Right, so I've got a 3500320AS that is toast - as in the heads are toast - probably platter damage too. Sure, I can't be for certain it's the heads BUT....I am sure the heads are toast. Now, assuming the heads are in fact toast I just so happen to have an identical drive that works - it even has the same date of manufacture and location, etc.
Now, this dead drive has maybe a couple dozen files (maybe a few MB each in size) that I'd like to recover if I can. I had a backup of these files at one time but I can't seem to locate them so I will assume they are gone. (Maybe I backed them up on this same drive which would explain why I can't find them...)
Anyways, if I can't recover the files, its not the end of the world but would save me probably a good weeks work of having to recreate them if I needed to.
So, I am at the point of deciding:
1) Send the drive to a Pro - just not sure whether the recovery cost would be worth it. More later.
2) Chucking the drive in the garbage - which may be a likely result since the heads are toast and probably have caused platter damage.
3) Trying to do a head swap without a proper clean room or professional tools or most importantly any experience of having done a head swap - although I have watched some nifty Youtube videos where it looks so easy...
If I look at the data in terms of value to me - i.e. how much would I be willing to spend trying to recover it today, I would say probably up to $1000 depending on the certainty I could recover my files. Now, that probably rules out sending it to a Pro.
If I look at trying to do this myself, I will probably kill a day and likely my drive altogether. Part of me says, what the hell, give it a shot, you are already prepared to move on. The other part of me says, don't bother, its a waste of time.
Either way, this damn drive is costing me money and/or time but so be it.
Anyone have any other ideas?
FAQ
Search
Login
Register
HDDGURU FILES
