WD Head Alignment by Cover Position - last family/model?

[LarrySabo]

Can anyone tell me at what point (family/model/date) did Western Digital change the design of their drives so that head alignment is no longer dependent upon the cover position?

I have a WD2500AAKS-22B3A0 drive from 31-Aug-2008 that needs a head swap and I'm reluctant to start if it is one of the models where head alignment is lost as soon as the cover is removed.

[jono-ats]

My guess is Zeus.

The xxxAAKS had wider SA track widths and is not top-cover position dependent.

[northwind]

What he said ^^^^

These don't have the alignment issue.

[LarrySabo]

Thanks kindly for your helpfulness. Rather than ask this question each time, is there a reference that would indicate whether the drive is dependent upon cover position? I'll try to find out which families pre-dated/followed Zeus in the meantime.

[Alexii]

Ah the memories =) Zeus the 4 platter monstrosity. Never did play nice for head swaps with a single donor. Always required a second one to pick up a few heads missing from primary try =) Was it the 1st 500 gb WD on the market ?

[northwind]

Never did play nice for head swaps with a single donor. Always required a second one to pick up a few heads missing from primary try =)

Indeed. Those don't like it at all when they have their heads changed.

Rather than ask this question each time, is there a reference that would indicate whether the drive is dependent upon cover position?

All pre-ROYL drives are cover position sensitive.

[pcimage]

Ah the memories =) Zeus the 4 platter monstrosity. Never did play nice for head swaps with a single donor. Always required a second one to pick up a few heads missing from primary try =) Was it the 1st 500 gb WD on the market ?

Yep, nasty things!

I've done a platter swap on one of these too, that was great fun!.... NOT

[LarrySabo]

Rather than ask this question each time, is there a reference that would indicate whether the drive is dependent upon cover position?

All pre-ROYL drives are cover position sensitive.

Ah, thanks, Northwind! That's what I was looking for.

[northwind]

You're most welcome.