Extremely Damaged Drive From Fire - Thoughts?

[Dizidago357]

Hi,

Just got this drive in from a client, the drive was in a fire then sat in water for a bit. Can't even view the PCB number on the board, and the label is burned off the drive. The only markings we can find are on the ROM:

25FU406B
08
0GG5N

Any thoughts at all on how to locate the model or any specifics to do repairs? The coating on the PCB is actually chipping off, so cleaning away char to see the details is not possible. And any markings on the other components has been burned off or comes off with char that comes off from even touching them with your fingers.

I have seen a few fire damage drives in the past, and for the most part the seals do a decent job keeping the internals clean (from soot at least, water is a different story) - but I've never seen one this bad.

Welcome all thoughts about potential recovery avenues for us, including anyone wishing to attempt and rates for your attempts.

Dizi

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[SquaL]

Your post reminds me of these, some interesting comments that may help:

http://forum.hddguru.com/fire-damage-t14205.html, http://forum.hddguru.com/burn-hard-disk-recovery-posiblity-t19621.html.

[Cleanroom]

what does the inside look like?

Post pics

[CK]

Google "Curie Point".

[Dizidago357]

Haven't looked at the inside yet, wanted to tell ct. if we could even attempt it before they paid eval fees. (Although I suppose breaking the seal wouldn't matter in this case for cost purposes, because no doubt anywhere would charge an arm and a leg whether it was previously opened or not). Will take pictures later today and post them.

Dizi

[Doomer]

Open the drive and check VCM magnets, if they not magnets anymore - it's unrecoverable
You can't judge by external conditions

The drive will require cleaning and platter transplant. If you haven't done firedamages before - I suggest you not to work on this but give it to somebody who has experience

[Cleanroom]

it looks like a Seagate 7200.11 or .12. So it is most likely over 500gb

[Dizidago357]

I've done a few, but nothing this bad. Pictures attached. It looks like parts of the chassis actually melted onto the platters, as the black material covering the platter near the open ridge is pretty solid and feels like metal. Also to note, where the material touches the platters, it is pretty well attached, looks to be melted together as there is no breaks between the two.

Any takers on a recovery? I'm throwing in the towel on this one, it's beyond what I can do. Or does anyone work for OnTrack/DriveSavers/i365 and want to give it a go?

Dizi

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[Doomer]

Looks like ST31000528AS to me. That means you have to have original flash and if flash is gone it's almost definitely unrecoverable
I don't see any platter discoloration which is good sign
Are the magnets still magnets? If so it is most likely doable but cleaning is gonna be hard part
However it is expensive work

[Dizidago357]

Yep, they are still charged. Price range? 5K? 10K?

Dizi

[Doomer]

Yep, they are still charged. Price range? 5K? 10K?

Dizi

Nobody gonna give you the exact price on a forum
You need to submit a case to a DR company
But I think you guessed on the range correctly