WD7500AAKS pretty sure its a Head swap. Symptoms included

[mediaman]

Very little doubt here. But wanted to be sure. Anyone done H/S on these? Tips? I have a cleanbench, no head "combs" but have never done more than a double head. There are 4 platters I think, 8 heads?

Just for fun I included the atola insight diagnosis, pretty right.

One thing I don't get is the two distinct startup sounds. Almost alternate (random) one to the other. AND that the drive was damaged by one of my employess who blew a 80Gb WD at the same time Thats what makes me think .001% chance PCB.

Thanks

Audio here (board does not allow audio uploads?? for me at least ..)
http://meli.autobackup.cl/DR/

Attachments

[Luiz Brito]

Hello your Hard Disk presents the same sounds that I have shows only that what I have is 500GB, and presented this problem will probably fall after a head or shaft

[thatdellguy]

I can hear two distinctive noises on the second audio track. It almost sounds like the heads are going over a rough area on the surface. Open the drive and inspected the platters.

[mediaman]

the disk was (stupidly) used as a portable. quite a "roving" portable too. the case was one of those oh-so-intelligent stand on side type. who knows how many times it flopped over unparked.

are headswaps routinely possible, given good hand and tools, on these disks?
any alignment issues or is it put the top on and see?

thanks

its my disk and my data, so I feel ok to learn on this one.

[Odiferous]

the disk was (stupidly) used as a portable. quite a "roving" portable too. the case was one of those oh-so-intelligent stand on side type. who knows how many times it flopped over unparked.

are headswaps routinely possible, given good hand and tools, on these disks?
any alignment issues or is it put the top on and see?

thanks

its my disk and my data, so I feel ok to learn on this one.

Good luck to you - a head swap on a small WD drive is a nightmare. On a 750GB - it would bring me out in a sweat.


Duncan

[beto]

Agree with duncan

[kanyoro]

hey don't waste a lot of time inquire from the East African Data Handlers, a company based in East and Central Africa that works with genuine people-clients, engineers and resources.


http://www.datarecovery.co.ke


Owiti Oscar
Kisumu City


Added by admin:
Let's welcome another professional spamming idiots: East African Data Handlers

[hddguy]

hey don't waste a lot of time inquire from the East African Data Handlers, a company based in East and Central Africa that works with genuine people-clients, engineers and resources.


http://www.datarecovery.co.ke


Owiti Oscar
Kisumu City

You seem to be a relatively new company, you are bombarding this forum with advertising for your own services and offering no help and support, your website simply has links to multiple other URL's including outdated vogon links, and I am sure that any potential custom here in the forum will likely be given to a user with many postings and good reputation here.

Why not tell us, and even maybe potential customers here, more about your company?

All these similar postings by you will be considered spam.

And by the way, I am pretty sure you will learn new things here too, no matter how good you already are. Or think you are

[mediaman]

you have made me all the more determined! (as I say, my data, and part of learning curve) I will report back honest results. Donor on way.

Has anybody here done a HS on one of these drives that can provide some constructive advice?

thanks

[Russwinters]

While I have not performed a head swap on these series WD drives; I personally own a 640AAKS and did quite a bit of research on them. They are the ~320GB per platter design; and they actually utilize a ramp; so as long as you load the new heads on to the ramp they should be fairly aligned; the ramp should somewhat eleviate the lid screw issue. As long as the heads remain parked on the ramp when you tighten then lid screw the drive should at least be in good enough shape to recoer data; but on the negative side these are high density drives, so in that respect; Godspeed to you.

[mediaman]

thanks for the help Russ, you are right they have a ramp. I have found a PERFECT (yipee) donor and will play this weekend. has anyone ever thought of making a tool to unite the ramp to the HS and remove the two as one unit? I'll have a bash.

[rchadwick]

Yes

[cgallery]

As long as the heads remain parked on the ramp when you tighten then lid screw the drive should at least be in good enough shape to recoer data; but on the negative side these are high density drives, so in that respect; Godspeed to you.

My problem with aligning WD drives is the extra play between the bearing and the axel. How would the ramp help in that regard?

[pepe]

The alignment has nothing to do with the ramp.

pepe

[hddguy]

The alignment has nothing to do with the ramp.

pepe

How are you with these disks pepe? Is the alignment a problem for you?

[pepe]

Hi,

it depends on the head count. 2 heads no problem.

pepe

[hddguy]

Hi,

it depends on the head count. 2 heads no problem.

pepe

That is pretty interesting actually. Didnt really think head count would have made much difference!

[mediaman]

dumbies question, but if I'm swapping the heads and closing before powering up (so i'll have the HS top screw in) I should not have too many probs.
OR
Are you referring to the relative alignment between individual heads? This must differ HS to HS and get worse by and bad handling during the swap.. I can't imagine any way to solve this issue though.

[cgallery]

dumbies question, but if I'm swapping the heads and closing before powering up (so i'll have the HS top screw in) I should not have too many probs.
OR
Are you referring to the relative alignment between individual heads? This must differ HS to HS and get worse by and bad handling during the swap.. I can't imagine any way to solve this issue though.

Wishful thinking, I'm afraid. Additional heads requires additional platters, which increases vertical spacing, which magnifies small alignment problems into larger ones.

[mediaman]

FAILURE!
well, to be honest, it did not work out
after a text book head swap (yes all 8 of them) nothing. The H swap went very smoothly, probably the best and cleanest I've done. ESD precautions all way through, cleanbench perfect.

But, disk does same. Maybe one of the lower platters has some damage. Maybe still PCB.

Any ideas. Please