Can not open ST9500420ASG, something is holding the cover

[kastu]

Good day at first!

I have ST9500420ASG lapdop drive (Seagate momentus 7200.4) of my GF, that was making clicking/buzzing souds and refused to work.

Yesterday I tried to open it, but something is holding the metal top case. I have removed the Seagate sticker completely and found NO hidden screw under the sticker. After applying some more force I could clearly see that sometging is holding the cover exactly there, where the the HDD Head axis is.

Here comes my question: can it be, that the axis of the HDD Head is molded to the cover of the drive ?? I have googled all over the place, and have seen no HDD that would have it's HDD head system molded/attached/fixed to the top of the HDD case.

If we take the following link as an example: w ww.youtube.com/watch?v=0iiEKZhDapo

Then in my drive

1. There is no screw on the top of the drive
2. Something is holding the head in that place where the the screw shoud be.

Can it be that the screw is hidden under additional metal plate ? How to proceed ?

Thank you !!!
Kastu

[digitalferret]

Kastu

If the data are of any value, don't mess with it, take it to a lab.

There is nothing under the lid you can do unless you have lab gear and a lot of experience.
Given that you are even asking about this, i expect neither are true.

Taking the lid off will only make matters worse and could even make the drive totally unrecoverable, even for a lab.

regards
Kern

[pcimage]

Kastu

If the data are of any value, don't mess with it, take it to a lab.

There is nothing under the lid you can do unless you have lab gear and a lot of experience.
Given that you are even asking about this, i expect neither are true.

Taking the lid off will only make matters worse and could even make the drive totally unrecoverable, even for a lab.

regards
Kern

Exactly!

What on earth are you opening it up for?

What's the best you can hope for by opening it up to reveal a clean environment drives internals?

Incidently, it's probably the top magnet stuck to the drive lid that's preventing you opening it, which is probably a good thing!

[lcoughey]

I suggest you give up on trying to open the drive and contact "data recovery company name" in "location" before you destroy any chance of getting your data recovered.

[Dmitri]

I have ST9500420ASG laptop drive
...
Yesterday I tried to open it, but something is holding the metal top case. I have removed the Seagate sticker completely and found NO hidden screw under the sticker.

That's an omen! Stop while you still can.
Data recovery gods are pleased with the "Total members" of this forum passing the 20 000 mark, so they're protecting your data.

[ShaneWard]

I think the drive is ruined already, I have a feeling it was partly open in the living room or office and also the inside out of alignment.

Sorry to say this, but it looks like a very expensive recovery job if he wants his data back.

[HaQue]

can you post a photo of the top?

I think the score is Drive:1 - Owner:0

[northwind]

How to proceed ?

Here's how: DON'T.

[pcimage]

How to proceed ?

Here's how: DON'T.

Totally agree, not DIY on this occasion.