Hello everyone,

I have a Fujitsu 80GB 2.5" HDD.
It was damaged in a laptop, so when i shake there was a "click".
Ive opened HDD in a clean enviroment, there was a broken part.
So HDD has physical damage, but not platters. It has 2 platters.
My question is;
- It's impossible to replace platters with a new (exact) HDD, right? Because of "servo info" or "sync"
- Should i replace EVERYTHING except platters? If yes, how can i do it? Is it a hard process?

I've attached HDD photos, including the "broken" part which i found in HDD case.
Again, platters are pretty clean, ive opened it in a clean enviroment.

Any help would be great.

HDD info is below:

MODEL MHV2080BH PL
PART NO CA06672-B25300C1
DATE 2006-12
0BDC6B-0080892C
LBA 156301488
FIRMWARE 0080892C
PN 413432-001
PCB CA21338-B74X

HDD pictures:

Hi, first that part should be there and it should only rest on a needle...second is, were in a harddrive do you think your information is stored?!? ...no, no think again, yes right, on the platters! So if you replace the platters...
I belive in this stage there is no hope for DIY...sorry to say.
You'll need Pro help on that one.

Cheers
Bosse

_________________
Rescue IT Datarecovery service Sweden
Rescue IT Dataräddning Göteborg AB
http://www.rescue-it.se

Hello Bosse,

Thanks for your reply.
I know that data is stored on the platters.
I mean, i can't replace platters with a new disc because it's impossible to remove them with home made tools.
I am aware that i need pro help but it costs about 4000$ and i can't afford it.
Thats why i am posting here :p
If it's possible to disassamble HDD on my own, i'll go that way.
I just want to be %100 sure before doing anything.
Ive found exact HDD on eBay, so i can order 4 HDDs in case of any failure, so i can try again.
Also i am aware that platters are very sensitive. Thats why i am asking about 'home made' approach.
Any guide will be great.
Thanks.

Bosse is correct, that piece is meant to be like that, doesn't look broken to me. It must sits on that pin you see.

These drives DO rattle when shaken.

DO NOT swap the platters, unless it's seized, which is unlikely.

If the drive makes clicking noises when powered, then the heads are bad.

Repeat.... you DO NOT need to mess about with the platters.

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

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

Rattle rattle rattle.

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Data Recovery Cape Town

Hello again,
Thanks for your advices and replies
After the damage on my laptop, HDD stop to working.
So i am not sure if it's damaged part is that piece or the yellow one.
What is the right thing to do now?
What you guys can suggest for a repair?
I'll order new HDDs today for my repair process.

Here is the picture of piece i am talking about.

Also, whats the important point when ordering donor disc?
I've found same model with same part number, also same firmware.
Is that enough for a repair?
Here is the picture of HDD front cover:

Oh dear, this is a disaster waiting to unfold

You are clearly not going to listen to anyones advice so I will politely step away from this thread.

As you have been told it is a heads related issue, nothing to do with those pieces you mention, they are normal.

What's more concerning are the scrape marks under the heads, scrapes to the edge of the platter and dust all over the platter. (yes, I know H3 is not present so this top surface is unused, but it is indicative of what's lurking within!)

If you need your data then you need pro assistance, but if data is not important then by all means have a stab at replacing the heads.

I wish you all the best of luck, but this is not gonna have a happy ending

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

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

Hello pcimage,
Thanks for your info.
I am aware that professional help is needed but as i said before, it costs too much.
Data is not highly important. This is my old HDD and if i can't recover, at least i can try to repair it for my experience.
Also, i don't know anything about marks and scrapes, i am the first hand owner of HDD, but i didn't damaged it when i open I am pretty sure about that.
I'll go with the replacing the heads, but it requires a "head replacement tool" as i understand.
Is there any tool that i can use when replacing heads?

Thank you so much.

We need a new category "When Internet fixes go bad". In all seriousness, hard drive spray will probably work better than any recovery attempt you could make. The drive has obviously been dropped and needs professional help if possible at this point. It would actually be far cheaper to pay someone to recover the data than buy tens of thousands of dollars in equipment and training.

_________________
Buy your friends Toshiba\Hitachi and your enemies Seagate.

Hello thatdellguy,
Yes, HDD is dropped, its a HP laptop HDD.
My laptop damaged with drop, so HDD too.

Less than what you think. But it will always be at least "1 cent more than I can afford"



They ALL say this when they hear what they don't want to hear or it was not that way right from the start - I suspect more than 3/4 , in my opinion, are " I am trying to do this to gain some money but I discovered I can't / I have messed up things so now I'm trouble" ... anyway....



Here we go again....



Your hands.



You're welcome.

hehehe

Interesting really...

as far as am sure of, there is one missing comment which am sure (soon or later) will be written here.. and i BET..

_________________
Kuwait Data Recovery - UNIX GTC
The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once. By: Albert Einstein

... to be precise the missing comments are at least TWO

This in any case won't help. The good is that Fujitsu drives are quite strong, the bad is that in such case the probabilities of success (DIY) are very very low. Maybe in different hands the outcome would be different .....

I guess somehow i think we understand each other on this...
Maybe 1 in ur mind, and 1 in mine

hehehe

_________________
Kuwait Data Recovery - UNIX GTC
The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once. By: Albert Einstein

Hello BlackST,
Thanks for your comments.
First of all, i am not in a mood of "I am trying to do this to gain some money but I discovered I can't".
It's my personal HDD and i am kinda excited about data recovery and repair stuff.
And i am not a total stranger to 'tools', i was working at a PC company as repairmen.
I was taking care of physical repairs too. mobo chip replacement etc. I know its not a same thing with HDD.
Also i am fully aware that HDD repair is a sensitive thing.
I am not trying to cross anybodys nerves here, i am just curious
If i succeed with this HDD, i can create a mini test-lab in my home for HDD repair and data recovery.
I understand that you guys are so experienced, i really do.
So i can start wtih something, thats why i dont want to hear "take it to pros, you need pro help etc etc"
If theres a chance or risk to fail, i am already accepting it.
Thank you all.

taking a close look at photo hdd20120831_001727.jpg one sees a fingerprint and tons of dust. There is confusion between "a clean room" and a "clean room"- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleanroom for what we are refering to as a cleanroom. The drive has its origional problem of heads? or? as diagnosis is not complete, PLUS newly contaminated platters. Going south here.

Hello warnerr,

I already said that "clean enviroment". I am not talking about a "lab" or "clean room".
As far i know, platters can be cleaned by alcohol or something. Is that right?

From the drives heads point of view, a dust partical is like driving on the freeway in 110km/h and hit a tree...can go well but can also be a disaster.
And from the photo I can also see damage on the outer tracks on top side...and it looks like head 0 is standing right up...could well be a nasty scratch on 0 level.

Bosse

_________________
Rescue IT Datarecovery service Sweden
Rescue IT Dataräddning Göteborg AB
http://www.rescue-it.se

Hello again,
First of all, i apologize everyone for not being clear or talking like a pro in a first place. It's my bad.
Changing platters or head is not a solution in my case -at least- before posting proper problem/information to forums.
Therefore, this HDD is really old and i was thinking about repair for 2 years So it was locked down, i didn't touch it for 2 years. (of course case was closed all time)
As you can see, it has date 2006/12.
From the stratch; when i power up HDD, head is trying to move over platters but it suddenly turns back to "stopper".
Here is an example video which i found on forums today:
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=773f98d8 ... X.SkyDrive
(loading takes 30 seconds)

I'll post my own video tomorrow for a better view.
Maybe theres no need for platter replace, head replace or any mechanical repair at all.
And again, i apologize.