I have a Maxtor DiamondMax 21 320GB ( STM3320820A) that is still under warranty. (apr-2010). The HDD stopped working and after failure to recover data by software I sent it to a data recovery agent.

They said the bearing was damaged and it could be fixed and the data recovered.

The data is worth a lot to me but not the price I was quoted for replacement of the bearing and recovery.

I would like to know what Maxtor HDDs have the same bearing so that I can attempt to replace the bearing myself? I am finding it hard to get the exact same drive, and also I would like to buy a cheaper drive that will have the same bearing if possible.

Finally, how many platters are in the 320GB model? Anyone come across any links related to bearing replacements?

Regards, and thanks in advance,

Mike

If the motor is damaged, a platter swap is required. This will be impossible for you. If the data is important just pay the money or you will lose the data for good. How much you been quoted?

Something sounds NOT GOOD : what exactly was the starting problem ? Bearing problem = drive dropped (so NO warranty) or bearing problem = platters blocked.
If the drive was spinning and there were other problems, tell us what exactly was the problem. This is not a 100 EUR/$ case neither a 300 EUR/$ if there is a platter swap and / or head change to do. Or better, if someone does and ensure you you'll get your data, run !

P.S. it won't be "impossible for you" : just you need how to do it. I can sell you the equipment and the knowledge if you want. Or if you feel confident enough, search the net and you'll find a lot of info about how to destr.. er... repair your drive Just REFER TO THE AUTHORS OF THE VIDEOS OR THE INFO and blame yourself and them if you don't succeed. So simple....

It's definitely NOT a job for a novice. Even many so-called "pro's" cannot do this tricky platter exchange.

How much were you quoted for the job?

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

4 heads 2 platters.

Maxtor=Seagate=Motor seizures=crap

Special tools are needed to maintain the alignment. If the two platters move a micron your out of luck. What was your quote?

_________________
Buy your friends Toshiba\Hitachi and your enemies Seagate.

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the quick responses as a newcomer to the forum.

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thatdellguy - thanks for an answer to one of my questions. I assumed it was two, I just needed a definite on it.
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HDD Spaz - "This will be impossible for you". - Even though I might not go ahead with it personally, I don't think it is impossible for me.
HDD SPaz/pcimage - I was quoted £650+VAT. (this has to be reflected on the cost of the data and my financial situation)
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BlackST - Your right something sounds not good! Yes, the drive was dropped in its external case and I'm aware that can void the warranty if it was over 350G's. The drive continued working and transferring data for a few minutes afterwards and then died. (The fact that it continued working afterwards could mean the head and platters are OK.) The Data recovery people, opened it up and, for the consultation fee, told me that it was a bearing problem they had seen before. It was a difficult job, but was achievable nonetheless and they had good expectations of retrieving the data.
Thanks for your offer to sell me the knowledge and equipment, however, I am coming to this forum to avoid that option for now.
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I would appreciate any more answers to my specific questions, such as pointing me in a direction for weblinks or papers on anything to do with the disassembly of a bearing.
I need to know more about the anatomy of getting to a bearing and replacing it before I can make an informed decision on whether I want to do it myself or not.

Some of your comments mention motor, when I specifically said bearing. Does this mean the motor and bearing are one unit?

I also asked a question specific to the Maxtor DiamondMax 21 range, about which other drives in the range will have the same bearing so I might have a chance of finding a hard drive to carry out donor swaps with. I know this is a specific question, but this seems like the right forum...

I understand the principles from previous knowledge and also having recently watched the hours of freely available youtube videos on hard drive recovery. I am aware that at minimum I will need a platter tool (an overrated cylinder ring tool for an engine reassembly). My work is in microelectronics so I am also aware of the sensitivity required and I have access to tools and labs.


As I mentioned I was quoted £650+VAT after paying €100 consultation fee. I managed to expense the initial fee as I had some work stuff on the drive. But if I want to get the recovery done I will have to pay for it myself.

Regards,

Mike

Normal qoute for this should be around USD 1500-2000. £650+VAT it's about the price for that kind of job

_________________
SAN, NAS, RAID, Server, and HDD Data Recovery.

99% of them are boolcrap made to sell certain things
This drive is not easy one

Well my work is Data Recovery and I aware of sensitivity of surgery
Should I see youtube video about open heart surgery and then do it myself?

