Just checking this drive is toast

[Winfried]

Hello

I've been running this 500GB Western Digital WD5000AAKS drive 24/7 for a year, but now, after shutting down the computer for a week-end (bad idea, I know), it's making this noise when rebooting the computer.

Plugging it into another host doesn't help: The BIOS can't even see the drive.

I checked this page, but found no information about what that two-bit sound means.

The data isn't worth spending big money on it, but before ditching the drive, would like some confirmation from experts that the drive is toast.

Thank you.

[bcometa]

Sounds to me like drive tries to spin up but heads are crashed on platters so it can't. Sorry to say, definitely not DIY.

[mr_spokk]

Yep heads on platter or smashed between platter and ramp...or in very rare cases on WD drives, stucked spindle.

[ShaneWard]

Heads stuck to the spindle... Needs a pro help to unstick it, if you are lucky.

[fzabkar]

If you are going to throw away the drive, then try some "percussive maintenance".

Here is a video demonstration by forum member waqasali766 ...
http://www.mediafire.com/download/cvo59 ... k_head.zip

Note that he would normally be doing this in a cleanroom and would be wearing gloves.

The following article might be instructive.

Media Damage and Hard Drive Recovery:
download/file.php?id=6930

[Winfried]

Thanks for the help.

Might as well go gung-ho on that drive, but I can't tell: Are the screws tiny torxes?

Attachments

[ShaneWard]

yep, should be 7 of them, one is hiding under the cover. Make note of the torque settings and try and open it in the cleanest environment you can...

WHAT EVER YOU DO, DON'T TOUCH THE PLATTERS WITH YOUR HANDS.

[Winfried]

What do you mean by "Make note of the torque settings"? Do you mean to pay attention to how hard the screws are set?

[LoboX]

What do you mean by "Make note of the torque settings"? Do you mean to pay attention to how hard the screws are set?

Yes

[hddguy]

What do you mean by "Make note of the torque settings"? Do you mean to pay attention to how hard the screws are set?

Yes

But is irrelevant here...

[HaQue]

Yes opening the drive at home is going to do so much damage the torque is the least of it.

[thatdellguy]

If you are going to throw away the drive, then try some "percussive maintenance".

After that fails, try a shot gun while someone throws it up in the air. Or even better yet, freeze to subzero temps then double boil. If that still doesnt work send it to a pro so they can tell you all the DIY caused the drive to be unrecoverable.

[ShaneWard]

Don't forget to rub some lubricant on the platters and bend the head arms a little...

[Winfried]

This is one dead parrot.

Thankfully, I had an application back up data every night.

I'll make it a habit to clone the Windows partition every time I make a change so I can get back in business in a few minutes.

Thanks all.