Image Platter from a different location.

[data-medics]

This is more of a theoretical question. I'm not actually looking for help on this one.

I'm just curious if anyone has ever tried imaging a platter surface by putting the platter in another location in the cylinder.

Example: WD Hard drive has headmap 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, all heads read except #4. Is it possible to switch the top two platters (after imaging from all other heads) so as to use head 6 to read it, then adjust in RAM accordingly?

I would assume it's possible, but I don't know if the headmap would go haywire. Anyone ever tried this with any success?

[michael chiklis]

As i know platters are synchronized with each other, if you move one platter from its location you lose alignment with other platters, this would mean data lost permanently.
Never tried!

[data-medics]

I'm pretty sure that older drives were that way, but I think newer drives have the servo data written on each platter surface parallel to the data and can handle a reasonable amount of rotational misalignment. (I know that's contrary to what the guys pushing platter exchangers will tell you )

What I don't know is if the servo data is platter specific.

[hhddrec]

Hi michael chiklis and data-medics!

Not all drives supports misalignment, but some HDD supports it, i tested it.

about your question data-medics, is very interesting, maybe we can try it

[loki]

Theoretically speaking if you could image each platter independently may be some software could be then created to try and work out the alignment?
Ie Rotate the images somehow?



Loki

[BlackST]

Unfortunately the simple answer is NO and the keyword is TIMING.

Theoretically and in practice - but you should know too many things, you can read single platter individually - hw support needed. And only for customers that can afford it.

Don't ask me anything else...