PS: I don't think hours of youtube videos will help me succeed with the surgery
PPS: I don't think weeks of youtube videos will help you to do successful recovery on this drive

_________________
SAN, NAS, RAID, Server, and HDD Data Recovery.

Good luck!

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www.datarecoveryne.com

The quote is honest. The drive worked a couple of minutes in damaged conditions so it has maybe produced media/head damage. And, FYO, it's not only a matter of tools. Seems evident that data is not important so you want to try on your own even if this means destroying drive and data. Sorry for the financial situation, in your case last option is to refer to places with low quality low labor cost or people who do it for hobby - if applicable. Good luck.

Yeah that's right! I have never played golf, but I watch it on TV and watched a video once on how to be a better golfer AND I read a book 'How to be a Professional Golfer', so now I am an expert, a professional golfer if you will, but I have still never played the game - its easy to be a golfer.

Seriously though, swapping platters is not for someone that has never done it before, you need to make your own equipment because there are no commercial platter alignment tools for these drives. If there were, the cost would probably be as much as the recovery. Did I mention the clean room? the drive will need to be opened in a clean room, the drive literally needs totally dismantling and then reassembling.

If you attempt it and it goes wrong, there is nothing - I repeat nothing that can be done to recover the data once the platters are out of alignment. If you cant afford it, put the drive away somewhere until you can.

If you want to ignore us, then that is up to you, but reading a book or watching a video will not help.
Remember that you came here for advice, all we have done is given you that advice - my advice is to put the drive away somewhere safe until you can afford to have the data recovery professionally.

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If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, you probably don't fully understand the situation. ... Mr Kipling

https://www.mjm.co.uk/

The advice you are getting for this particular problem, on this particular drive, is correct.

The bearing CANNOT be simply "replaced" as some others.

The platters DO need to removed (after removing head assembly) and placed into a good chassis, and replace the head assembly. All to be done in a clean environment, without losing alignment or damaging/marking the platters in any way.

Like scratchy said commercial tools are not (yet) available for this PARTICULAR series, as specific incumberances are in place preventing these tools from working.

If you remove the platters and lose the alignment between them by even one micron, then you have a paperweight.

If you don't believe us, then go ahead and try but as you can see from my (and others) previous posts we (most of us) DO try and help wherever possible. But this case is well known in the DR business to be VERY tricky. I have done loads of these and have done them for other DR companies who do not have the necessary tools, technique and/or experience for these.

I understand the reasoning behind you wanting to do it yourself, financial and determination But unfortunately these will not produce a result!

Rather than you bugger it up, we'll offer a good deal for the recovery in the UK. PM me if interested.

Cheers and good luck!

Sean

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!

£650 plus VAT is a fair price.

I dont understand why you agreed to pay an evaluation fee considering most of the best companies don't charge for an evaluation.

I take it back, it is not impossible for you to swap platters, I believe it is impossible for you to recover your data. it sounds like the data is important, just get a credit card, balance transfer interest free for 10 months, pay 30 quid a month. Simple. Better still, claim on your house insurance, this has been done in the past by many of my clients.

As with a lot of people, it sounds as if you don't believe the work is worth £650, not that you can't get raise the funds.

This type of attitude is quite insulting to people who make a living out of this business considering many car dealerships will quote £600-£700 to change the CAT on my mercedes and people don't question it. That type of work doesnt compare to data recovery.

I totally agree

Close the thread ! Close the thread !!

Thanks, the constructive advice and responses did answer my questions and help me come to a conclusion.

If anyone wants to post/PM their guideline quote for the recovery, the information would be appreciated.

Have they provided you with a list of files? If so they might have done the work already, so a declined quote will make them put the disk back to original state thus possibly causing further damage. Nobody likes dealing with second hand work.

ps.

It's a very good chance that whoever provided the quote is a reader in this forum.

HDD Spaz - No they didn't give me a list of files, I did not ask if they had a file list either. From the conversation at the time, it came across as if they had not done any work on it.

Yeah you are right, I am aware that they are probably users of the forum and that they might have completed the job already. All I can say in addition is that the initial diagnostics was carried out some time ago and that the middleman told me that "they can get it all back", which is a pretty brave thing to state in terms of data recovery.

I have the same drive but i need a logic board as one of the chips has blown


Andrew

Not so professional. If customer agree, I do a preliminary exam. Not free, but at a reasonable price. Next step: file list. If agree, I go on. Otherwise pay return charge and diagnose fee. My service may be free, time of my life NOT.