[H-GEN] Assistance Required

[doug rickard]

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Firstly, forget trying to disassemble and reassemble a 40 GB disk. You will
not be able to do it. A clean room is just 1% of what is required. Repeat,
"it cannot be done".

Secondly, could you specifically define the O/S.and version.

Thirdly, have you tried using a dual drive set-up with the O/S on the other
drive. Boot from that drive then see if you can mount the suspect drive.

Given enough time, and provided the drive is not electrically or
mechanically damaged, it is possible to dissect any disk. However if there
is a problem with the electronics or mechanics, it is a lost cause. The
quicker you tell the client so that he can start trying to salvage his
business, the better things will be. His is not the first business that has
gone down the gurgler because of failure to do backups. I spent about 10
years restoring disks on main frame systems. It requires dedication and a
detailed knowledge of the on-disk format.

Doug.

==================================


----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Brand <fbrand at uq.net.au>
To: <general at humbug.org.au>
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 4:47 PM
Subject: [H-GEN] Assistance Required


> [ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and  ]
> [ Unix-related topics.  Please observe the list's charter.           ]
> [ Worthwhile understanding: http://www.humbug.org.au/netiquette.html ]
>
> A person I know is quite inexperienced in the ways of computers and failed
> to back up critical data.
>
> Now the hard disk has failed and the data is essential for the operation
of
> a business. This person has referred the drive to me to attempt to
resurrect
> the data (well it is Easter...resurrections are possible you know). It's
no
> use me castigating the person as they are now only too painfully aware of
> the necessity for back up. My focus is on being able to recover the data.
>
> This is the story so far......
>
> Drive is a Quantum 40 Gb 7200 AT Fireball Plus AS, it is about 9 months
old
> (irrelevant except in regard to warranty claim). When the computer is
> attempting to boot the hard drive is detected but will not boot...the
drive
> clicks...I expect this is the read/write arm trying to find an
initialising
> position.
>
> 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.
>
> My next course of action will be pretty drastic...that is buy another hard
> drive the same and try platter or read/write arm transplants. This will be
> difficult because :-
>
> 1. Quantum have since merged with Maxtor and Quantum disks are not easily
> obtained any more.
>
> 2. All warranty claims will be voided.
>
> 3. Experience is that opening drives is a bit dicey if you do not have a
> clean room.
>
> However, the person involved is distraught and may be forced to resign if
> the data can not be recovered.
>
>
> My question to the list is ... Has anyone had such an experience, are
there
> any possibilities I have not thought of, is there any advice that can be
> offerred (I am a bit concerned about the cleanliness of the environment if
I
> need to open the drive)? What companies might be best to refer this
problem
> to in Brisbane? The only clean room I know of is in Melbourne.
>
>
> Any assistance would be very welcome.
>
> TIA
>
>
>
>
>
> Frank Brand
>
>
>
> --
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