Single platter 160GB Seagate, old drive had a ceased spindle.

Is it normal for the disk to have to be reinitialized afterwards? I hit OK just to see what would happen and then it said "Cannot find specified file" which means it couldn't locate the boot sector I think. Mild click periodically like it is seeking and cannot find something.

I'm only about 80% sure I put the platter into the donor drive right-side up. Depending on the answer I receive here, I may just flip it and try again.

Even with one platter you need a special tool to hold the platter straight and keep it aligned on this one. There is no mistake to put it in upside down. With a platter swap tool you can only put it in one way. You can not take this off with your hand and move it over to a new chassis. You have alignment issues on this one. I think you messed this one up. If you do not understand how to do this one then you should not of done it. I am sorry. Even if your motor is seized and you move this over in an unclean environment you risk the change of contamination on this one. It is your drive and your data. Wish you lots of luck on this one. You need to understand more on this than you do right now. Heads, magnets, and alignments are all issues in this one. If you do not do it right you get the results you have now on this one.

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Iorana Haraharaini

I guess I misunderstood the whole alignment thing...

I thought alignment was only a factor in multi-platter drives, where each platter has to be aligned with the others. I'm not sure how what you say makes sense considering that the drive spins 360 degrees. Even if it is not aligned right, then all it has to do is spin a little bit.

By the way I understand about contamination. My goal is too get it to work for just a few seconds and copy 2 small files. As long as it isn't too dusty, the heads should not "fry" instantly. I was careful only to power it for a short time.

This IS a joke, right?

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PC Image Data Recovery
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I think the only certainty here is that you may never see your data again without some pro intervention.

If you can even find a pro who will look at it now...

There is still a chance to get the data, but you are way beyond DIY at this point. I see you are in Texas as well, I would be willing to look at it, but be prepared for a quote over 900 dollars if it can be recovered. But the chances are very slim.

Just like all the other so called "forums" on this topic eh? Keep it classy guys and good luck with your biz.

It's a 1 platter drive... so what's there to be "aligned" according to the first reply? Alignment is between multiple platters...

Wow! That is a very generous offer. I'm sure most of us would be suggesting that you expect a price greater than $2000...I would even throw in a $500 fee for the attempt.

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Luke
Recovery Force Data Recovery

Some drives are aligned against the spindle motor, even single platter ones.

The guys answering your questions know their stuff. The offer you had from Cleanroom is very generous, and I think you will have difficulty in getting a better deal from any other reputable companies.

My advice is to take Cleanrooms offer.

there are two different alignments for platters. Multi-platter alignment which as you know that all the paltters must stay as one stack coming off or you are pretty much done.

Then there is Motor alignment. Think of it as a Very Very sensitive tire alignment. If you put a tire on incorrectly it will wobble up and down when it spins, since it is not aligned to the wheel correctly. Platters are the same , but on a microscopic level.

Also i said it would be over 900 bucks if we can do it. We do charge a $100 previous opened drive fee that is nonrefundable. $900 is being generous for a starting price. our top tier price for that size drive is $1400. so worst case... 1400 plus 100 for your data.

Also there is no quick and easy solution to get the drive up and running for just a couple minutes. It is like taking you broken car to the shop with a bad broken engine. You cannot tell him to just fix the engine so you can just drive down the road for a mile. They have to fix it completely.

This is also pending that you did not scratch up the platter in your attempts.

PM me if you are interested.

I am sorry to say but answers like this is why your data is lost now and you have come here to find a solution from us on how to fix your mistake. Even if this forum was You Tube we could not fix this for you. Just like determine your problem with on line analysis. It is not possible. Sorry.

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Iorana Haraharaini

First useful thing anyone has said in this whole thread. Thankyou. Would you mind estimating the number of gradations? For example, if you looked at the platter as representing a perfect circle with 360 degrees would 1 degree difference be enough to matter in most cases?

I heard there is a way to adjust header height so that it doesn't rub with contaminants as badly, is that a hardware adjustment or firmware?

I think you need to accept that this is beyond your capabilities.

As Cleanroom already said, it is at a microscopic level...

Header height is fly height and no you can not do this. Do not believe all you read on internet and all you see on You tube. Proper tools, knowledge and know how could of fixed your origianl problem. You like the tire example. You back tire freezes and can no longer rotate. Why? Can you just remove this tire and put on a new one and it will rotate again and you can drive with it. Answer is no. You have to unblock the tire first and most time it is brute force to do this one so now it spins freely. Now you can fix the problem and go on. Same with your spindle motor it has to be unblocked first before you can go on and fix the problem on this one. That is why I think you have gotten the answers you have on this one. I also know when you said 80% sure you put platter on right was a joke to use and especially when you said you will turn it upside down and put it on again. You are guessing at what to do and have no idea what you have done. Blance and alignment play an important part in platter swaps. You are way over your bounds and limit for doing this. You have tried and failed and now you have come here to find a way to fix this mess. From your answers back to us on this one you feel that you can do this on your own. I think now we should stop to give you advise and you go ahead and work on this one alone. I would like to wish you good luck and hope you can find your 2 files you want. But I think you will have to reconstruct them and not pull them off the HDD you are attempting to fix now.

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Iorana Haraharaini

I would not have simply swapped the platters if I knew single-platter drives have alignment. I would have perhaps tried to force the spindle to move again, but was trying to avoid metal shavings inside where it was likely already stripped at the bottom of the spindle.

When you do a platter swap, how do know where to align it on the donor spindle? I noticed a rectangular marking near the inner ring of the platter on both sides. Is this the microscopic marker you are referring to?

I suggest that you spend the time and money to figure it out, then you can report your findings for free.

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Luke
Recovery Force Data Recovery

if it is out of alignment, then there is not much you can do to fix it. Unless you want to keep removing it and putting it back in over and over till it starts working, but you would have a better chance or winning the lottery. That is to say that you heads are not dead either.

We use a high powered microscope and special fluid on the platters to see the alignment on the platter to realign if needed.

Unfortunately you are beyond fixing it yourself. There is no tutorial, video, forum post that will help you now. so your two options is to send it over to me for a diagnosis or someone else that has the capabilities to work on th is situation, or just trash the drive.

Can you tell me what that little rectangle is at least? Sounds like I'm getting warmer and touching nerves....

Depending on the gradations, a simple robotic arm and program could "brute" force the rotation. I still haven't gotten an answer on where it's important down the 1 degree, 1/10th of a degree or 1/10,000 of a degree though so not sure how feasible that solution would be overall.

Yes I can answer = $ + research + knowledge + experience

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Iorana Haraharaini