Re: Maxtor HDD doesn't want to talk with me...

Piotr ne <piotrn12e@poczta.onet.pl> wrote in
message news:bdvlds$dpl$1@news.polbox.pl...

> today at 10:23 GMT my 17 month old Maxtor drive
> (Maxtor D540-4K 60GB) suddenly stopped. I have
> been reading mail, there was no special HDD activity
> (or even no activity at all). And at 10:23 there was a
> sound like parking heads (3 times?) and the disk stopped.

> After turning off the computer and turning it on again, the
> disk was no longer detected by BIOS and even did not start (is
> completely silent). Some parts on it became warm (about 35C).

> Is it a common failure?

Yes, its one of the most common ways for a hard drive to fail.

> Is there a possibility to repair it
> or at least copy the data from it?

Yes, you may well be able to swap the logic card on the
drive from an identical copy and get the data back that way.

> Although I have a backup of almost
> all data, I'd like to copy the rest

> Would it be possible to replace the electronics and run it?

Yes, that will likely work. The main
problem is finding an identical drive.

> Does it require some special tools / rooms /
> skills (I have experience with electronics)?

Its normally surprisingly easy, just unscrew the
screws that hold the logic card on, carfully unplug
it from the rest of the drive, swap the logic cards.

If its actually a rebadged Quantum, there is a flexible
ribbon cable from the heads that plugs into a connector on
the logic card, and thats not completely intuitive to unlatch.
You'll find that there are a couple of tiny latches, one on
each side of the flexible cable. Just release those with
your fingernail and then the ribbon cable slides out.
There isnt anything on the end of the flexible ribbon,
the bared end goes into the connector on the logic card.
Just plug it into the connector on the other logic card
click the latches in again. Very easy when you know how.

> There were disks of at least three different capacities, but
> the same symbol: Maxtor D540X-4K (40GB, 60GB, 80GB).

> I have the 60GB version and may buy the electronics from a 40GB version.
> Who knows - will the electronics from the 40GB work with 60GB?

Normally not. No real harm in trying that tho before you buy a 40GB.

> Does anybody want to sell the electronics for such a drive?
> http://tinyurl.com/ftk3