WD2500JB

[frantrader]

Hi all,

I am new and I need your help.
My HD WD2500JB is crashed. Bios cannot detect it and click noise (four times) you can heard at startup.

I am going to swap platters but this is the first time for me.

I have two questions:

1) I don't know if my HD is multi-platters, but if it is so, how can I swap them? I read it is important avoid mis-alignment of platters. Which tools can I use for this task?

2) In a multi-platters HD is it more convenient swap heads in order to avoid mis-alignment.

Thanks in advance.

FT

[mr_spokk]

Hi, why do you start with platterswap? The only time you need to swap platters is when your spindle motor get stucked for some reason.
Are you sure that there is not something else wrong with it?
Pcb problems are quite common on WD drives, or firmware corruption...both those problems cause clicking, knocking noise.

On this drive you have 3 platters, and you should not try to separate them without special tools and knowledge of it, if you fail your data is gone forever....sad but true.

Regards/ Bosse

Last edited by mr_spokk on February 21st, 2008, 19:35, edited 1 time in total.

[frantrader]

Hi, why do you start with platterswap?
Are you sure that there is not something else wrong with it?
Pcb problems are quite common on WD drives, or firmware corruption...both those problems cause clicking, knocking noise.

Regards/ Bosse

Thanks for your reply.
You are right. I will buy a new identical HD and I will try to check PCB.

But, in the case I am forced to swap platters, how can i do it?

Do you know if such model is a multi-platter one?

Is it not simpler swap heads?

So far, I have never read about head swap. Why?

[mr_spokk]

You can't just swap the Pcb, on the Pcb there is a chip that containes adaptive data (finetuneing) for your drive to work.
You need to read out that adaptive data from your old board and then write it into the new one....for that you need to have the proper tools.
Why are you forced to swap platters?
And yes, if the heads are gone (also gives a clicking drive) you need to replace them.
But on WD drives it's more difficult to swap heads then on some other drives, thats why there is not so much info of it in the forum I guess.

Bosse

[frantrader]

You need to read out that adaptive data from your old board and then write it into the new one....for that you need to have the proper tools.

I am a newbie. What kind of tool I should use to read adaptive data from old board and write it into the new one?

Why are you forced to swap platters?
And yes, if the heads are gone (also gives a clicking drive) you need to replace them.
But on WD drives it's more difficult to swap heads then on some other drives, thats why there is not so much info of it in the forum I guess.
Bosse

So far I am not sure, I will be forced to swap platters, but it could be a probable event. I don't understand what is the difficulty in swapping heads. As far as I know, I need to remove them before swapping platters.
You said that head swap probably is not simple on WD drives, so I guess that swap head is not a simple mechanical task...

FT

[mr_spokk]

Hi, check this topic regarding the Pcb:
sticky-important-topics-beginners-please-look-here-first-f16/noise-related-to-pcb-in-wd-hdds-final-edition-t7986.html

Regarding the tools: They are very expensive ones..like, Pc3000 from ACE Lab, Products from Salvation data: http://www.salvationdata.com/productDetail.asp?pn=00012

Regarding to swap the heads: It's not like changeing tires
To physicly move them is not to hard, but get them aligned and calibrate is the tricky part.

Regards/ Bosse

[pcimage]

Do not, repeat, DO NOT try swapping platters on this 3 platter WD.

[pepe]

Hi,

In case this is your first drive U will almost surely kill it, take it to a pro if u need the data.
Of course u may play with it if data is not critical...
pepe

[frantrader]

Do not, repeat, DO NOT try swapping platters on this 3 platter WD.

Now I am very scared.
I think the problem is platter alignment, is it?

[frantrader]

Do you know this product?
http://www.salvationdata.com/downloads/ ... Efinal.rar

Has anyone used it?

It seems that Salvation doesn't sell such product now.
Where can I find a similar tool?

FT

[Steve]

You keep saying you think you need to swap the platters , but you
never give your reasoning for that statement.
Western Digital drives can be very easy to repair , or they can be very difficult .
You should NEVER remove the cover on a WD drive unless you know
that there is a problem with the internals .AND you know what you
are doing and have the proper tools.
Even loosening the cover screws will cause the Heads to become mis-aligned.
The platters generally don't become mis-aligned unless you loosen them.
There is no need to swap platters unless the motor is bad or the
spindle is frozen.

If you can hear the drive spinning, then there should be no need for platter swap.
If the platters are mis-aligned then your data is, for all practical purposes, GONE.

Like it has been said 100's of times on this forum :
If you need your data back and don't know what you are doing ,
SEND IT TO A PROFESSIONAL.

To Repair ANY drive , the first thing you have to do, is to figure out
what is actually wrong with it before jumping in and trying to fix it.
Proper diagnosis is ALWAYS the first step.

As far as the HPE tool, they haven't stopped selling it, it is just out
of stock.
The Price you would pay for proper tools to repair this ONE drive would
be better spent paying a DR company to retrive your data.
If your data is not worth what recovery would cost , then the drive surely
isn't worth what tools would cost.

[frantrader]

You keep saying you think you need to swap the platters , but you
never give your reasoning for that statement.
Western Digital drives can be very easy to repair , or they can be very difficult .
You should NEVER remove the cover on a WD drive unless you know
that there is a problem with the internals .AND you know what you
are doing and have the proper tools.
Even loosening the cover screws will cause the Heads to become mis-aligned.
The platters generally don't become mis-aligned unless you loosen them.
There is no need to swap platters unless the motor is bad or the
spindle is frozen.

