Advice on 40G Maxtor

Hello,

A storm damaged our systems, one was a raid array wich could not be recovered completely. The lost information is a 5 month finantial data that could not be recovered.

This data is also (hope so) in another damaged computer. When transferred to a new one this disk made some clicks, now spins "normally" but cannot be accesed (recognized). Disk is a 40 gig maxtor that at boot time show: Maxtor AresC64. hard disk(s) diagnosis fail.

The specs are : 2F040J0310231 AAA - K,M,B,A - F13Y1YNE - A8FFA (Card)

Where is the damage in this disk ? Heads, motor, connector card, catastrophic dead ?

We have a semi-identical 40 gig Maxtor disk that has a broken connector pin. The specs are: 2F040J0310211 AAA - K,F,B,A - F14EE0FE - A8FFA (Card)

Due to missing pin, no way to just change cards and test.

If the card is not damaged, is it possible that we can bring to life this disk? The information is extremely important and complex to replicate.

Suppose there is no easy solution, but hope you han help me to find the right track.

If you could explain as detailed as possible the problem and/or solution I will appreciate . . . and learn a lot !

TIA, Oscar.

Hi Oscar,

The information is extremely important and complex to replicate.

If you could explain as detailed as possible the problem and/or solution I will appreciate . . . and learn a lot !

To learn, you can experiment with unimportant data.
Experts are dedicated to get data for the owner.
Semi-experts are the cause of up to 50% loss of data
where data could be retrieved.
Novices have about 10% chance, after some expert training for some weeks, to get data on first shot - and this is expensive.

So your best solution - go to an expert - first time.

When the disk shows as ARES this indicates that either the firmware is damaged or cannot be read. The clicking indicates there is some physical damage, likely the heads but possibly the PCB. You can try exchanging the PCB with an identical disk, but if this makes no change then im afraid coffeebean is right and you need to send it to the experts.

The second hdd u said that the pin is broken there is power in hdd or not .

Hi guys,

coffeebean: Thanks, got the perspective. The experts tried to recover our raid and was very expensive to get partial data. Unfortunately those disks -as they say- had less damage than this one. Any way, here we are already working on data as brains&fingers cost is much much less than quote. Of course evaluating and considering time, success % and damage factor.

hddguy: That is what i´m talking about, learning by the basis

rameez: Yes there is power but slow reading, the missing pin is the lower leftmost to power connector (PCB down).

Thanks for the input.

Oscar.

if there is power then definatly there is the pin problem try taking the pcb out and chk on the back side of the pcb u may see a broken sold try fixing the using the iron that is the sold which holds the pin in place take a pin or may be the pin is already inside the pcb only pushed downwards put it in place resold the broken sold with the pin in its place connect the pcb back to hdd and ur drive is fixed .

rameez:

The pin is completelly pulled put from PCB, other pins have an "oval" plated base where the pin is soldered. For this pin just the plastic fo PCB is visible. Think there is no way or place to solder a new pin

TIA, Oscar

now do this its a trick might work in the ide cable put a pin in same or bigger in size of the ide pins put that in the hole of the ide cable where the pin is broken that way the pcb joins the pin of the ide cable.