Hey guys, maybe someone here can help...
First, I'd like to say that I DO NOT want to bring this drive in for data recovery, I just can't afford it. I'm technically capable and am fine with trying a DIY, though I've never opened a hard drive before.

The Equipment:
Samsung
Model: HD502IJ
500GB/7200rpm/16M
3.5" SATA
LaCie external HDD enclosure

The Problem:
The hard drive (in the enclosure) was dropped from about 1.5 feet onto a wooden floor while running. Stupid... The enclosure still works fine, I've been using a spare WD 500 GB in it with no issues. As for the Samsung, it seems to spin up normal, then a single infamous click, and then a "buzzing" noise. The best way I can describe it is that hard drive "thinking" sound (as if I were copying a lot of data). Very very quick, mild clicking, not the same as the click of death. I made a recording of the sound but this forum won't allow me to attach mp3's or wav's. If anyone wants a listen, either shoot me an e-mail or fill me in on a format that's accepted. I checked all of these sounds and nothing is the same
http://datacent.com/hard_drive_sounds.php
When I first turned it on it would sometimes spin up and then stop, then spin up again, but for this recording it seemed to spin up fine and stay that way, I don't know. I also didn't want to keep it on because I'm afraid of doing extra damage.
The hard drive also fails to be recognized in either Vista or XP.

Ideas:
Any welcome. I have a feeling like it's a head/physical problem rather than PCB since the damage that did it was mechanical rather than electrical, but I really don't know. After I acquire the proper info, spare parts, and tools I was thinking of making an improvised clean "cage" out of an old aquarium. Something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzY_aF0O ... re=related
I've also heard of freezing and "technical taps", but was hoping to gain more information before doing anything.

Questions:
1. Are platters/heads/PCB's ever model irrelevant? What I mean is that could I simply swap platters from this HD to a working HD, provided they match up in size/mechanically etc. I can understand why a PCB might have to match up with a specific head, but (and correct me if I'm wrong) a platter is just a physical piece, not really an electromechanical one. To me it seems like swapping screws from one hard drive to the other, so long as the threads fit.
2. Recommend freezing?
3. If it is PCB and not a mechanical problem, any recommendations on where to get a replacement?

Any info is welcome.

Thanks,
Alex

Head/s gone + possible media damage + possible mechanical problem + possible further damage when you repowered it (a nice ring especially on lowest platter).
You would need 10'000$ worth of tooling + clean room environment to safely deal with the drive internals - and of course knowing how these drives are made, what to do, what not, and then a safe way to image data to a working drive (another 10'000 $ or so). Not to mention donor parts (plural !!)

One thing is 99,999% sure : the PCB is OK. AND you can't replace the PCB straight away , even if the drive was working (could work only in a 5-10% of times and it's just a matter of luck).

About the "ideas", you can always refer to the people on YouTube, they SHOULD happily answer to all your questions. But I doubt you will succeed. But who dares wins and "no guts no glory" , even if the price to pay is the total loss of data (NOTE : an already opened drive means that sending to DR company would mean doubling or multiplying by "x" the quote)

A suggestion that makes sense would be : put the drive in a ziplock envelope and store in a safe place until you can afford a professional recovery - that doesn't cost the world in this case . But unfortunately , I have the feeling this is not you want to hear.

Good luck.

Unless I win the lottery, there's nothing on the drive that I would be willing to pay thousands of dollars for, so all I have last are last ditch attempts, hence the DIY approach and lack of $10,000 equipment. Thanks for the info so far, but I guess my main question would be:

Can a platter be swapped into a hard drive of the same model?

And a follow up:

Can platters be exchanged freely between any two hard drives, provided they physically fit?

Thanks again,

Alex

Try and see. There's no war without casualties, however.