I have a seagate st3000dm001 that is not working. Upon plugging in, the drive spins up and the arm does 2 sweeps across the platter before parking off the platters followed by spinning down. I was hoping to get some input as to whether replacing the PCB would be worth it or if I should just take it in to be professionally looked at.

Also, can anyone recommend a professional in the Philadelphia area, if not, then one online?

Thank for helping!

99.9% not PCB, if will be a physical heads issue which isn't DIY.

By saying that the arm sweeps twice a less the platter, can we assume you've opened the drive?

If so, then expect a hefty bill including an upfront examination fee

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

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

Why does someone opening the drive add to the bill?

Risk of contamination for one, as I assume you've opened it in a non-cleanroom environment?

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

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

We add $300 to the recovery cost of any drive that comes in which has been opened, as pcimage says contamination (and subsequent powering on) are a problem.

_________________
Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily.
Data Recovery Cape Town

Results of playing with internal parts (touching, moving, unsuccessful recovery attempts) are even much worse than contamination. And we never know what was done if the drive has been previously opened - it needs to be completely disassembled for inspection at the first step of initial evaluation.
Actually the fee is a pay for this manual work, that takes much more time than a regular evaluation and requires knowledge and experience.

Exactly so!

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

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

Not to mention native screw torques, missing pieces, I-touched-the-platter-and-then-tried-to-clean-the-fingerprint-with-paper-towels...