Please don't laugh: Is there anything like portable dust free environment which can be used for opening up the hard disk? I need to open a working hard disk and replace its lid (or cover) with one having a plexiglass window - and was wondering if there is any such contraption that can help accomplish the above. Any help is much appreciated!

note: Some hdd models can't survive this operation when it is spinning.
The top cover sometimes is used for more purpose like fixing the MHA (WD), fixing the spindle's axis (IBM), drives the internal wind, reduces the vibration....

Janos

I wonder if the windowed top covers are sold as-is...

I found that someone did sell windowed drives sometime in in 2006 - I think it was WD.

If this is for cosmetic purposes, I would say save your time & money and forget it, or buy one of those old windowed Raptors. I wouldn't trust to regular operation a drive that had been opened even in a real cleanroom.

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You don't have to backup all of your files, just the ones you want to keep.

Thanks for pointing this out. I know what I am trying to do is inherently unsafe operation even otherwise.

[My response somehow didn't end up in the forum - here it is again]
Yes, it is for cosmetic purposes.

This is what I am trying to achieve ultimately:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-Q5un_G ... vity_leds/

Here's where I found some instructions to replace the drive lid:

http://www.grynx.com/projects/plexiglas ... -window/1/

I have the same drive as in above.

Guess, you will like my demo-hdd, from my shop.



here is the little movie:
http://adatmentes24.hu/hun/galeria_kepek/opened%20IBM%20notebook%20hdd%20working.MPG

Janos

Janos, you made it DELUXE ...

That is very cool! Please do tell how did you go about doing it?

This is an old 8GB IBM 2.5" model, one LC-Power brand USB-IDE pcb, and one ferrero rocher box, like this one:


Made in cleanroom of course.


The chocolate was good as well...

Yum! I like it You must have sealed the lid with adhesive...?

How "clean" was the "clean room" - was it DIY clean room? I read somewhere to run hot shower in the bathroom so that all the dust particles settle down with steam to make a clean room. Does it work?

(Moderator: please warn me if this is not the right forum to discuss this matter).

The secret was the ITALIAN CHOCOLATE.

Seriously guys, what's the trick for clean room?

Either you buy it or you make it. In any case it costs a lot and it costs also in terms of maintenance and consumables.

You can get a portable clean box from about $799 in America. Cant find the link now

You can make your own clean box using tupperware- like the big ones not like lunch boxes

Buy a HEPA filter- low flow extraction fan- mount it to the tupperware so that air goes through the HEPA into the box- make some holes and use those gloves they use on farms the check if horses/cattle are preganant; glue it on to the holes and you have a psuedo clean box.

Allow the incomming air to filter for 15-20 minutes before openening and replacing the cover.

The hard drive should not be opened more than 30seconds swapping the covers over.

YOu need to reasearch which hard drive will work best- one that does not have heads mounted to the cover and all that other stuff metnioned higher up.

Make sure the box i air tight with a smaller exhaust than intake to keep positrive pressure.

Good Luck
I like the Jar bell hard drive. Nice.

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This portable can be had for a mere $1800 (US): http://www.sentryair.com/specs/Clean-Room-Portable-Mini-218-PCR.htm

I'm not aware of any available in the US for $800. ppumkin, please post a link if you recall. I'd like to take a look.

Along the same lines that ppumkin is suggesting, you can build one. Maybe you can get a local hardware store to cut 6 pieces of plexiglass in the shape of the one in my link (18"x18"x18"), then add your own HEPA filter/blower motor to it. I know a medium volume room cleaner unit can be purchased at a Walmart for around $120. All together, you'd probably spend $300-400 to build something a little better than the tupperware solution.

It was that company- the smallest box they offer for 800USD? it is too small todo anything long term though.

Remember not to use this hard drive as a primary storage device though! its just for show! can crash without notice.

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It seems that the unluckiest people in the world are those that don't backup.
Free Solutions
Picasaweb- Pictures and movies | Dropbox - Documents and other..

the plexiglass + walmart cleaner sounds Wile E. Coyote-ish ... Ah, the kind of gloves you were talking about are usually disposable... and the main use is to check if something that lead to pregnancy... happened