Will platters from a 400GB HD work on a 300GB HD?

[benn686]

I accidentally dropped my 400GB Seagate external PATA drive while it
was running. Needless to say, it no longer works (I dont even think I
hear it spinning). Anyways, could I recover the data by removing the
3 platters from this drive and installing it onto another Seagate
drive (it shows the same controller PCB model/rev#) but the size of
the new drive is only 300GB?

The reason I ask, is that I carefully did this and it didnt work.. but
I'm not sure if its because of my workmanship or if the size
difference is the problem.

I put the 'crashed' platters, which by the way on inspection look
fine, they dont appear to have any scratches or anything on them, and
I opened a working 300gb seagate drive and replaced its platters with
my crashed ones. Unfortunately, even though the platters are
definately spinning now, and windows makes the familiar sound when a
usb device is plugged in, it never sees the drive.

Also, Im not sure if this is normal, but I had it spin with the top
cover off, and it looked like the arm rotated from the center, but
stops a little more than half way before reaching the edge. I've
never run a working drive with the cover off, but shouldnt the arm
rotate the head from the center all the way to the edge?

 

[Rod Speed]

I accidentally dropped my 400GB Seagate external PATA drive while it
was running. Needless to say, it no longer works (I dont even think I
hear it spinning). Anyways, could I recover the data by removing the
3 platters from this drive and installing it onto another Seagate
drive (it shows the same controller PCB model/rev#) but the size of
the new drive is only 300GB?

Nope. You couldnt get the data off that way even if the two drives are identical.

The reason I ask, is that I carefully did this and it didnt work..

Then you have no chance of getting the data back now.

but I'm not sure if its because of my workmanship
or if the size difference is the problem.

Or the fact that it isnt possible to move the platters
and get the data back even if the drives are identical.

I put the 'crashed' platters, which by the way on inspection look
fine, they dont appear to have any scratches or anything on them, and
I opened a working 300gb seagate drive and replaced its platters with
my crashed ones. Unfortunately, even though the platters are definately
spinning now, and windows makes the familiar sound when a
usb device is plugged in, it never sees the drive.

Also, Im not sure if this is normal, but I had it spin with the top
cover off, and it looked like the arm rotated from the center, but
stops a little more than half way before reaching the edge. I've
never run a working drive with the cover off, but shouldnt the arm
rotate the head from the center all the way to the edge?

Yep, its ****ed now.

 

[benn686]

...
Nope. You couldnt get the data off that way even if the two drives are identical.
...

http://www.aoaforums.com/frontpage/content/view/2490/1/

 

[Odie Ferrous]

http://www.aoaforums.com/frontpage/content/view/2490/1/

If you believe that, you'd believe the earth was flat.


Odie

 

[Rod Speed]

(e-mail address removed) wrote

http://www.aoaforums.com/frontpage/content/view/2490/1/

Different drive technology entirely.

You've ****ed the drive and even pro recovery wont be able to get the data back now.

 

[Arno Wagner]

If you believe that, you'd believe the earth was flat.

I have read that one the platters are removed or loosened,
it is extremely hard or impossible to get them re-centerd again.
Is that true?

Arno

 

[Alexander Grigoriev]

Given that the bearings runout must be less than 1 micrometer, it should be
next to impossible to re-center platters with such precision.

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

Given that the bearings runout must be less than 1 micrometer, it should be
next to impossible to re-center platters with such precision.

So how do they do that then, topposter.

 

[benn686]

So how do they do that then, topposter.






- Show quoted text -

Based on the these 300/400gb seagates, theres about a 3/4" peg that
all 3 platters slip over. Theres not any play between the peg and the
platters so I'm not sure what other re-centering is done. In between
the platters theres these plastic spacers, again, they are cut so that
when the platters fall into place theres no room for adjustment. I
could post pictures if anyone is interested.

 

[Arno Wagner]

Based on the these 300/400gb seagates, theres about a 3/4" peg that
all 3 platters slip over. Theres not any play between the peg and the
platters so I'm not sure what other re-centering is done.

There is ample play, believe me. It is just a bit less than a
human can easily feel.

Arno

 

[Horst Franke]

In

hear it spinning). Anyways, could I recover the data by removing the
3 platters from this drive and installing it onto another Seagate
drive (it shows the same controller PCB model/rev#) but the size of
the new drive is only 300GB?

Sorry benn686, You're kidding!
HDD were manufactured under a very clean athmosphere!
This You'll never be able to reproduce at home!
Also the other measurements You'll never been able to fit them!

The reason I ask, is that I carefully did this and it didnt work.. but
I'm not sure if its because of my workmanship or if the size
difference is the problem.

NO Your principal setup was WRONG! You NEVER can work on
devices manufactured under very CLEAN surroundings at Your home!

I put the 'crashed' platters, which by the way on inspection look
fine, they dont appear to have any scratches or anything on them, ...

AND did You use a microskope?

I opened a working 300gb seagate drive and replaced its platters with
my crashed ones. Unfortunately, even though the platters are
definately spinning now, and windows makes the familiar sound when a
usb device is plugged in, it never sees the drive.

Forget it, same as this Q is nothing like a joke!
Horst

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

Horstshit is back.

In

Sorry benn686, You're kidding!
HDD were manufactured under a very clean athmosphere!
This You'll never be able to reproduce at home!
Also the other measurements You'll never been able to fit them!

NO Your principal setup was WRONG! You NEVER can work on
devices manufactured under very CLEAN surroundings at Your home!



Forget it, same as this Q is nothing like a joke!
Horst