[URGENT] Seagate nightmare :

[Sara]

Hello.
I'm new here, this is my first post and I'm requesting assistance with the following matter :
I have a seagate ST380215A with Firmware: 3.AAD that contains vital information that I need to get back.
The drive was working just fine and yesterday after I boot up my PC it wouldn't show on BIOS at all.
I've removed the drive from the PC and also tried on another one. Drive powers on but just click without stopping. MHDD can't see the drive at all.
Also I've tried to replace the PC because I have another similar drive that I've acquire on the same place at the same time and the only difference is the last digit of the serial number, so the drive is completely compatible, but the problem is the same, the damaged drive just click.
So I'm assuming it's heads problem.
Since the drive should be of one platter only, can I move the platter from the damaged drive to the good one ? Or the heads ?
I've never done that before but I can't loose the data inside the drive. It's half-full but contains some familiar photos that I will not be able to have again. Unfortunately I don't have any backup of them ....
Any advice on how to recover my data will be very welcome.
Thanks in advance.

Sara

[jono-ats]

Clicking in Seagates is usually head failure with media damage. There is nothing you can do yourself. If the media is damaged, it will ruin new (replacement) heads.

Do not try a platter swap or you can say adios to your data.

[scratchy]

Sara Try PM'ing David Marques - He is in your part of the world.

[Sara]

I don't want to say adios to my precious data, no, no.
There must be a way out of this, something that I can do to solve this horrible problem without having to pay a fortune. I've always been told that the experts on the data recovery field usually don't work for end-user /general public also and the prices are very high. I have a family to feed and I can't expend the same amount of money on my personal data than an enterprise would spend on their own corporative data.
Have anyone here ever tried to do the platter swapping ? With success ?
Also, can it be done safely on open air like stated on Scott videos on youtube ? After reviewing all of those videos I'm pretty confident that I will succeed on my recovery and I will be able to save some money too.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.

[unknown]

Do not try platter swap with this drive if data is really important and you care

about it.

Good luck

[N.C.]

I don't want to say adios to my precious data, no, no.
There must be a way out of this, something that I can do to solve this horrible problem without having to pay a fortune. I've always been told that the experts on the data recovery field usually don't work for end-user /general public also and the prices are very high. I have a family to feed and I can't expend the same amount of money on my personal data than an enterprise would spend on their own corporative data.
Have anyone here ever tried to do the platter swapping ? With success ?
Also, can it be done safely on open air like stated on Scott videos on youtube ? After reviewing all of those videos I'm pretty confident that I will succeed on my recovery and I will be able to save some money too.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.

Hello,

In this way, you will save some money, yes, but loose all your data forever...
(This is why you don't need to pay for recovery.)

Based on your story, the problem is the preamp (+pcb maybe).
The data is still there safely, but there is nothing what you can do at this point.
The most important step is the precise diagnose, wich requires expensive tools.
(Much more expensive than a simple recovery price.)

I suggest to seek somebody near you who can do the job for you in a reasonable price.

More info:
results-the-yourself-solutions-t11912.html

Best wishes,
Janos

[BlackST]

Why don't ask Scott directly then? If you are so confident, why don't you try? You had much advice. Don't expect a step by step guide because doesn't exist neither other advice. Obviously a pro can fix a drive.

[Steve]

I still don't understand why anyone would think they
need to swap platter(s) on a spinning drive.

[HeadCrash]

I came across such a person few months back, basically they do not understand what is going on with hdd, hard to explain but the "Stubbornness" that is hard to deal with.

I would not waste my time for such Stubbornness people, grab my cuppa coffee , sit back relax and watch the data burst into electrons.

There must be a way out of this, something that I can do to solve this horrible problem without having to pay a fortune

Fortune cookies?

I have a family to feed and I can't expend the same amount of money on my personal data than an enterprise would spend on their own corporative data

Are you the only person that has a family to feed?

The pro here already gave you a good hints and if you persist you can DIY at your own risk. PERIOD. (cl) copyleft BlackVeryNasty 2009

[poehere]

If you open that drive you can say good bye to your precious data. Read what they told you to do contact the person in the area near you. They have told you it is not a platter or head problem but more likely a pre amp and pcb problems. If you open the drive then it will be a platter problem for sure. It is you drive do as you please. I just don't understand why you came here in the first place if you already had it in your head it was a platter problems and you were going into your garage and swap out the heads and platters to a new drive. Have fun and good luck with you platter swap. Seems like you already know what the problem is here and nobody else does. Make sure you get a big fan and keep it running on your drive so that the dust stays out of it. Put on plastic gloves like for doing dishes so when you touch the drive platters it won't leave finger prints on it. Good luck and hope that you can save your precious data.

[BlackST]

I just realised that I have a family to feed too... I am about 100 kg. , other 'family member' more than 500 kg. , it's a big problem. Must search a youtube video.
P.s. I am starting to think that some people are REGISTERING and posting only for disturbing - the problems are always the same and always the same precise youtube video story. Would be interesting to trace IPs just to see if it is a coincidence...
Appeal to pros : as it is evident that it would be only a TOTAL WASTE OF TIME , IGNORE.

[BlackST]

I just realised that I have a family to feed too... I am about 100 kg. , other 'family member' more than 500 kg. , it's a big problem. Must search a youtube video.
P.s. I am starting to think that some people are REGISTERING and posting only for disturbing - the problems are always the same and always the same precise youtube video story. Would be interesting to trace IPs just to see if it is a coincidence...
Appeal to pros : as it is evident that it would be only a TOTAL WASTE OF TIME , IGNORE.

[pcimage]

I'll make this brief..

1. Almost certainly a head problem.
2. 99% sure you WILL kill the data if you try and fix yourself.
3. Seek pro help on this particular case.
4. There is no number 4.

Sean

[dobrevjetser]

I would like to correct number 2. More like 99,99%.

Dobre

[fistron]

I just realised that I have a family to feed too... I am about 100 kg. , other 'family member' more than 500 kg. , it's a big problem.

I didn't realize you were from America. I would like to leave, how can I get a residence permit for Italy?

[BlackST]

Really? PM ME.