Cleaning HDD Read/Write Heads

[data-medics]

Hello, I know this is kind of random but I'll ask anyway.

I've always just swapped heads when they are bad, I've never tried cleaning them. But I've heard guys mention about cleaning the heads on some of the forums. So my question is:

Have you ever successfully cleaned heads? How did you do it / what chemical(s) did you use?

Reason I'm asking this now, is I'm finding that bigger drives (Esp. 4Tb+) don't take kindly to replacement heads, so this may become a worthwhile thing to try before swapping.

[CK]

Medical Grade alcohol wipes work well. Technique is key also so as not to leave residue.

[visz]

so if that's the case,can we also practise it when it comes to disaster recovery? eg; the disk is wet due to floods etc?

[Arthur]

There is always a reason to why the sliders are dirty. This must be taken care of before swapping or using cleaned heads.

[data-medics]

CK, I'm getting a good laugh at the pictures on your website. Why is it we all use the same Uline blue bins to store jobs in??? Every company's website I look at uses the same blue bins. Even we use them.

Must be how our brains are wired.

[jono-ats]

We use black anti-static bins . . .

[CK]

I like the blue bins!

You have probably seen about 20 websites ripping off our website photos too!

[jono-ats]

Cleaned heads must have zero particulate or other contaminants. Easier said than done . . .