Yesterday I recieved a MK6025GAS which had been to one of the largest recovery companies in the world. They were not able to recover the data.

I believe the original problem to be a spindle motor failure. After they moved platters/changed heads the disk was not able to read any sectors and was making a feint clicking noise (same noise as failing head) The disk becomes ready after a few minutes but MHDD unable to read/test any sectors - !!!!!

I have changed the heads, heads tested 100% ok. New heads in disk provide same results. the only problem I see is the serial number on the hard drive lid does not match the serial number displayed in MHDD.

In my eyes, it's either wrong PCB or platters misaligned during platter swap. I can't see what else could cause these symptoms.

Does anyone have any thoughts about my next course of action?

Thanks

Though I m not very much familiar with Toshiba drive but I read somewhere that, Without the Original PCB Toshiba drives data could not be recovered.
And from your specified comments where serial does not match for the PCB while in original n MHDD shows, the PCB is missing.
What other guru says I m keeping eyes...

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If the serial number does not match, then it's pretty certain that the PCB had been swapped.

Chances of getting the original back from Company X are pretty slim though

Sean

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I'm more inclined to think they put the wrong lid on than the pcb though.

these disks have black lines at sequential intervals on the platters, compare this with a donor to see if there is a significant difference. Im not sure of its relevance, if any, but might be a way to tell if platters are misaligned.

Thanks HDD Guy, good thinking. I can't see what else I can do.

anyone else got any thoughts? How about the super guru's? BlackST and Doomer, please share your insight.

I have compared lines on platters. the donor drive is a MK8025GAS. There is a black mark on the side of the top platter. when this is lined up against the parking stand, a line on the bottom platter is aligned with little hole on the end of the HDA (about 5 MM before the head).

I wonder if anyone is willing to check any spare MK6025GAS drives to compare these black marks. Maybe if 3 or 4 different mk6025gas are checked, I will be closer to finding out if these platters are misaligned. I dont have this model in stock.

What I have noticed is the these lines are reversed on the patient. The top platter mark lines up with the parking stand. The bottom platter mark lines up with the hole on hda 5 mm from heads.

Could they have put the platters in upside down? Do these platter actually belong to my customer? Hmmmmm.

I just checked a couple of MK6025GAS.

One had platter marks align more-or-less together (give or take 1mm), the other one has marks about 15mm apart. The top mark being to the right (looking with the head stack nearest).

My moneys still on the PCB.

Sean

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Maybe there is no signifigance in these marks. Nice to know though

To be honest Spaz I not sure what can be done. I know that the toshibas are not quite as 'strict' with platter alignment as other disks, and there is some tolerance for slight mis-alignment, but if the platters are misaligned then it mudst be due to a mess up at the platter swap stage. Manually aligning platter is not really an option as you will likely never get the alignment spot on. If PCIMAGE is right about it being a different PCB, then this could account for it, but I dont think so. Ive had some toshibas with different PCBs on and adaptive data is close enough for disk to work, but MHDD scan was pretty colourful! Other Toshibas with wrong PCB simply did not work.

If this had been to another DR company then its pretty fair to say its a challenge right from the start. Maybe there is another issue with the disk prior to it going to the previous DR company, or maybe it was at a local PC shop or something before?

Wish I could be more help, but not sure I am going to be able to.

Good luck with it though, keep us updated if you get it, will be an interesting read if you manage to get it.

Maybe Duncan can lend you his PETS with a new 'platter realignment' modification installed

So the top lines are to the right of the bottom lines on your disks and my good donor. If a few more people check for me if might be worthwhile attempting a platter swap but reversing the platters. I think there is a 0.00001% chance of success though.

I have it on good authority the pcb is correct. The HDD lid and PCB had different job numbers. I called them and gave the job numbers, the PCB job number corresponds to my client.

Thanks for taking the time to check for me though. It will be remembered.

Ah ha! That sheds a slightly different light on the matter.

I can check a few more 6025's if u like, I got a shed load!

Sean

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I would be grateful if you could check a few more. If the top platter marks are slightly to the left of the bottom platter marks then my money these platters are upside down. Not sure how they got like that though.

Opened up a couple more drives.

One has the bottom platter mark to the right of the top, the other has the bottom mark to the left but a good 3-4cm apart.

Sean

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Is there any consistency between the marks and the alignment? Is this somethign we can use?

Thanks.

I think this is an impossible job. Maybe platters are aligned correct but disk has bad media. Only one person knows. That person is not me.

It would appear not.

Every drive I open seems to be different.

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If the job was done poorly then the center screw could have been loose and platter unalign on powering. I think that any donk head who cant fix a Toshiba (I dont include HDDSpaz with his job) is an amateur and should not be allowed to waste skin

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The centre screw holding the platter was very loose. I tightened it but same result. HDD Master seems like you have cracked the case.

Toshibas are very tolerant of platter mis-alignment. You can move one 90 degrees and it will still work. However, if you still think alignment is an issue try moving the two platters relative to each other to see if it makes a difference. If you're sure the PCB is original then you can't do any harm at this point.