Thanks to everyone on this thread.

I learned a lot through mistakes on this go around.

One last idea, which I maybe laughed at for. Is it possible to create a home enclosure that meets the HEPA 100 standards so I can remove dust myself, or is this just an insane idea?

If not, I maybe at the point of no return... I have a feeling all the sharks are going to come out to offer their services, but what company / person would you recommend I send the drive to for assessment?

Just a reminder, there is NO physical damage to the heads / platter, etc. I simply opened the drive and I think it's just dust contaminated.

Thinking about giving this a go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPEa0Wc9iUc

Probably jono-ats is near you. There are also other members in the US.

Building a homemade clean room , while possible, would not be economically viable to this one-time recovery. Just accept that your actions have contaminated the drive, and send it to a professional of the field if you need the data. Otherwise, just trash the drive.

Thanks rogfanther. See my previous youtube link. That setup was made for roughly $15-20 USD.

Would it not be economical to try this first and if no luck, sending to DR?

Point is, you are doing this for research. You want to recover the data in THAT hard disk.

So, with solutions like these, you would need to get a bunch of hdds to practice, and refine the design of the clean box until it worked ok. Then, after all of that, if it will not be continuously used, the investment brings no return.

And let´s not forget the possibility that , when trying to work with the important hdd, you make things worse, so that data is now irrecuperable or cost much more to recover.

As an analogy, it is like if the dishwashwer broke. Stop messing with it, hear your wife and call the repairman. Before you need to get out in the middle of the weekend and buy a new one.

It is easier to obtain CO2. Should make the same effect, but some experiments would be nice !

great idea
one problem the main box is made with cardboard which will release so much particles you cant even imagine
second it's a way off from being an HEPA 100 not even close
a real HEPA 100 coxt much more that 15-20 bucks

don't believe everything you see on youtube

A fire extinguisher would be a little too heavy to manage. I was thinking on those smaller canisters used for pressure guns and the like. About 30cm long with 5cm diameter.

But in some cases a fire extinguisher would end the problems of a Seagate hard disk.