Replacing H/D platters

[gwlogue]

As associate once told me it is possible to move the platters from a failed hard drive to a working unit and recover the data that way.

Is he blowing smoke?

I have a drive that is having problems. I was able to connect it as a slave and could see the data but before I get the system connected to my network so I could copy the data the drive started giving a double beep when I turn the power on. The system evntually boots but can't see the slave.

I would REALLY like to get some of the data off that drive since my backup program was deleting my backups rather than creating them.

[Midknyte]

it's highly unlikely that would work. you would probably contaminate the platter in the process. you would need an identical drive to somehow swap the platter and you'd probably end up ruining that drive as well.

if the data is that important, you can try ontrack or drivesavers. I know of one person that actually sent it off for recovery and it cost him around $1600. I think he was fiscal or budget personnel.

[Sterling_Aug]

Yes, it can be done if you have a Million Dollar clean room and the expensive tools required to properly take the drive apart without damaging it.

Some data recovery service can cost up to $5000 per drive.

It seems to me like a $200 external backup enclosure with a high quality hard drive is a cheaper way to maintain your data integrity.

[gwlogue]

I thought it sounded too good to be true. The data is not worth the kind of money recovery services charge.

I was already backing up to a seperate physical drive but as I said, there is a quirk with my backup program that causes it to delete existing backups before it checks for the ability to create a new backup. I will rework my procedures to account for this kind of issue.

Thanks

[G Ray88]

Gwlogue, you might want to try the freezer trick put the HD in a anti-Static bag. Then put it in the freezer for a hour or so, take it out and slave it again to your computer if it works get the information off as quick as you can, before it warms up to much.
I had the same problem with a HD that was just dead, put it in the freezer. Latter slaved it to my computer and it worked, I was able to get the information off the HD.
I would only use this as a last resort.
Good Luck :)

[Sterling_Aug]

The ice cream trick (aka deep freeze) has worked for me in the past about 50% of the time. If the drive is still dead, then open up the cover and save the magnets that activate the heads. They make fun toys.