If you can hear the drive spinning, then there should be no need for platter swap.
If the platters are mis-aligned then your data is, for all practical purposes, GONE.

Like it has been said 100's of times on this forum :
If you need your data back and don't know what you are doing ,
SEND IT TO A PROFESSIONAL.

To Repair ANY drive , the first thing you have to do, is to figure out
what is actually wrong with it before jumping in and trying to fix it.
Proper diagnosis is ALWAYS the first step.

As far as the HPE tool, they haven't stopped selling it, it is just out
of stock.
The Price you would pay for proper tools to repair this ONE drive would
be better spent paying a DR company to retrive your data.
If your data is not worth what recovery would cost , then the drive surely
isn't worth what tools would cost.

As I said previously I am a newbie, but I have enough experience in informatics field.
I have already tried all kind of software to get back my data, but with no results.
My drive does not have a logical error, but a mechanical problem.
In fact it received a bad knock while it was working.

Bios can’t detect it. I can hear clicking noise of heads and disk spinning.
I figure out that I have a mechanical problem.
I am not only interested in getting back my data, but I would like to become a new job in data recovery. For this purpose I prefer to buy an expensive tool rather than to pay professional service.

[rchadwick]

I'm not trying to be rude, but if you want to go into data recovery, the first step is to READ. A lot. To use an analogy, to us you seem like a guy who has a kid sister with a headache, and has decided she needs brain surgery, and wants to know how to do brain surgery. We're giving you the best possible answer under the circumstances... If you like your sister, put the drill down and take her to a Doctor. With your current state of mind, anything you do will risk her life, and at the least make it harder for the doctor.

And no, an expensive scalpel set isn't going to make any difference. Beyond knowing how to cut, you need to know WHEN and WHERE. Otherwise you're just a butcher.

[mr_spokk]

Hi, if it recived a bad knock while working and it now only clicks? Then it's for sure either headdamage or scratches on the surface.
As said 10 times before here now, if the information on your drive is importent, then leave it to a good DR company.
There is nothing you can do by your self.

Regards/ Bosse

[pcimage]

I'm gonna have to agree with these guys.

Fair enough if you want to get into DR, good luck to you, and we're glad to help.

But do yourself a favour, and start with an easier patient, and one that doesn't have any valuable data on.

These WD drives with physical problems, are tough nuts to crack, even to a pro.

It takes a long time, and a lot of buggered drives, to learn DR effectively.

Sorry, but that's the way it is.

[coolmac]

You keep saying you think you need to swap the platters , but you
never give your reasoning for that statement.
Western Digital drives can be very easy to repair , or they can be very difficult .
You should NEVER remove the cover on a WD drive unless you know
that there is a problem with the internals .AND you know what you
are doing and have the proper tools.
Even loosening the cover screws will cause the Heads to become mis-aligned.
The platters generally don't become mis-aligned unless you loosen them.
There is no need to swap platters unless the motor is bad or the
spindle is frozen.

If you can hear the drive spinning, then there should be no need for platter swap.
If the platters are mis-aligned then your data is, for all practical purposes, GONE.

Like it has been said 100's of times on this forum :
If you need your data back and don't know what you are doing ,
SEND IT TO A PROFESSIONAL.

To Repair ANY drive , the first thing you have to do, is to figure out
what is actually wrong with it before jumping in and trying to fix it.
Proper diagnosis is ALWAYS the first step.

As far as the HPE tool, they haven't stopped selling it, it is just out
of stock.
The Price you would pay for proper tools to repair this ONE drive would
be better spent paying a DR company to retrive your data.
If your data is not worth what recovery would cost , then the drive surely
isn't worth what tools would cost.

As I said previously I am a newbie, but I have enough experience in informatics field.
I have already tried all kind of software to get back my data, but with no results.
My drive does not have a logical error, but a mechanical problem.
In fact it received a bad knock while it was working.

Bios can’t detect it. I can hear clicking noise of heads and disk spinning.
I figure out that I have a mechanical problem.
I am not only interested in getting back my data, but I would like to become a new job in data recovery. For this purpose I prefer to buy an expensive tool rather than to pay professional service.

i know what you are going to do and why after reading your statement,the only product you can afford is SALVATION HPE for head swap or platter swap,i guess.you got to downlaod and review their demo video to determine whether you have sufficient experience to operate.
http://www.salvationdata.com/productDetail.asp?pn=00013

[pepe]

Hi guys,

I am really surprised by the amount of replies this topic has
Why do we repeat things? If one doesn't understand from the first reply, why would he do so after the fifth?

pepe

[frantrader]

Hi guys,

I am really surprised by the amount of replies this topic has
Why do we repeat things? If one doesn't understand from the first reply, why would he do so after the fifth?

pepe

I believed I could learn something thanks to yoor help.
By the way, I have a diagnosis: my heads are crashed.

Price is too high and I will try to get by on my own!

Bye

[frantrader]

probably i am undervaluing recovery task.
Anyway I am curius to know if there is someone who make this kind of activity at home as hobby or second job?

[rchadwick]

I think the next question is... Where are you located?