Replacing heads in Samsung ST1000LM024 (HN-M101MBB/LCP)

[xaze]

Hi All,

My HDD got broken and now it sounds like this: https://youtu.be/5hbqLCXx5LM

A guy told me that the heads might be broken and it will cost around €1000. Not sure if it's worth but if I could restore some data - would be nice.
I'm thinking about replacing the heads on my own but I'm wondering where to get the parts from.
It's difficult to find a drive on the web with the part number HN-M101MBB/LCP.
Wondering if it's ok to use parts from drives with a different P/N ending like EX2, D1 or AV2 instead of LCP.

Please advice about the parts! What are the chances of successfull repair doing it for the first time?

BTW: I'm located in the Netherlands. Maybe someone does such repairs privatly and could help?

Cheers,
Lukasz

[drHDD]

I would recommend to give drive to some one who did it before. If you want to do it by your self anyway - I recommend to buy 2 similar working hard drive and exchange heads between each other. If it will work after - so you could try to do it on original drive. But there are still could be other problems with system modules or something else. I don't know how you will solve those problems without special software.

I could try to recover data from your case for $300. I have experience, tools, parts. If I can't recover data - you will pay only for shipping to Canada. If it's suitable for you - PM me.

[day1data]

Im in Germany and have tools and a clean room.

PM me for more info if you are interested.

[MindMergepk]

if you are doing it for the first time am afraid chances of success are very very low. you can try to send your disk to Seagate they have office in Netherlands (+31 20 316 7300).

good luck.

[xaze]

Thank you all for your replies! If the risk is that high doing it for the first time I will use your services.
Unfortunatelly I cannot PM anybody because I'm fresh on this forum.

@day1data: could you please send me your offer? It's much closer than Canada so let's try to agree on some conditions.

Thanks,
Lukasz

[drHDD]

Lets see how far Canada is. I would recover your data for $200.

[data-medics]

Am I crazy, but how can anyone offer to be doing clean room work for $200-$300???

My clean hood takes filters that are $400/ea, PC-3000 and other equipment costs thousands a year to maintain, the donor for this will be at least ~$100. So once you add in for electricity, rent, and pay the guy doing the work a modest figure you're looking at a minimum of $500-600 just to break even. I rarely make any real profit on head replacements at $650-800 which is my typical rate.

So what's the story? Am I missing something?

[day1data]

PM sent.

I agree if you are charging 200-300 I would be asking myself what corners are you cutting.

[drHDD]

I am a guy who doing a work, I have my own utility to work with drive, donor cost me $20, filter cost me $100. Regular price for easy head xplant $400, but I can do it cheaper sometimes.

[gtd4242]

Anyone who does head swaps for less than $500 is basically working for free and a complete buffoon when it comes to running a business. I guess it's the old..."well if I clear $10 on each one, I only have to do 400 recoveries per month to make a decent living". Not taking into account that the time and resources required mean you are working for about 3 cents an hour.

[fzabkar]

I am a guy who doing a work, I have my own utility to work with drive, donor cost me $20, filter cost me $100. Regular price for easy head xplant $400, but I can do it cheaper sometimes.

Sounds very fair. Good luck to you.

[drHDD]

Anyone who does head swaps for less than $500 is basically working for free and a complete buffoon when it comes to running a business. I guess it's the old..."well if I clear $10 on each one, I only have to do 400 recoveries per month to make a decent living". Not taking into account that the time and resources required mean you are working for about 3 cents an hour.

Well, what about difficult cases like head crash, rings and etc? $2000 per difficult - case is it fair price? But when you have something like this, some times you need to clean heads many times per day (like 20 or more) and change heads may be 6-10 times. So how much is one clean heads or head xplant? $100-$200? Why on those cases you are not asking $5000-$6000?
For me easy head xplant it's 5-10min to do it and 4-8 hours to read data by software. I don't see why it can't cost to client $200.

[xaze]

Hi All,

Thank you all guys for your time and interensting overview how data recovery looks like.
I decided to buy two same drives and learn doing that. If I fail I'll get back to you but why not to give a try!

Thanks!
Lukasz

[jermy]

I decided to buy two same drives and learn doing that.

Be aware, doing it one time is not even close to practice, it takes a lot of time, trial and error...

[labtech]

Hi All,

Thank you all guys for your time and interensting overview how data recovery looks like.
I decided to buy two same drives and learn doing that. If I fail I'll get back to you but why not to give a try!

Thanks!
Lukasz

This community always looks forward to such feedback. 80%+ of people who claim will come back and describe their first attempts here on the forum simply don't. Hope to see you back.

All the best.