platter

[bob]

I have a hard drive that doesn't work and is suspiciously quiet.

I suspected the platter was not spinning, so I popped the top on it
and hooked the computer back up. It clearly doesn't spin at all when
it should.

If the platter doesn't spin, is there any practical fix for this?

Thanks.

 

[JANA]

Its called, "new hard disk". If the platter does not spin, this is either a
motor failure, or a failure in the servo drive circuits on the circuit board
that is mounted on the drive assembly.

--

JANA
_____


I have a hard drive that doesn't work and is suspiciously quiet.

I suspected the platter was not spinning, so I popped the top on it
and hooked the computer back up. It clearly doesn't spin at all when
it should.

If the platter doesn't spin, is there any practical fix for this?

Thanks.

 

[Rod Speed]

I have a hard drive that doesn't work and is suspiciously quiet.

I suspected the platter was not spinning, so I popped the top on it and
hooked the computer back up. It clearly doesn't spin at all when it should.

If the platter doesn't spin, is there any practical fix for this?

Not now you have opened it.

Before you did that, you could have tried swapping the logic card.

 

[Joe Morris]

Its called, "new hard disk". If the platter does not spin, this is either a
motor failure, or a failure in the servo drive circuits on the circuit board
that is mounted on the drive assembly.

For starters, if the OP has opened the drive case to observe the platters
in anything but a clean room, the drive should be replaced independent
of whether the platters spin or not. Head clearances are so small that
airborne particles can easily cause disruption of the head/disk interface
and damage the platters; that's why the cases are so well-sealed.

If the disk *is* somehow made to spin, the first -- and only -- use of
it should be to recover critical files that weren't backed up before
the failure. If all critical files *were* backed up or can be recreated,
trying to make the disk work is a waste of time.

As for the failure to spin: it could have been a motor or servo failure
as "jana" stated, but it could also be a problem known as "stiction"
in which the spindle bearings somehow acquire a static friction too
high for the drive motor to overcome. This can be tested by applying
power to the drive, then holding the drive in your hand and rotating
it in the plane of the platters; if stiction was the problem then
rotating the drive will cause the platter to rotate with respect
to the case (because of the mass of the platter), leaving the drive
motor only sliding friction to overcome.

Having said this, it's also appropriate to point out that I've not seen
stiction problems for several years, and the suggestion of motor or servo
failure is probably correct.

Joe Morris

 

[paulmd]

I have a hard drive that doesn't work and is suspiciously quiet.

I suspected the platter was not spinning, so I popped the top on it
and hooked the computer back up. It clearly doesn't spin at all when
it should.

If the platter doesn't spin, is there any practical fix for this?

Thanks.

Unless the operation was done in a clean room, and stayed there, any
home brew data recovery at this point is a one shot deal. You'd only
have minutes before dust particles totally destroy data on the drive
once spinning. If you're trying to actually repair the drive, forget
it. Ain't happening.

 

[Hachiroku]

I have a hard drive that doesn't work and is suspiciously quiet.

I suspected the platter was not spinning, so I popped the top on it
and hooked the computer back up. It clearly doesn't spin at all when
it should.

If the platter doesn't spin, is there any practical fix for this?

Thanks.

I was wondering in your last post why you were taking the drive apart. I
thought you were using the platters for clocks or something...

I was afraid you might be opening the drive to 'fix' it, so, you sure
fixed it good.

You may be able to get the data off before the heads plough into the
magnetic coating...

but I doubt it...

 

[DaveW]

Not without a few $100,000's in tools and a harddrive manufacturing 'clean
room'.

 

[kony]

I have a hard drive that doesn't work and is suspiciously quiet.

I suspected the platter was not spinning, so I popped the top on it
and hooked the computer back up. It clearly doesn't spin at all when
it should.

If the platter doesn't spin, is there any practical fix for this?

Thanks.

Put your fingers on the center hub and see if it is frozen
or spins freely. If it is frozen, you might be able to
force it (with your hand on IT ONLY) free, or try putting it
in the freezer for awhile first but be sure it's entirely in
a plastic bag, don't let moisture condense on it).

If it is only seized and you can free it, "maybe" it will
spin for a minute or two, enough time to get off a couple
files.

If it spins free, probably the controller board is damaged
and only replacing whole board or diagnosing failed part
(probably motor controller circuit) and replacing will help.