Head Swap on old Caviar Drives

[MathiasB]

Hi,

I need a little help with two drives. The first one is a WD2500-BB, the second is WD800-BB. One drive was dropped, one just started clicking after years in the wardrobe.
Afaik both drives are evil, because they have this top head screw, that has to be tightened in a special way.

Is there a torque, I have to tighten the screw with? Or is it just a try and error process. Powering the drive on and playing with the screw till the drive gets ready? And if the drive is clicking because of the top screw, can this damage the new heads?

Btw. I havn't opened the drive yet. But is it possible to get the drive working just by tightening / loosing the top head screw?

[pepe]

Hi,

there is a common misbelief the solution lies in the torque of the screws. While it might affect drive operation in a good and bad way, the best solution is not related to the screws. Probably both drives need MHA replacement, and other measures to recover the data. I would not recommend trying it at home if the data is of any value.

[drHDD]

I agree with each word.

[pcimage]

WD200EB was one of the only ones I remember as being top screw torque dependent.

[MathiasB]

there is a common misbelief the solution lies in the torque of the screws. While it might affect drive operation in a good and bad way, the best solution is not related to the screws. Probably both drives need MHA replacement, and other measures to recover the data. I would not recommend trying it at home if the data is of any value.

Currently I work as an intern in a data recovery company. So I have access to a clean room and tools from afaik HDD-Surgery and SalvationData. Upto now I've done many WD and Seagate Drives, most of them with the HDDS Ramp set. But both old WD Caviar drives are from my Frieds. I don't think, that there is going to be a problem, to change the heads. My problem is the top screw.

In this forum I read, that the drives are the ones with the alignment problem.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=7996&p=48832&hilit=WD2500+BB#p48832

[pepe]

WD200EB was one of the only ones I remember as being top screw torque dependent.

there is a (better say, at least one) lot better method, no need to play around with screws.

[jono-ats]

There are not easy recoveries . . . there is no substitute for knowledge and experience working with them. Plus the right equipment, like a PC3000.

IMHO, the only thing you need to know about torque and the center screw is that it must be tight to prevent instability. You are fishing for trout in a water fountain . . .