How can I diagnose problems with heads?

[CrazyDoctor]

Hi All,

How can I know if the cause to the fault of the HDD is the heads?
Is there any symptoms for that?


Many Thanks!

[unknown]

CLICKING.

[BlackST]

THE DRIVE DOESN'T WORK

[quasimodo]

To get some scientific proof there are some expensive tools, with the proper tools and sufficient know how you can make some measurements. But if your not ready to dish out at least 10K, then you can go with less scientific solutions. But of course they are not 100%. As the gentlemen above already stated: clicking noise, the drive not being ready, etc...
can all possible be an indication that your heads are damaged. But like I said an indication, not 100% proof.

Best of luck to you!

[beto]

By sounds, checking ATA register control´s, status control , Checking digital waveforms using special tools like DDA¨s , at some brands checking terminal log´s and interpreting status , using special tools or building u own tools, u will be able to editting head map and tried for that ,checking answers like Servo read , servo gate signal, etc until u get wich head its bad, for example over WD , checking visullay with microscope , checking internally preamplifier outputs in another words using u ears , hands, eyes, brain in conclusion with experience

[rameez]

And if 1 head out of 2 is bad then you get bad sectors in the same pattern .
I mean to say that bad sectors also indicate bad heads .

[BlackST]

I stuck with DDA... the only problem is that it costs like a car and you cannot go on it for a ride

[CrazyDoctor]

I stuck with DDA... the only problem is that it costs like a car and you cannot go on it for a ride

What is DDA?
What is the full name of it? and what actually can you do with that?

[BlackST]

If you have >10'000 $ (10 thousand) ... to analyze digital signal.

Now don't ask what can you do with oscilloscope and multimeter. The answer is : repair your stereo (maybe).