[H-GEN] Assistance Required

[Jason Henry Parker]

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"Frank Brand" <fbrand at uq.net.au> writes:

> I have replaced the external circuit board but this has not changed the
> disk's behaviour. I have thus concluded that the problem is related to a
> failure of either the inside circuit board or the chip on the end of the
> read/write arm. I am now attempting to try software recovery but I am less
> than hopeful as I expect that will require the arm to initialise.

I'll save the catty comments for a change, because you obviously
don't need to hear it.

If cost is not an issue---and I'm assuming it's not, I would

 * Make the customer realise the data is as good as gone.

 * Source two drives; one just like the broken one, and one brand new.

 * Do your best at a transplant, and put the repaired drive and the
   new drive in a system you can afford to, well, catch fire, or
   something.

 * Copy the data from the `repaired' drive as quickly as possible,
   verify its integrity if you're feeling brave, and put the repaired
   disk to one side, to never ever use again.

 * If it works, buy a sodding tape drive already.  Two if possible.

Also take a look on slashdot; a few weeks ago there was a story about
people who are taking apart their drives, and putting the mechanics
into clear cases.  Many of the comments were stuff along the line of
`that's insane!', but a few were testimonials from people who've done
things similar to what you're about to attempt, and they may have
described how they went about creating some semblance of clean room
conditions.

I remember at least one slashdotter didn't even bother clearing out
dust and just went for it, and had things work.

Your mileage is *bound* to vary.

Best of luck for you and your friend.
-- 
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|                                                      jasonp at uq.net.au |
| `Duck.  Duck.  Duck.  Duck.  Duck.  Duck.' -- Ann Burlingham          |
||--|--------|--------------|----|-------------|------|---------|-----|-|

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