MultiDrive – free backup, clone & wipe disk utility from Atola Technology

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Forum rules


Please do not post questions about data recovery cases here (use this forum instead). This forum is for topics on finding new ways to recover data. Accessing firmware, writing programs, reading bits off the platter, recovering data from dust...



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Heads looking at the Microscope
PostPosted: April 20th, 2009, 17:58 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 24th, 2007, 16:08
Posts: 1421
Location: EUROPE
Hi to all,

Looking the heads with a microscope i can see the heads very dirty, and with a lot off "particle".

What can i use to clean it and remove that "particle"


ZeBong

_________________
ZeBong
" что случилось в России - останется в России "
" Россия еще раз"


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Heads looking at the Microscope
PostPosted: April 20th, 2009, 18:28 
Offline

Joined: November 9th, 2006, 15:15
Posts: 2984
Isopropyl alcohol and folded paper, tracing paper is ideal. Many other methods can be used, but this method has some success. Only tested on Seagate heads so far.

Would be good to hear of other successful methods though...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Heads looking at the Microscope
PostPosted: April 21st, 2009, 4:15 
Offline

Joined: March 3rd, 2009, 6:00
Posts: 32
Location: Hellas
To clean effectively "something" you need to know its chemistry.

What you see with your microscope what do you suspect it is?

Definitelly you will remove them mechamicaly but you can help a lot with the appropriate "detergent" (metaforically speaking).

Alcohols (as isopropyl alcohol) can dissolve are very polar liquides and can disolve very well polar

If the head contains material like the onew that fly inside a regular atmospear (our rooms, smoke, soiling material ...) then alkaline solution such as azax do a better job.

I have not exoerience in hard disk cleaning but I do have experience in cleaning field.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Heads looking at the Microscope
PostPosted: April 21st, 2009, 7:22 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 12th, 2005, 3:32
Posts: 709
Location: Belgrade
on wd it helps a lot, I am suprised Zebong did not try this yet

_________________
HddSurgery - Professional Data Recovery Tools


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Heads looking at the Microscope
PostPosted: April 21st, 2009, 11:53 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: July 16th, 2008, 17:52
Posts: 489
Location: Long Beach, California
It is also safe to submerge the heads (not the whole headstack, you could but there isnt much point to) in 99% isoprophyl for ~30 seconds to 1 minutes and that should dissolve most of the particles; and then dry them with an air duster (very carefully)

Do this inside you cleanroom/ laminar flow so that no new particles attach themselves and render your cleaning pointless. You can also you straws (like small ones you find at coffee shops) cut them small and place them over the heads for extra protection.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Heads looking at the Microscope
PostPosted: April 21st, 2009, 14:37 
Offline

Joined: November 9th, 2006, 15:15
Posts: 2984
helpdisc wrote:
on wd it helps a lot, I am suprised Zebong did not try this yet


I dont recall ever having a WD with dirty heads, I pretty much assumed WD heads did not get dirty. Do you have success in cleaning heads from WD?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Heads looking at the Microscope
PostPosted: April 21st, 2009, 16:45 
Offline

Joined: March 3rd, 2009, 6:00
Posts: 32
Location: Hellas
Assuming there is some oily sumbsance inside the hard disk chamber (maybe from the motor bearing !!!), then it is safer to submerge the heads inside an mildly alkaline solution (water and triethanolamine) to convert the oily sustance into a soap thus cleaning the heads.

The secreat is in the word "convert" the dirtiness into a soap and then rinse it.
Much more efective method.

If you use isopropyl alcohol you "disolve" the oily substance.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Heads looking at the Microscope
PostPosted: April 21st, 2009, 16:49 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 24th, 2007, 16:08
Posts: 1421
Location: EUROPE
Hi,

I think we see where some metods to clean the heads :)


Thanks to all

ZeBong

_________________
ZeBong
" что случилось в России - останется в России "
" Россия еще раз"


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group