I would like to data recover my portable 2,5“ HDD WD My Passport. All the specifics are as follows. As the data is not terribly precious I am researching my options and trying to get my hands on . All the details and product numbers are as follows. I have recorded a mp3 (rar packed) with the noises the drives makes when it is trying to power up.

What are your suggestions and how should I resolve my problem ? Your advice is appreciated.

Location of device:
Berlin, Germany

External Hard Disk Drive
- 500Gb Western Digital My Passport Essential, 2,5” USB 3.0
- Model: WDACY5000ABK-EESN
- S/N: WXL1AA0N5047
- 2011B P/N:C4B BAADCA Product of Thailand
- 95% capacity filled

Specification of HDD
-Western Digital P/N: WD5000BMVW-11AMCS0
- Drive Parameters: LBA 976773168
- Serial ATA
- R/N: 771737
- Date: 11.NOV 2010
- DCM: HBOTJBNB
- DCX: NA04MATC5
- 5VDC, 0,55A
- S/N: WXL1AA0N5047
- PCB of HDD has USB3.0 logic and socket included: P/N: 2060-771737-000 REV P1

Symptoms:
- HDD is not recognized upon connected to USB
- When connected LED is switched on and HDD seems to try to start? 4 times (short buzz) and then falls silent (listen to rar packed mp3 )

Damage situation:
- Fall from desk in disconnected state

Recovery trials:
- HDD removed from case and identified
- Change of position of HDD at startup trials
- Put into freezer 1h
- Horizontal swoop of HDD out of the wrist in order to free the heads
- Cleaning of the contacts of the underside of the PCB

Possible remedies found in research:
- Exchange PCB (P/N: 2060-771737-000 REV P1) and transfer firmware in order to exclude failure of PCB
- Open HDD (P/N: WD5000BMVW-11AMCS0) and free and/or replace heads (DCM: HBOTJBNB)

My plan:
- Firming up diagnostics
- Acquire cheap 2,5” drives for practice: open container, remove heads, reassemble, test
- Acquire a drive with matching PCB and heads
- Open container and loosen heads or/and replace heads

Information needed:
- Sourcing of replacement parts and tools
- Howto loosen heads stuck on platter
- Howto replace heads: loosen permanent magnets, secure heads, remove heads
- Howto setup makeshift clean room

The heads are sttucked to platters and if you try to release them you will see a broken head/s on the platter/s. Then you will need a heads replacement from exact donor drive. IMHO from this sound I believe there's further damage to platter (i.e Scratched side/s) this will lead to partial recovery. Even for a pro this case will be difficult.

Good luck

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

Great movie.

If the drive fell if the desk and onto the floor, then more likely the heads fell onto the disk right at the edge. The motor will not have enough force to spin the disk because the heads are gripping it.

Since you waved the disk around, shoved it in the freezer and what not, I suggest you stop what you are doing and take it in for an assessment with a company who has a clean room to open the drive. I think you are lucky as the drive did not spin up so media damage might be very low except for the part where the heads have parked.

The problem is that if the disk does begin to spin the heads on the platters will probably damage the disk before they have the chance to float over the disk.

Your WD has its heads secured differently than the model in the video. If you try to repeat the steps you will cause further damage to both media and heads. If data is important then you really should consult a professional. If not, then at the very least ensure your HSA is secured before trying to release...

I guess his next video will be how to fix the cracked display.

I guess it is very dangerous to repost videos like this. Especially uncommented/without warnings.

Even this guy who demonstrates the procedure did not keep any security / decontamination measures, and he didn't show us how long did the drive last. The fact that the drive was ID'ed in Windows is not a guarantee that the drive will hold long enough to copy the data.



This is the right advice.

_________________
http://www.northwind.gr
SandForce SSD Recovery
Ransomware Reverse Engineering - NoMoreRansom! partners

Regarding makeshift clean room conditions: I hear you, but the data is not so valuable as to justify the cost of a professional service. So I will give a try and will acquire an identical drive and try my hand. Any advise on how to set up clean conditions, and how to loosen and disassemble/assemble the head ?

This is a recipe on how to prepare a clean room at home, supposedly suitable for operations on opened HDD:
This is a translation, close to the original I got this from a German forum (http://www.hardwareluxx.de/community/f1 ... 71654.html).

