WD5000AAJS: spin, seek, click, spin, seek, click

[ciparis]

This thing failed pretty quickly, with a clean SMART just before it died. Nov 2007 date.

It spins up, then you can hear it seek (in the same pattern every time) before it clicks and very briefly powers off and quickly re-spins. This cycle repeats forever. Onboad controller just freezes the POST cycle through a bunch of spin-seek repetitions, and BIOS never shows the drive once it makes it past there. Alternate Marvell controller manages to identify it before passing it off to the OS, then the OS freezes while the cycle repeats a couple of times. I haven't managed to get the drive recognized at any level while in Windows yet.

It's not imperative but I wouldn't mind getting some data off of this... it's not worth $1000+ to get at it, though. Any options?

[BlackST]

Yes. Use as doorstop, paperweight, non conventional weapon... Almost surely surface or head problem, or Hw problem. No money no data.

[ciparis]

I'm not averse to spending money; I just don't want to spend enough to buy 2 or 3 netbooks.

[BlackST]

Then live without data. Or try some 'McGyvering' and destroy data and drive for sure but just for fun. Even for me and other pros these drives are a PITA to work on. Face the reality.

[HDD Spaz]

I'm not averse to spending money; I just don't want to spend enough to buy 2 or 3 netbooks.

I hear this a lot. I bet it gets said thousands of times a day.
"I can buy a whole new system for the amount you have quoted!"

Well, buy a new system instead but the new system won't come with your old data.

[BlackST]

The old data is not importaaaaaaaant !!! Otherwise they won't discuss.

[HDD Spaz]

The old data is not importaaaaaaaant !!! Otherwise they won't discuss.

just a load of WareZ and pORN eh BlackST?

[N.C.]

This thing failed pretty quickly, with a clean SMART just before it died. Nov 2007 date.

It spins up, then you can hear it seek (in the same pattern every time) before it clicks and very briefly powers off and quickly re-spins. This cycle repeats forever. Onboad controller just freezes the POST cycle through a bunch of spin-seek repetitions, and BIOS never shows the drive once it makes it past there. Alternate Marvell controller manages to identify it before passing it off to the OS, then the OS freezes while the cycle repeats a couple of times. I haven't managed to get the drive recognized at any level while in Windows yet.

It's not imperative but I wouldn't mind getting some data off of this... it's not worth $1000+ to get at it, though. Any options?

Hello,

This drive have weak head, and/or SA problem, i am sure.
Both can be solved (in a lot of cases) in my lab under $1000, if you interested...
The diagnose is free.
But please, don't let the drive to clicking! (it will destroy the change....)

PM me if interested.

Regards,
Janos

[BlackST]

I have a leather jacket for sale and also horse riding boots, place a bid... OMG !!

[jono-ats]

This drive may have a bad PCB, which is pretty common. If so, it's not a $1000+ repair.

[Doomer]

This drive may have a bad PCB, which is pretty common.

It is not common
Heads damage is much more common on these

[HDD Spaz]

This drive may have a bad PCB, which is pretty common.

It is not common
Heads damage is much more common on these

I agree.

[jono-ats]

That may be true. But lately bad boards have outnumbered bad heads 3/1 in this series for me.

[ciparis]

If there's a possible recovery at a (<$1000) cost, I'm all ears. How much to diagnose? What likely categories of failures pose what levels of cost to fix?

This drive series has a notable level of DOA and near-instant-failure reports on Newegg; not sure if that's helpful info or not.

[Zorb]

Very helpful... In telling you that you shouldn't have bought it.

WD=Garbage