Hi,

I have (or had!) a 2.5 usb hard drive made by Toshiba. Long story short, it stopped working and made some clicking noises so I wrote it off as lost after trying some things with it. Being inquisitive, I opened it and ad a look inside (more out of interest than anything, but I repair computers and electronic items, just have no clue about hdd's). I removed the platters to have a look and they are clean but obviously completely misaligned now. Now our laptop is stolen and we have lost all our family photographs from the last 10 years. The only place they were stored was on the hdd in question. Should I just bin it and give up hope or is there a glimmer of hope that they can be recovered?
I know I'm an idiot.

Thanks in advance,

As you have mentioned you have removed the platters & lost the alignment then you have also lost any chances of getting any data back.

Loki

It depends on the model of toshiba. In some cases the alignment is not such a huge issue, but the potential contamination to the media from your curiosity will be an issue.

Much work will be needed to get data recovered for you, and it will likely not be a cheap job, but I think it could be possible. You should seek out a reputable DR firm and explain what has happened to get a realistic idea of what can be done and at what cost.

That is deplorable. I am incredulous.

1. Maybe find a university or technical school that teaches students how to repair hard drives. Tell them what you did. Wait until their laughter stops. Wait until the look of amazement stops. Wait until they are in a really apologetic mood. Then ask them to please look at it as a special project. Tell them you will offer them a free iPad to a student who gets off 25% or more of the pictures. Then break down and cry. Have a woman nearby who breaks down and cries with you. Cry like a baby until they agree.

2. Or start building up a bank account with $5000 or so until you feel like you can approach a restoration company with your story. Then you can talk to them like the man you are. You will still be a fool, but at least you will be a man about it. They might even cut you a break if it turns out to be readable.

Hope that helps!

To me it is still possibile. I am more concerned about media micro-damage rather than contamination, anyway.
Hope the platters were not allowed to stick together or were not exposed to magnetic field.
Would not be a cheap job at all.

Like hddguy says, platter alignment is not usually a massive issue on most Toshiba drives.

Have had some seriously tampered with Toshibas (platters removed, finger-printed and put back upside down!) and still got a surprisingly good amount of data off!!

But.. Like BlackST says, NOT cheap!

_________________
PC Image Data Recovery
http://www.pcimage.co.uk

New!! HDD-PCB.COM for all your PCB and donor HDD requirements!