I took a notebook HDD apart and ran it with the top off (worked fine). I replaced the platter on it with another one from a HDD that had failed (didn't work - couldn't read the data on the new platter from the damaged HDD). I just have a question.
When I replace the platter of a HDD, do I have to make sure the platter that I'm putting into the HDD is from the exact same model HDD as the platter that was originally in the HDD? (because all the notebook platters look the same). Thanks.

Wow... Easy answer, muuuch more than just the same model bud. And if this is the same drive you were talking about in your other post, I hope that data wasn't too important.

What else has to be the same? The firmware?
If the HDD model and firmware are the exact same, then shouldn't it work?

Nope

What do I have to do then?

what is your goal?

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

If an HDD has a damaged head or other internal component, then I could take the platter out and put it in another case to save the data on it, rather than paying $800+

good luck on this one.

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Iorana Haraharaini

you obviously could take the platter out and put it in another case but it doesn't automatically mean that you can save the data

The recovery price is usually high because it is not easy-to-do operation
I have two suggestions for you
1. People here don't usually answer to the kind of questions you asked, so you may want to be a little (I mean a lot) more specific in you questions
2. If you want to do data recovery then you have to understand basics, read Inet about hard drives basics and internals for a while then come back

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

I know it doesn`t automatically mean I could save my data, but I`ve tried other options, it`s the only thing left, and besides, the data isn`t that important, I don`t really have anything to lose.

It`s been done before, and there are tutorials on the net on how to do it, and even equipment I can buy that will help me do it.

I was just hoping there would be someone here with experience that`s maybe done it before.

There are plenty of people here that have done it before, hundreds of times, but they spent a lot of time, effort, and energy learning how, so I would be surprised if in this situation they share.

In this case your solution is quite easy
Follow the tutorials and if it works then you are one lucky guy
If it doesn't then try it on another drive next time

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

Ya, it actually doesn't seem so easy with drives that have more than one platter, I would definitely need a tool for the platters, do you guys know where I could buy a good tool (although I'm not sure if I would buy one, they seem quite expansive too). I've done a quick search on this forum and found that a lot of other members have done this before, and apparently one member even uses his own home-made platter tool. Thanks for the replies.

If you search right here on the forum, you can find some members of companies that sell what you want. Not home made....

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http://www.pclab.com.pt facebook.com/PCLAB.A.T
ACELab partner

Hey, I'm just about ready to put my HDRC platter swap kit on eBay . . . .

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http://www.datasaversllc.com

You must also remember many of the users on this forums aren't simply home users who are figuring things out; many are actual professionals who have degrees in engineering. So the "home made" tools are not really so home made at all; more like professionally designed over the course of hundreds of hours (maybe even thousands) of design, assembly, and testing.

Do you have a clean environment to be doing these types of procedures in? I don't mean a room that is clean, or a desk you just wiped off with a towel, if you believe this to a clean room then you have much to learn about air, and particle counts, sizes, etc.

You CAN open a drive in a regular room, but you are playing roulette, even if you are the best technician in the world and have every tool and procedure known and available to you; a regular room can be the downfall of your recovery. If one piece of dust lands in the right spot, and kills the heads you will not even know about it until it is too late.


I am not trying to discourage you, but if you want to go about learning this; you need to be aware that the path is not as simple as your good ol' MCSE, or A+.

Thanks for the responses, I might buy this HDRC platter swap kit, but I'm cautious on buying used items. I don't have a clean room, but I found on the web that many people have created their own clean "box" instead (which I might do). But I don't plan on using any drives I open up, just want to open them up, replace the platter and backup any data I can (so I would only need them to work for a few minutes).

Its not going to work

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

Platters swap should be considered as the last thing to do, it's not panacea! It should be considered as proper DR procedure when dealing with damaged spindle motor only! There are some other cases when platters swap is to be considered, but these are very rare cases and they're not worth mentioning. Yes, in some HDDs it's actually easier to perform platters swap then heads swap, but these are very, very rare cases.
If you are thinking about providing commercial DR service and performing platters swap when dealing with damaged heads, your company will be dangerous to customer's data.

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Odzyskiwanie danych - MyData.pl

I hear this all days.

Clients wants to make a platter swap and think they will get the data back...

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ZeBong
" что случилось в России - останется в России "
" Россия еще раз"