I'm just gonna throw this question out there and see what responses I get.

So if someone was performing their first head swap but could only afford a clean bench or a great precision tool made by HDD Surgery for swapping heads which would you recommend they buy to give them the greater chance of success? The clean bench or the HDD Surgery Tool?

Please don't say both.

Thanks

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http://www.computerworksuk.com

If you had to go in for surgery and had a choice of 3 hospitals, which would you choose?

Hospital A - a sterile clean operating room, but no tools or equipment other than a swiss army knife, paper towel and duck tape.

Hospital B - all the fancy equipment, but they do the surgery in a garage while a mechanic is changing someone's tires.

Hospital C - all the fancy equipment and a sterile operating room.

If you cannot be hospital C, outsource or refer your client to someone who can.

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Luke
RAID Data Recovery

Very thoughtful analagy but with the hard drive operation complete it would then be cloned onto a new drive so slightly different scenario no?

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http://www.computerworksuk.com

I think what Luke is saying is that you shouldn't attempt a head swap unless you have both proper tools and a clean environment.

I'd say go with the clean hood. Then buy these head swap tools for much less than HDDSurgery (which I happen to know even Luke doesn't use)

http://er-tools.com/

They are sold out now, but I'm betting will have more soon.

Also keep in mind that you need to use ESD protection. Even a static discharge too small to notice will destroy the headstack.

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Data Medics - Hard Drive, SSD, and RAID Data Recovery Service Company

If I might ask, what model drive are you working on?

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Data Medics - Hard Drive, SSD, and RAID Data Recovery Service Company

Sure it's a WD10JMVW

Thanks

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http://www.computerworksuk.com

I think that lcoughey gave pretty good answer. Head replacement tools and clean cabinets are two different things which can't be compared and both are pretty important for the DR business. However, we are hoping that soon (during this year) we will have our own Horizontal Laminar Flow Cabinet in offer (check https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjqkyIcqyuo). So, the plan is that you will be in position to buy both things under HddSurgery brand.

About price of our tools. There are reasons which stand behind their price. Costs of development, CAD modeling, technical drafting, prototype making, testing, production in high tolerances, having adequate machine park (which satisfies such tolerances) and corresponding cutting, shaping, fixing and support tools, making support documentation, quality control again and again, marketing, etc... However, after all procedures are fulfilled I think that we get tools of high quality and the tools which our colleagues evaluate as the best on the market. That's our greatest satisfaction and motivation to continue with good work.

I've placed an order for the WD ramp set and am looking forward to trying them out

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http://www.computerworksuk.com

The tools left our office in this moment, check email with tracking info during the day.
Please, when you try the tools, share here your experience in using them.

Thank you! I feel like it's Christmas all over again

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http://www.computerworksuk.com

So then is it safe for us to assume that you're dispensing with the clean environment? If so I feel bad for your customer.

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Data Medics - Hard Drive, SSD, and RAID Data Recovery Service Company

there is some details of a project to build your own on here, and you can probably get away with not building it as good as Larry did.

Should not compromise on a clean environment.

No I will also be ordering a clean bench

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http://www.computerworksuk.com

that goes for everything that has to do with DR.
I tell to my guys Data recovery is a process of simple steps that need to be done in precise order.
Everyone can remove a screw or put a head change tool, but if you want to try a short cut it is dangerous.
No mater if you change heads with papers, open drive on table, copy data and no clone etc etc etc....
But life is not black and white, 99% of companies did not start with clean room and original pc3k...
But good ones have all they need after some time

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HddSurgery - Professional Data Recovery Tools

Can you give me ETA and approx cost of your bench? Mine is starting to play up (motor struggles to start up from cold, so I have to hit it!), typically just after I've paid £400 for a service and re-certification!

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PC Image Data Recovery
www.pcimage.co.uk

not ready yet, why everyone is asking about tools we have not finished

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HddSurgery - Professional Data Recovery Tools

if it was up to me, I would get a the bench first. Tools for any drive with external parking ramp are a luxury. Not saying you shouldn't get it, but lets be honest you can use many things to space out the heads and prevent them from touching on a passport (some very very inexpensive things). However, without the laminar flow, you will most likely contaminate the top disk out, and 20-30 minutes into the imaging process (if your headswap is success) you will begin to hear noises...

I agree that both clean hood and tools are useful, but a head swap is not the kind of things that I would do for clients without prior training with waste drives.

You could purchase some tools to train yourself with waste drives, like drives with bad sectors abandoned by past customers after a successful DR, being aware that these drives may crash, because of the contamination when opened in a non cleanroom environment.

A laminar flow cabinet is not all in itself.
The user behaviour is also an important to avoid contamination (smooth movements, surgical mask, gloves, pens without fibers, a.s.o.). I read one time a paper about how many particles does a surgeon emit during an operation (because of transpiration, scurf, ...) ; it was considerable.
In real clean rooms (i.e. chambers), the operator is the main source of contamination if he doesn't wear special clothes, use non-fiber pens, a.s.o.
Of course, probably less with a laminar flow cabinet, as apart from hands you don't have your body in it and the air flow can be strong.

You could train yourself with tools before buying or building a cumbersome clean bench.
One possible problem however is the contamination of the tools themselves, when used in a non-clean environment. Maybe do exist tool decontamination techniques if you obtain a laminar cabinet afterwards.

Most of the guys here does 10+ head swaps before 12am.
You know that right ?

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HddSurgery - Professional Data Recovery Tools