Data Recovery {Maxtor 500GB SATA}

[neeData]

just afew days ago, my pc crashed, on reboot got error like 'error reading drive F:/$ somehting' followed by the drive disappearing and clicking noises.
data recovery here in aus is way expensive iv been quoted at 500-1500, 899 and 999 to recover my data, so i have opted to attempt and recover it myself.

i was thinking id take the drive apart and move the disk into a functional identical drive.
would this be the way to go ? or is header replacing easier?

any info is appreciated. ty

[jono-ats]

If you catch a cold, should you get a tonsillectomy? If someone gets mugged in West Australia, should you run out and buy a machine gun?

Where do people get this idea that all bad drives need to have their platters transplanted?

Sorry, Mate, but these Hitachi drives are complicated, with many platters and heads, and far beyond something you can fix -- much less diagnose accurately -- by yourself without the proper tools, knowledge, & experience.

By all means DON'T open up the drive if you really want your data back. This is a job for a pro.

[TerraNova]

neeData, if you DIY you will be guaranteed loose everything.

Where do people think Data Recovery is like baking a bread?

FYI, Data recovery is highly specialized field, that price is considered reasonable IMHO.

[HeadCrash]

just afew days ago, my pc crashed, on reboot got error like 'error reading drive F:/$ somehting' followed by the drive disappearing and clicking noises.

It could be anything here, but most likely head problem.

data recovery here in aus is way expensive iv been quoted at 500-1500, 899 and 999 to recover my data, so i have opted to attempt and recover it myself.

You will destroy everything in it.

i was thinking id take the drive apart and move the disk into a functional identical drive. would this be the way to go ? or is header replacing easier?

Ummm.....NO...you need a pro, especially MAXTOR drives are extremely difficult.

[BlackST]

No comment.

[pepe]

Must be joking...

pepe

[pcimage]

Where do people get this idea that all bad drives need to have their platters transplanted?

Youtube and sad little "IT Managers" blogs etc, that's where!

Platter transplanation is by far and away "last chance saloon", do NOT under any circumstances attempt to do this, if you value your data 1 cent!

Now guys, you know we'll be accused of "keeping secrets to ourselves", or "profiteering", or "scare mongering"?!?!?

Whether you believe me or not neeData, this IS beyond you (and quite probably many DR shops in all honesty).

If your data is worth anything to you, then save up and pay a pro.

Period.
(/BlackST mode = off)

[dobrevjetser]

Sean, i like that BlackST mode thing ! lol

Dobre

[neeData]

sheesh no need to be so negative and angry haha.

we'll see how i go. i might get stuck halfway through disassembling it, or might damage it through lack of a proper cleanroom. but if i DO manage to fix it, im gonna come back here and spam lol

[pcimage]

Now, there's a shock.

Ask for advice, then promptly ignore it because it wasn't you wanted to hear!

Seriously, good luck to you if you DO manage it. But somehow, I very very much doubt it.

[HDD Spaz]

I guess we wont be seeing him again.

[BlackST]

So much hassle for what?

[msurgeon]

Am firmly convinced that the more one tries to discourage an end user from DIY repair, especially platter swaps, the more firmly determined they become to do it. I think the idea of swapping out platters is somehow deeply satisfying to many people. Think about it from a novice's perspective: the platters hold the data in the same way a CD holds your music. If you can't listen to your music in one player, then move it to another. I don't think there's any way to discourage people from this "intuitive" approach to data recovery. (As a sidebar I've always wondered why multiple platters are not designed to be removed as a fixed unit rather than as free-floating frisbees; perhaps the cost of a couple of spacers and lockwashers would add $1 to the total cost of the drive and ruin profit margins). At any rate, I believe it's futile to dissuade people from what is apparently the profoundly rewarding experience of platter swapping.

[drc]

I've always wondered why multiple platters are not designed to be removed as a fixed unit rather than as free-floating frisbees

Manufacturers have no incentive at all to make data recovery easier, and as long as their product can hold it together for the 1-5 years of warranty period they really don't care how catastrophically it kills itself afterward.

[neeData]

GUESS WHO GOTS 289GB OF DATA BACK.
got an acquaintance who previously oversaw and performed many clean room platter transplants to help, and ofcourse a HE HPE PRO XD

[falther]

GUESS WHO GOTS 289GB OF DATA BACK.
got an acquaintance who previously oversaw and performed many clean room platter transplants to help, and ofcourse a HE HPE PRO XD

Perfect, you just confirmed that someone else - a pro - whom you didnt know before
did this job for you.

So the pros who gave you a correct advice where all right and you confirmed it
- thank you!

***

We had a topic on that behaviour allready - but, read it till the end:

expert-advice-shuts-your-brain-down-t11789.html

[BlackST]

And you wanted to do it yourself...

[HDD Spaz]

he could be telling lies of course. What model was the hard drive?

[hddguy]

GUESS WHO GOTS 289GB OF DATA BACK.
got an acquaintance who previously oversaw and performed many clean room platter transplants to help, and ofcourse a HE HPE PRO XD

A professional with many years of DR experience would NOT have performed platterswap on a clicking HDD. Head Replacement would have worked fine.

Maybe your acquaintance simply got lucky this time.

[BlackST]

Something doesn't match : why MANY PLATTER SWAPs ? One could be sufficient. How much did they charge ?