1) Move to bath room. Remove all towels, toilette paper and carpets. Do not use for 1 day, shut down heater, close window.
2) It is best to work in a shower cabin. Try to spray a fine mist with the shower head, which will inhibit dust particles. Before action let the spray induced fog dissipate, so that it does not settle onto the platter.
3) Later when working on the HDD let a person (not to wear a pullover) hold, approx. 3 inches (10cm) above the platter, either a plastic sheet, balloon or foil, which has been electrically charged.
4) Remove screws (and hidden screws under labels) of the broken and an identical drive, but to not remove the cover yet.
5) Have an old AT power adapter ready, close all doors and make sure not to activate an automatically coupled ventilator when switching on lights. Otherwise install a separate light.
6) Thoroughly wet clean a small plastic container (e.g. Tupperware)
7) Use dish rinsing liquid for thoroughly washing your hands. Have a microfiber cloth ready to regularly remove dander from your hands.
Use surgical gloves to protect the platter from your hands.
9) Connect HDD to power and let drive spin up.
10) Carefully remove cover of defective drive, disconnect power. While you take yourself time to let the platter settle let your assistant hold the charged item (e.g. balloon) over the HDD which remains in a horizontal position. Do not strongly breathe or cough. If needed wear a mouth mask, in order to prevent turbulences.
11) Completely move heads to the side. Only use sideway pressure and apply it close to the hinge of the head. If needed remove magnet and turn spindle. By NO MEANS TOUCH THE SURFACE.
11)Loosen Torx screws at the axis. While trying to remove the platter, only touch the stack at its side. Or better: use 2 forks or platter with similar gap geometry to lift platter without twisting the spindle in its mounting.
12) Put platter on dust free surface (having been cleaned previously with a microfiber cloth) and cover by clean plastic container.
13) Apply identical procedure to replacement HDD
14) Assemble device in reverse to disassembly. Briefly accelerate platter and pray.
15) Assemble cover.
16) Try to recover data.
17) Dispose platters.
EDIT: keep platters a temperatures above room temperature as to protect them form condensation. It is thus best to preheat them before operation.

Original in German:
01 Bad aufsuchen. Alle Handtücher, Klopapier und Bodenteppiche raus. Dann 1 Tag nicht nutzen. Heizung aus, Fenster zu.
02 Am Besten in Duschkabine arbeiten, vorher mit der Brausendüse versuchen einen feinen Nebel sprühen zu lassen. Dies bindet Staub. Etwas warten, damit kein Nebel auf Platte gelangt.
03: Kunststoffplatte, Luftballon oder Folie antistatisch aufladen. Dann eine weitere Person bitten, dieses Objekt bei jeder aktion immer ca. 10 cm über der Platte zu halten. (später) Die Person sollte kein Pulli tragen.
04: Festplattenschrauben aufschrauben, (meist sind welche unter Folie), aber DEeckel noch nicht abnehmen. Beide Platten so vorbereiten.
05 Am Besten ein altes AT Netzteil nehmen und im Bad alles vorbereiten. Türe geschlossen halten, kein Wind erzeugen, kein Lüfter anmachen (fremdes Licht besorgen)
06 kleine Kunstoffkiste (Tupperdose? ) gut auswaschen.
07 Hände sehr gut mit Spüli waschen. Ein Microfasertuch anfeuchten. Daran immer wieder die Hände abreiben.( Schuppenbildung )
08 Haare schützen.
09 Platte an Strom anschließen, hochdrehen lassen
10 Vorsichtig Deckel der defekten Platte abheben. Platte abstöpseln und langsam ausdrehen lassen. Dabei Platte waagerecht halten und dabei die zweite Person bitten, den statisch aufgeladenen Luftballon über die Platte zu halten. Nicht stark atmen, husten etc. Zur Not sowas wie einen Mundschutz basteln. (un Wind zu verhindern)
11 Festplattelesekopf komplett zur Seite schieben. Nur seitlichen Druck. AUF KEINEN FALL DIE OBERFLÄCHE BERÜHREN. AUF KEINEN FALL KRATZEN LASSEN! So nahe am Scharnier wie möglich drehen. Evtl. Magnet öffnen und an Spule drehen.
11 Die Torx Schrauben auf der Achse lösen und versuchen die Plattern zu entfernen. dabe nur seitlich anfassen! Oder besser: mittels 2 Gabeln oder ähnlichem Plattern vorsichtig rausheben, so dass es nicht auf der achse verkantet.
12. Die Plattern auf den staubfreien Kachel Boden oder Brett legen (vorher mit microfasertuch abwischen) und die Tupperdose drüber.
13 Das gleiche mit der Austauschplatte
14 Einbau analog wie Ausbau. Platte kurz hochdrehen lassen und beten.
15 Deckel drauf.
16 Versuch der Datensicherung.
17 Platten wegwerfen.


