Thinkpads Forum

Got a HD that won't answer the gate. Click, click. Took the cover off and the disk looks great so maybe something in the electronics is bad. I'd like to get at the data so if I could find an old drive and swap platters maybe I could??

Anyone got one gathering dust? I think last year's tax returns are on this one. Be nice to import all that stuff.

Let me know what you have and how much.
MODEL #: HTS424040M9AT00 4200 RPM ATA/IDE

Thanks again,

David

+Bump+

I would really like to get the data off of this one. Some graduate program work I'd hate to have to recreate. Used is fine as long as it works.

Thanks for checking.

Put the HD in a tight-sealing freezer bag, and then in the freezer for about an hour. Take it out and put it immediately in a USB-enclosure or via 2.5"-3.5" adapter onto a PC's IDE cable.
Try and get your data off that way.

Often, you can connect bad drives via USB attachment and they will work at the slower speed. I actually hook them to a hub that only does USB 1.1

Did you actually disassemble the drive to view the disk inside? I would be concered if I had live data I wanted to recover.

Brad

Did you actually disassemble the drive to view the disk inside? I would be concered if I had live data I wanted to recover.

Brad

I took the cover off to see the top of the platter but didn't go farther. I've taken many disk drives apart over the years, so I thought I might - with identical drives, partially disassemble the good one and swap in the platters from the failed drive.

Is that not possible?

Usually there are very close quarters inside with the read write heads traveling less than the width of a hair above the drive platters. As I understand data recovery is a very specific science where disk drive disassembly takes place in dust free clean rooms. A finger print in the wrong place could leave your data to thin air.

Brad

Put the HD in a tight-sealing freezer bag, and then in the freezer for about an hour. Take it out and put it immediately in a USB-enclosure or via 2.5"-3.5" adapter onto a PC's IDE cable.
Try and get your data off that way.

Trying that now.

If the freezer method fails to yield results, just replace the pcb (circuit board) assembly with a same known good model drives board. Do not disassemble the hda! Its a finely balanced assembly, aside from other factors with the head actuator.
I agree with brad's statement...
Lucky they invented plated media

But to get a circuit board, don't I have to find a used good drive and disassemble it?

The circuit board is outside of the hard drive platter. If you remove and replace the circuit board you should not have to open the drive and access the platters.

Brad

Nope - six clicks and that's it. Sounds like the drive is spinning but nothing is transmitting.

So I guess I proceed with plan B - circuit board.

I'm again guessing that I need the exact one from the drive that has failed in order to access the data.

Thanks for all the help.

David

For $40, this might do it --> http://www.compuvest.com/Description.jsp?iid=809042

bump

still need one

Using Google to search with the Hitachi model number (HTS424040M9AT00), I found two listings for used drives on eBay:
1)
2)
Many other storefronts allegedly had the drive as well. Good Luck!

Brian

Thanks Brian - bought one