Dead HardDrive Issue

DarkSwader · Jul 20, 2014

Hello there,
Let me start by saying that I have a 400GB Hard drive (External) that has the last backup of my family photos, videos and my data. This hard drive is basically my who lifes collection and I would be so devastated beyond imagination if I could not fix it. I fix computers so I know all about that stuff. The hard drive is SamSung HD403LJ 400 gb 7200rpm SATA. The hard drive used to work all the time until I dropped it (I think) BUT it was working once after when I used an SATA case and connected to my hard drive. Now after 4 months of trying I need professional advice. I don't want to order another PCB as I do not know if it is burnt or something. I will post a picture of the PCB below...

Please Help ME

kenny3105 · Jul 20, 2014

could be that the drive heads have failed as the pcb looks ok no burn marks just slight damage to one of the chokes as you can see the copper cable is exposed slightly. if you are desperate to get the data back it is a long and expensive task only done by professional data recovery experts and not 100% that you will get all the data off the hdd.

DarkSwader · Jul 20, 2014

kenny3105 :

Thank you Kenny, I might take it to a pro but they rank up to 3000 bucks and in reality I would not pay for that. Thanks again, One last thing do you have any idea if it could be the disk reader maybe?

fzabkar · Jul 20, 2014

Depending on your location, a professional data recovery could cost less than US$500.

A dropped drive may have sustained head or media damage, especially if it was spinning at the time. If so, then you probably shouldn't be trying to spin it up.

That said, you didn't say whether the drive still spins, or makes any noises. If it is totally silent, then there is a good chance that it has a faulty PCB.

DarkSwader · Jul 24, 2014

No it does not spin at all. Its dead... Like I put my hand on it and I feel no movement

fzabkar · Jul 25, 2014

If you put your ear against the cover, do you hear a very soft buzz or beep? If so, then this would be a sign that the spindle bearing is seized, or that the heads are stuck to the platters (stiction).

If there really is no sound, then the next step would be to remove the PCB and take some measurements with a multimeter. If you are comfortable with that, I can show you what to do. Otherwise there may be some threads at HDD Guru where others have already taken the same measurements. This will also tell us whether the fractured coil is affecting the PCB.

BTW, a CCD scanner takes a much better picture than a CIS scanner. The former gives depth perception whereas the latter does not.

hang-the-9 · Jul 25, 2014

If it was a "last backup" does that not mean that the originals are on another drive?
Try using the drive without the external enclosure, connect it directly to a desktop computer though the motherboard SATA cables.

If it was working at one point, you did not copy the files out?

Ijack · Jul 25, 2014

"If it was a "last backup" does that not mean that the originals are on another drive?"

Given that the OP said

"I fix computers so I know all about that stuff."

I'd assume that you are correct. Junk the drive, back up your data again, and put it down to experience.

If no other copies are available then it's down to a data-recovery service, if the data is worth the price. And a good lesson learnt.

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Dead HardDrive Issue

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