EDIT: Die Festplatten dürfen keinesfalls kälter als die Badezimmertemperatur sein. Sonst beschlagen die Scheiben. Besser etwas erwärmen.

+1

_________________
http://www.northwind.gr
SandForce SSD Recovery
Ransomware Reverse Engineering - NoMoreRansom! partners

Internet, make up your mind : doesn't the filter work anymore , doesn't the drive 'spin away' the dust particles when it is spinning... "disconnect the vcm and let the drive spin" and so on...

Jokes apart, if it's me or someone sufficiently skilled (WITH ADDED TRICKS) it is possible to succeed on an emergency operation in non controlled environment , otherwise it will likely be playing "Italian Roulette" (all bullets on the drum but one)...

My ideas for a makeshift cleanroom. Any comments ?

- Built a tent with painting protection foil
- Use HEPA H13 or H14 filter to funnel air captured from a vacuum cleaner into tent from top
- Use air ionizer in order to capture remaining particles
- Wear surgical hat, mask, disposable overall and gloves in order to prevent pollution with skin flakes
- Before closing opened HDD case dust off platter with clean air from a spray can (after having switched off electrical devices, especially the ionizer, in order to prevent ignition)

My 2 eurocents :

1) the bathroom idea : if you have only one and you can't use it for 1 day it means you have to stay dirty and piss outside (let alone the rest). It can potentially lead to divorce in case of being married, or a riot in case the house is shared with other, and the destiny of the drive is not good...

2) the el cheapo cleanroom : seems more like a Wile E. Coyote cartoon, including the end with ionizer and pressurized gas. The environment is 10% of the battle, you can do it even on a garage if you do it properly (really done emergency recoveries in "plug & pray" scenario but we knew what we were doing and anyway all the rest was predictable) , likely if you didn't do it before you will make a disaster. Anyway if you are doing it just for fun, it will actually bring some fun. Out of curiosity, are you aware that the cost of all the above mentioned gizmos like Hepa filter, ionizer, outfit etc. are comparable to what it takes for a recovery?
To me the chances of success are slim or close to zero but sometimes who dares wins.
Good luck.

Cost of makeshift HDD recovery including replacement parts = < 100 Euro (approx. 135 USD)

plastic sheets: 5 Euro
disposable glowes, suit, mask: 10 Euro
air cleaner with hepa filter (eBay): 10 Euro
duster spray (Tetrafluoroethane; non inflamable, no residue): 12 Euro
identical replacement drive for cannibalising parts: 45 Euro

Just think about what a workplace in the bathroom means for work moral. No unecessary visits to the toilet any more...

The loss of all your data because the prospect of a professional service is beyond you: Priceless...

@theomeier,

Coming here with such ideas and asking an opinion to professionals won't give a good result. Just go for it and faithfully refer (in good and bad) to the people who write "tutorials" and make videos on the internet. If you destroy your data , it was a possibility. If you succeed it is good. Period.

P.S. Personally I have serious doubts when people with no experience come, in 48 hours or less go Wile E. Coyote and voila... data is back. Usually the know how is gathered from youtube et similia. Should I believe ? I don't. Re-period.

My enthusiasm got the better of me. "Makeshift" and DIY certainly do not sound exciting for professionals who make a living out of recovering devices. I am sorry if I should have aggravated anyone.

Can someone indicate to me which of the following drives are suitable as doners for a head change ?
Tx a lot !

Target:
Type: WD5000BMVW-11AMCS0
DCM: HBOTJBNB

Doner 1:
WD50000BEVT-60A0RT0
EANTJBN

Doner 2:
WD5000BPVT-22HXZT1
HAOTJBN

Doner 3:
WD5000BPVT-60A0RT0
HBOVJBNB

What about this then ?

Target:
Type: WD5000BMVW-11AMCS0
DCM: HBOTJBNB

Doner:
Type: WD5000BMVW-11AMCS0
DCM: HHOTJBNB