Replacing the heads of a Seagate Momentus 5400.6

[ams7]

Hello everyone,

After extensive research, I finally found a platform where experts in this field gather.

I have a hard drive of the following type:
Seagate Momentus 5400.6
Model: ST9500325AS
Date: 10365
PN: 9HH134-142
FW: 0006SDM2

I want to replace the damaged read/write heads. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an identical donor drive. However, I came across a seller who sells individual read/write heads.

I sent him pictures of my hard drive, and he confirmed that he has the heads in stock.

After placing the order, I requested photos of the product and noticed slight differences between the original heads from my drive and the ones I purchased.

When I reached out to the seller, he assured me that the heads would work fine and that the minor differences don’t matter.

I kindly ask for clarification from those with expertise:

Will the heads work without requiring any software intervention or firmware modification?
Is there any reliable website where I can check compatibility by entering the head's code?
If the heads are not compatible, could they cause data loss?
Can the heads from all ST9500325AS models be swapped without issues?
Below are the photos for reference:

Original Magnetic Heads

Original Magnetic Heads

Purchased Magnetic Heads

Purchased Magnetic Heads

Please, anyone with information, don’t hesitate to share your insights. Thank you!

[melvin]

Heads you bought are problably damaged already. Sliders must be separated. Unless i didn't notice that there's something between. Also if you don't know what preamp your heads had, there's a little chance that you'll get proper ones.

[ams7]

Heads you bought are problably damaged already. Sliders must be separated. Unless i didn't notice that there's something between. Also if you don't know what preamp your heads had, there's a little chance that you'll get proper ones.

Yes, I noticed that the heads were not separated, so I asked the seller about it. He told me that the heads are completely new and have a type of adhesive keeping them attached, which leaves no residue on the heads. He also mentioned that if they were separated before shipping, they would most likely get damaged during transport. Therefore, it’s up to the buyer to separate them directly before installation.

I’m not entirely sure if this is true, but I thought that if he wanted to scam me, adding a separator would make the claim more believable that the heads are in good condition. Additionally, I found some positive reviews about him.

What I want to know is, if I test the heads and they turn out to be incompatible, what will happen?
Especially since the connector to the PCB is identical, and the overall design is nearly the same.

Is there any risk of data loss, or will the heads simply not move if they’re incompatible?

And if I manage to find perfectly matching heads, will they require any calibration?

[melvin]

If heads are incompatible they would click. Also when there's media damage. We don't know why do you want to change heads, what happended to the drive etc.
Got no idea why would anyone sell just heads. Never saw it before. We always but complete drives. Then check preamp version and this way get the donors. You don't know that preamp do you have. No info about bought heads preamp too.
Why do you want to do it by yourself? Any skills, tools, hardware and software or experience?

[ams7]

The hard drive suffered a severe fall, which caused the cover to dent inward. Upon opening the drive, I found that the dent in the cover had pressed against the arms of the read/write heads, causing them to bend slightly and preventing them from accessing the platters.


Interestingly, there was some dust on the surface of the first platter, even though the drive had never been opened before. This might have been due to the fall, allowing dust to enter through the filter area of the drive.

As for the tools:
I built a laminar flow box with an H13 HEPA filter and small openings for hands. I also have some tools, such as magnetic head combs, appropriate screwdrivers, anti-static gloves, and other necessary items.

For recovery, I will only use Linux-based recovery tools.

I want to handle this myself for trust-related reasons.


How can I find information about the preamp?
I have the numbers engraved on the read/write heads—would they help?
Any advice that could make a difference would be greatly appreciated.

[melvin]

Preamp version is in ROM. You can read it with terminal. How do you plan to get rid of the dust?
Don't you think that the whole operation without any experience is doomed to failure? At least buy the same model, remove heads, put them back and see how good you are.
Trust related reasons? I doubt that any DR company have time to check your files but it's your right to loose those files.

[ams7]

Preamp version is in ROM. You can read it with terminal. How do you plan to get rid of the dust?
Don't you think that the whole operation without any experience is doomed to failure? At least buy the same model, remove heads, put them back and see how good you are.
Trust related reasons? I doubt that any DR company have time to check your files but it's your right to loose those files.

Indeed, I have tried this on more than one hard drive, and it was successful. If a clean room is available, replacing the head isn’t too difficult when using the appropriate combs.

As for the dust, I plan to use a manual pump and compressed air spray for hard-to-reach areas without removing the platters, and perhaps some specialized cotton swabs to clean the hard drive platters with isopropyl solution for the top platter surface.

All I need from the hard drive are just two files.
Is there a way to recover files based on a specific size or extension only?

[melvin]

Is there a way to recover files based on a specific size or extension only?

