Data recovery and disk repair questions and discussions related to old-fashioned SATA, SAS, SCSI, IDE, MFM hard drives - any type of storage device that has moving parts
February 9th, 2023, 13:06
Hi All
I have the following hard drive WD WD15EADS. It was part of the USB box, which I had to open up to have a look at the hard drive.
When powered you can hear the hard drive spinning, followed by the head moving, then it stops
What could this be ? Can it be a PCB issue or is the disk dead?
February 9th, 2023, 16:02
more probably heads
February 9th, 2023, 16:50
Can these be replaced easily?
I have also ordered replacement PCB as well.
February 9th, 2023, 17:50
djoshi wrote:Can these be replaced easily?
Easily yes. Unless it's your first time and or lack the necessary equipment.
February 15th, 2023, 19:32
Is there any kit, with necessary tools? I seen some steps on you tube. I guess I would need compatible heads?
Do we need to reset any firmware afterwards?
February 16th, 2023, 4:58
What Drug was indicating is a headswap is not a viable DIY option.
There are no kits, swapping a HSA is not like replacing your phone screen, youtube videos fall into 2 categories, either ones posted by professional services using the correct equipment and having years of experience or people butchering their drives on the kitchen table for youtube clicks.
You'll need a laminar flow bench, a couple of sets of head combs at least one compatible donor and then professional software to fix any issues with the firmware. A conservative estimate of the kit needed would be around £9000
February 16th, 2023, 5:41
Thanks
I would then avoid playing with the head.
I did open it to just check if he head was in place and not stuck on the platter, but the heads where in its default place.
The issue is I don't have any vital information on this disk, but its been used as media server disk with a lot of CDs and DVDs, and I am looking to avoid transferring them all again if I can avoid it.
February 16th, 2023, 6:34
djoshi wrote:I did open it to just check if he head was in place and not stuck on the platter, but the heads where in its default place
Another victim of that stuck heads video then, the motors in 3.5" drives have sufficient torque so that just doesn't happen. You'd also now be subject to an open drive fee, most of us charge £100.
To have this done professionally if it was the heads you wouldn't get much, if any change from £500 now, and that's assuming there's been no platter damage. If it's just music and video that you can obtain again doing so may well be a better option.
February 16th, 2023, 15:45
Hi
I did some extra tests.
I got another 7 WD hard drives which are all identical to the drive with the issue, maybe some of them are 1TB, but a few are 1.5 TB.
Once they are given power, they all spin for about 10 seconds and then stop, just like the hard drive with the fault. But If I was to then plug either the SATA or USB cable into these hard drives, it would power up, respin and communicate with my PC.
Can it be possible the issue is related to the communication part of the PCB on the hard drive?
February 17th, 2023, 7:05
djoshi wrote:Can it be possible the issue is related to the communication part of the PCB on the hard drive?
Highly unlikely. But if you have 7 donor drives and want confirmation move the patient rom to one and check.
February 17th, 2023, 14:27
djoshi wrote:Once they are given power, they all spin for about 10 seconds and then stop, just like the hard drive with the fault. But If I was to then plug either the SATA or USB cable into these hard drives, it would power up, respin and communicate with my PC.
It sounds like there may be an aggressive APM setting.
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