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From: harbour@vf.jsc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Hard drive repair...For do-it-yourselfers.
Message-ID: <1991Jun28.111018.1@vf.jsc.nasa.gov>
Date: 28 Jun 91 17:10:18 GMT
Article-I.D.: vf.1991Jun28.111018.1
References: <16731@gdc.portal.com>
Sender: news@aio.jsc.nasa.gov (USENET News System)
Organization: NASA Johnson Space Flight Center
Lines: 47

In article <16731@gdc.portal.com>, danek@gdc.portal.com writes:
> 
> 
> I've  been reading many help requests about crashed hard drives over the 
> last few weeks and wish to share an experience that may (or may not) help
> some desperate data seekers.
>
> (stuff deleted) 
> 
> After about a week of calling drive repair places, I decided upon a local
> house. Being the destructive type, I decided to do what everyone says NOT to
> even think about...open the drive. I figured I at worst, I could see what makes
> the drives tick. After removing the screws, cover and seal, I found the platter
> and the head staring me in the face. I moved the head back and forth a few
> times to watch the movement, then put the drive back together. 
> 
> I decided to power the unit up as a last good-by and...you guessed it... the 
> dirve booted!!! Not only that, but all the data that wasn't on track 0 (wiped
> out when I tried a low level format) was recovered (and backed up)...That was
> about 6 months ago and the drive has been working fine ever since. All my
> disk tests say the drive is just fine....until the next crash!!!
>

My ST-125 (20MB 3.5") failed with the classic "stiction" problem and I, too,
decided to "open 'er up and take a look-see".  Sure enough, the heads were
sticking to the platter.  Is there something that can be applied to the
platters to free things up?

And from the idle curiosity standpoint: Why is the head sticking in the first
place?  Is there some kind of low friction coating (teflon maybe?) on the
platter that has failed?

> Remember...this is just a personal experience...never try this at home...unless
> you have nothin to lose!!

This is absolutely true!  My drive is now a paper weight because I rotated
the spindle backwards.  One of the heads stuck so hard that the support arm
buckled right next to the head.  I guess the arms are designed for tension,
not compression :-).

> Good luck.
> 
> Bob 

ditto.
-- 
Jeff   :   harbour@vf.jsc.nasa.gov   :   .sig void where prohibited by law