a bunch of this model like this.

thadellguy is right, do not use Spinrite.

Try CopyR, or Media tools to image the drive to a good one, then run some DR software, such as getdataback. But if my hunch is right, these tools will struggle with a drive with a bad head.

Have you tried scanning with MHDD, at various points across the HDD? To check for patches of bad/unreadable sectors?

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New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

Pl ignore my innocense by the way what do u mean by media tools.
1. Another dumb Q ==> Will Norton Ghost be appropriate
2. Does Acronis True Image or FTK Imager make sense for taking raw disk clone images ??
3. If i had run spinrite and stopped after a minute then what would be the impact.

Still this would be recovered right. Well I am also looking out for a used Toshiba HDD.

4. Whats the reason that you primer spinrite as HDD killer??

Can I get any other model to fit this disk's platters or do I require the same model to do the platter shifting.

Yes ofcourse I am starting the mhdd and see what can be done. In the meantime I am trying to get a Pro who can do this at a reasonable costs or will sit on a DIY by preparing the cleanroom setup for changing platters.

I require another similar HDD Toshiba MK1234GAX 2.5". Is it easily available. I mean to ask when was this disk model release so as to understand its availability on seconds or used.
Yes I require a neat donor not necessarily a disk working all thru but if its platters are down that would do. Just need disk with head assembly working. Am I right folks??

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sillyminds

1. Norton ghost will NOT be good enough.
2. Maybe, but these are designed for healthy disks, not sick ones!
3. Depends on what it's done already, but hopefully it'll be OK
4. Because it hammers drives way too hard, until they die. IMHO

You do NOT need to transfer the platters, just the heads. Assuming my long-distance diagnosis is correct. It is possible that you have s apindle problem also, but not so common on this model.

Heads from same model and country will suffice for compatibility.

I respectfully suggest you enlist the help of a pro, before you render your drive unrecoverable.

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New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

Appreciative of the suggestions provided. Here the Data recovery in my case scenario is quiet a rarity. So will do a DIY with a home made CRE that I had some yrs back. Just need to know how different is the internals of Toshiba when compared to seagate please. I had done quite a bit of work on seagate some time back. I had never had a look at Toshiba till now as its first ever. So trying to get some RFI. Can you share Toshiba MK1234GAX 2.5" model's internals like some docs or circuitry layout..etc pl ?!!

BTB do you have any in depth of PC3000 cards and related software ... can u shred some light on this if not redundant pl ?!!

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sillyminds

how much can u pay?

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There is no substitute for education and experience
THANK YOU
SHAHI
shahi.mahbub@gmail.com

For What ?? What are you offering Shahij

check PM

_________________
__________
There is no substitute for education and experience
THANK YOU
SHAHI
shahi.mahbub@gmail.com

Well ,
Who Said this Country Does Not Have Dr Pros ,Well Send It To Me i will diagnose and Tell You The Exact Problem .Once Received I will do That Diagnose Or If Its Beyond Me i will Refer you To Someone else ,Send Me a PM If You Are Interested

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Amarbir S Dhillon , Chandigarh Data Recovery Labs [India]
Logical,Semi Physical And Physical Data Recovery
Website-> http://www.chandigarhdatarecovery.com

Thanks Amarbir.

Wish I was nearer by 2298 km still I'd love to explain you the scenario. I know that you all are the best of the breed pro's at DR. This scenario does require a donor of the same model n mfg'r. Right so, my request is for a tech spec internals and dimensional spec to do a preface. I am developing myself as a DR specialist trying to go ahead deep HDD space. I had grown this as a profession turned hobby more in to some thesis kinda gamut. Just started writing a context so took this as a case scenario. So can you pl help me in resolving this scenario?

Objective:
DR ==> Toshiba MK1234GAX 2.5" Laptop Hard Disk This is a pro work that I had taken as a subject for analysis.

Claimed by many a DR Pro's at a relative distance to my place as the most expensive or not possible.

What I require is to do a platter change to the donor and do a disk Raw Image then do a RAW recovery of all the files leaving apart bad sectors.

So I need to attempt a head or platter change using a very less expensive CRE and platter or head changing tool.

So can somebody lend me for a very small time for a DIY activity as mentioned above?

I require a donor.
I require a Pro advice on the platter or head change (Though I had done some times some time back)

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sillyminds

Sillyminds, I am assuming that you have given up on the data on this drive. If you want to attempt a head change for an experiment, I have a suggestion;
1: Get a Lacie 320GB external drive (these usually have two Hitach Deskstar 160GB drives) or
2: Go to a local computer shop and dig through their old drives until you find a matching pair

Then you will want to
1: Remove the drives from the case (if applicable)
2: Wipe the drives with a pattern of all "1s"
3: move the heads between the drives
4: connect the drives and read them with a hex editor to inspect your work.
5: Repeat

No one is saying that you do not have the aptitude to repair the drive, they are questioning the experience. The hitachi drives I recommended are similar in function to your toshiba and make a good learning platform. Everyone that posts regularly to this forum has a lot of experience, and they are truely helping you. I doubt anyone will lend equipment or time to help you destroy your data. On the other hand, if you work hard at it and show proficiency it will get easier to get the answers you need. I have only played with a few Toshiba drives. I pass all of them over to people who are more proficient with them. Maybe you should do the same.
2 cent recommendation worth thousands
Shawn

Toshibas rarely click. It could be bad heads. I could be a bad logic PCB. I'd bet you've got a scratch on one of the platters.

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In any case I would never lend or hire tools outside. Strange request...

I respect a Pro's advice as to when the requirement for a Pro is essential...affordability is the question of matter - True to fact that data is important and yes I can give a try not to do more damage pl.
No I am not adamant but am a trained technician not a Pro like u folks pl.

1. Folks can u mention a software that reads and corrects HDD's size, I meant to ask for a software which can edit copy restore or paste or save or rebuild only sector o and 1? This is required to correct the HDD's size pl. Its showing some 40346729Gb.

No doubt that I am here with Pro's who are lot better n well qualified 300 % than me dear phishin. I am a small time HW pro along with a hobby on HDD data recovery.
HDD SW Data recovery was a profession till some time back. But never handled 2.5"'s.

Thanks for your advice. Here I am actually working on a real time scenario.
Yes I could understand that I need to become an exp Pro like u folks so that the Pro Advice makes sense.
Yes I shall leverage myself to ur degree of Pro'ism with some mock models which I love to do and gained experience on platter changing with seagate 3.5" drives till 2006. I have a work bench made out of fibre and a centrifugal pump set for a CRE and a Head/Platter change mechanism, self fabricated way back 2004. This donot fit a 2.5".

2. Fact is that its 2.5" that I require to fabricate. So this request for 2.5 dimensions n mechanism detail. Please help me out with some docs or spec material.
This comes out of learning and with a cost (losing data).
Just trying hit some luck, in the meantime trying to procure some used or dead Toshiba models some dead by board n dead by platter/head.

BlackST I have done a few by lending some of the Equipment.
At present he is immigrated to AUS. So finding difficult to get some ... so the request -- not sooo strange.

3. Can I get the circuit details for this model board and preamp details ???

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sillyminds

About #3, think... There is still no support even on the most expensive hdd diag tools, imagine schematics...