Got in a WD800JD that had previously been taken to a local computer shop. It has a badly burned PCB (Combo chip and MCU are burned, as well as various other bits). The shop tried to replace the PCB and was not successful (they reported it would spin up and click).

Interestingly, some smoke got inside the drive chassis; smoke settled on the platter and then the other shop turned on the drive and heads travelled across the particles creating a bunch of nice new media damage.

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

Smoke got inside the hdd? That thing must have been burning mental like! for quite a while.
Got any pics of actual damage on platters?

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It seems that the unluckiest people in the world are those that don't backup.
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Already closed it back up, sorry.

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

(Serious mode ON) : the smoke inside the HDA may be from preamp chip / flex / VCM or from the motor, instead of coming from outside to inside. Did you check HDA internals for the possible source of "pollution" ?

(Serious mode OFF : ) And now an EVERGREEN from THE PLATTERS (oh what a nice name for a group !) : SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES...



They asked me how I knew
my know-how was true
Oh, I of course replied
Something here inside cannot be denied

They said someday you'll find
All who ask are blind
Oh, when your drive's on fire
You must realize
Smoke gets in your eyes

So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed
To think they could doubt my advice
Yet today your data has flown away
You're without your porn

Now laughing guys deride
Tears you can not hide
Oh, so we smile and say
When a hard drive dies
Smoke gets in your eyes
Smoke gets in your eyes

Didn't take the time to take everything all apart... if the client approves recovery the heads will be replaced anyway since they have been running over smoke bits for who knows how long. There was no visible damage to the preamp or flex cable.

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

I think I prefer 'Serious mode off'

I remember that top hit song

This is not too interesting, and maybe not DIY-related. (only the scratch)
Preamp can be burned together with the original PCB.

I have seen burned motor (VC and spindler too), preamp-cable (flexible), preamp itself too.

Janos

maybe the other shops recovery pro had a serious smoking problem?

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All went well until I plugged the drive in.

Well, I mainly thought it would be interesting for the people here who are always running drives after cutting off TVS or swapping burned PCBs, etc

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

@drc,

how many threads are real and how many are BOGUS ? I have an idea about the BOGUS percentile and is very high.... if you want a method to discriminate BOGUS threads without checking the IP/HOST NAME, I have one that is almost failsafe. And free