Yes there is. If you have files list and this can be done when you have, for example, full MFT file from NTFS system. Or if you know what area was it in. At home, without proper software it can be hard.
Don't use isopropyl on platters!

Will you accept the loss of those files if you fail?

[pepe]

This is braindead guys. This is not a plant you just get from the store, dig a hole somewhere in the garden, put the plant in, bury and water it, then enjoy the peaches.
Even gardening doesn't work like that, how do you expect such dr attempt could work out good?
SgData, why even comment on this?

[lcoughey]

TIBA vs TICB. Not the precise match I look for, but if you don't care enough about your data to have a pro do the job, go for it. Just remember that the more you do, the less likely a pro will be able to help after.

[ams7]

Guys, none of you were born experts.

I have the time, the right environment, the tools, and some basic skills. I will build the experience I need, and I’m not in a hurry.

Consider me a newcomer to this field who’s eager to learn.

At the moment, I’ve found two identical donor drives with very close manufacturing dates.

I also have two read/write heads that I purchased separately.

I plan to extract the read/write heads from one of the donor drives, store them properly, and replace them with one of the separately purchased heads for testing.

I will proceed step by step and won’t touch the target drive until I’m absolutely confident.

Honestly, I thought this forum was meant for helping and sharing skills and experiences.
I don’t understand why data recovery experts are always so overdramatic when scaring the average user, making it seem like any data recovery attempt is destined to fail no matter what you do, and that you’re inherently less intelligent or skilled than they are.

To be fair, they’ve done a great job of creating a terrifying aura around anyone thinking of repairing a hard drive themselves.

But this fearmongering is entirely unjustified. I remember having a hard drive that made unusual noises. By chance, I found a video on YouTube explaining how to free stuck read/write heads. I noticed the noise matched what my hard drive was making. I didn’t know at the time that hard drives needed to be opened in a cleanroom, and so on. But I went ahead and opened the drive in a regular room at home, found the stuck heads, freed them, closed the drive, and it worked perfectly 3 or 4 times after that. This allowed me to recover my data without using any professional tools.



Let’s imagine you have data on a hard drive that is worth significantly more than the cost of the data recovery company you’re considering. If this data could be accessed and its value exploited by anyone who obtains it, would you still consider sending the hard drive?

If you have any ideas or suggestions that could assist me in the repair process, I would be truly grateful. Otherwise, I’m prepared to take full responsibility for any potential data loss.

Many thanks and appreciation to Melvin for his cooperation!

[pepe]

I think i mostly help where i can. By its complexity (and the complexity it can reach during the process) this is a job for a pro. The whole aura of the progress you described is crazy with those separately purchased head assemblies, etc. You think you have tools, while you don't. You think you have knowledge from YT coz you managed to unstick heads once. While that's great, it doesn't work that simple in all the cases and it is very irresponsible to power up the drive right after unstick without further investigation. Yeah, it can save a few hundred bucks for the adventurer but the data is actually at risk. We can minimize that risk while the adventurer has no idea how to address problems arising in the meantime.
It probably didn't occur to you , it is kind of offending for the specialists you are asking help from, that you wouldn't trust them for your data to be safe from being exploited. You want the info but assume they are potential criminals looking for a chance to exploit client data...

Sorry for being a bit raw.
Yeah, i could have had written useful info instead of this BS too, sorry

[northwind]

I don’t understand why data recovery experts are always so overdramatic when scaring the average user, making it seem like any data recovery attempt is destined to fail no matter what you do

It's probably because it is.

and that you’re inherently less intelligent or skilled than they are.

It's probably because you are. Not less intelligent, less skilled.

You're practically trying to make a heart transplant, using a dead heart as a donor, without you being a surgeon (not even a doctor), and went to a forum to ask surgeons how to do it, while you don't trust them doing this for you. Then, you're waving a finger at them for not helping, while some of them did, and gave you the best advice possible.

Makes sense?

In all honesty, your posts reveal someone who's more eager and knowledgeable than the average Joe who's surfing around the forums looking for ready one-click solutions, however that doesn't change the fact that you're trying to swim in muddy waters.
Whatever, good luck with your adventure.

[ams7]

I apologize if I caused any inconvenience to you. Thank you all very much for your valuable contributions to the topic.

Wishing you all the best of luck

[Lukas]

Wow.

Has it ever occurred to you that none of us ever buys heads "separately"?

By the way, brilliant idea, I think I'll start selling heads this way too.
It doesn't work? Because they were damaged, they worked for me.

Believe me, companies dealing with data recovery are in most cases only intermediaries, people participating in this forum actually have knowledge.

But to be honest, do a simple thing: copy a working disk to the image and then disassemble and mount the heads again and make an image again comparing the results.
Repeat this several times successfully and then swap the heads between two working disks and check the results.
If you achieve repeatable results, get down to the patient.