Ultimate data recovery

[Menaice]

Iam going to toss this up and see where it goes since there are a bunch of great minds on this site.
We have all seen it, Drive is DEAD clicking like crazy, Is there a way (practicle) to maybe take apart the hard drive and grab the data from it? or maybe a universal kit? to where you could disable the Hard drive install the "temp hardware" just so it can read the media.

Like i said this is just something to get the discussion started and see if someone knows a bit more about this which could benifit us all. You see companys online that can do it. So why can't we?

 

[abe]

let me start by saying
1) When yous send your hard drive to be recovered to any of these places, most of them are sending it on to the 1 or 2 forensic specialist places, so they arn't all doing it very few people can do it and do it well.

2) 85% of the time the Data recovery will use software, the other 14% of the time the problem is either the heads, platter, or electronics board, 1% is dead motor which is only possible to fix if you have 1 platter,

If its the heads but the platters are not damaged then you may be able to change the heads.

If its single platter you can use an identical drive and switch the platter.

If its the electronics board (in your scenario it probably isn't)then you can use an identical board that was manufactured at the same time as the original.

and the list goes on......

for more info watch Scott Moulton of Forensic Strategy Services on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx-D1nJcv0k or go to his site www.myharddrivedied.com

here you have his speech about ssd http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4hbdZFWGog&feature=PlayList&p=F08AB40EE87A73CE&index=0&playnext=1

 

[frostbyte5014]

Most times you get a clicking hard drive it is because the drive's controller board is bad. There are two steps that I use to recover data from a dead drive.

Step1.
Place the drive in a well sealed ziplock bag and freeze overnight. Have everything ready to recover the data because you only have a few minutes once you remove the drive from the freezer till it thaws. You may have to repeat the freezing step a few times till you get all of the data. Have a plan and know what data is most critical and go after that first. If this does not work try step 2.

Step2.
Find another working drive that is the exact same model and swap the controller board. This almost always works unless the actual drive platters are damaged.

Good Luck!

 

[purple_minion]

Most times you get a clicking hard drive it is because the drive's controller board is bad. There are two steps that I use to recover data from a dead drive.

Step1.
Place the drive in a well sealed ziplock bag and freeze overnight. Have everything ready to recover the data because you only have a few minutes once you remove the drive from the freezer till it thaws. You may have to repeat the freezing step a few times till you get all of the data. Have a plan and know what data is most critical and go after that first. If this does not work try step 2.

Step2.
Find another working drive that is the exact same model and swap the controller board. This almost always works unless the actual drive platters are damaged.

Good Luck!

For Step 1 I have done similar, only I double zip lock it and once out of the freezer it goes into a large mixing bowl of ice and salt to keep it frozen as long as possible. That is WITH the double ziplocks obviously to keep the water out.

 

[Confused]

If its the electronics board (in your scenario it probably isn't)then you can use an identical board that was manufactured at the same time as the original.

Hi. Quick question: Is there a site that I can order a specific electronics board or at least do a search on the board? I have a WD hard drive that died on me a while back and when I bought the same model it was a different revision with a different electronics board.

Thanks

 

[abe]

ebay is the only place you'll find boards, just make sure to get the exact same board in a 2-4 week time frame.

 

[Confused]

ebay is the only place you'll find boards, just make sure to get the exact same board in a 2-4 week time frame.

Thanks.

 

[ithinkyou5.0]

i use an anti-static bag inside a ziplock when freezing hdds.. you never know..

 

[chrisaroz]

I know this is old, so forgive me. I was hoping someone could explain a little more on how to ensure you get the correct replacement board.

 

[forge]

The Info

The model, manufacture, part numbers and version/firmware are located on the hard disk drive.
Make sure you get a match specifically to the firmware number.

Once you know the firmware number and the manufacture just put that into ebay and you should have no problems finding an exact match. After you order there are tons of "how to's" online about swapping the parts out.

Actually glad you brought this post back up. I have some skill with damaged drives and data recovery and have never tried the freezing method before when I have one clicking and nothing else seems to work. Glad to hear that a few people have had success with that. I will try next time my normal methods fail.
I have yet to order replacement parts for a client as I do not want to "practice" any method on a client. I will if they permit me to or when I get the chance for my own hard drive.
I will also look into drive savers. I didn't know they had a reseller program.

 

[ITMAN]

I have over 200! < yes i know> of customers old hard drives which have been DOD'd and ready to dispose of, so I guiess i could start collectin the boards.... but whats invloved? what parts do i need? just the PCB?

 

[NickCat11]

I have over 200! < yes i know> of customers old hard drives which have been DOD'd and ready to dispose of, so I guiess i could start collectin the boards.... but whats invloved? what parts do i need? just the PCB?

Do you have a Samsung HD with a model number of HD501LJ by chance. I need the controller board.

 

[noah]

let me start by saying
1) When yous send your hard drive to be recovered to any of these places, most of them are sending it on to the 1 or 2 forensic specialist places, so they arn't all doing it very few people can do it and do it well.

2) 85% of the time the Data recovery will use software, the other 14% of the time the problem is either the heads, platter, or electronics board, 1% is dead motor which is only possible to fix if you have 1 platter,

If its the heads but the platters are not damaged then you may be able to change the heads.

If its single platter you can use an identical drive and switch the platter.

If its the electronics board (in your scenario it probably isn't)then you can use an identical board that was manufactured at the same time as the original.

and the list goes on......

for more info watch Scott Moulton of Forensic Strategy Services on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx-D1nJcv0k or go to his site www.myharddrivedied.com

here you have his speech about ssd http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4hbdZFWGog&feature=PlayList&p=F08AB40EE87A73CE&index=0&playnext=1

I just watched all 3 sets of his vids from your links. Awesome stuff. I highly recommend people watch them.

 

[chrisaroz]

Forge, thank you for the input!

 

[NickCat11]

I had one last week, sold it.

Here is one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Samsung-Spi...19b6300c41&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_703wt_1161

Thanks for that. I guess I'll give that a shot. I have hard drive here in which I'm pretty sure the controller is fried. I guess the worst that can happen is I have an extra 500 gig hard drive laying around if the swap doesn't work.

 

[Kenhelms]

Its good to make some contacts with guys on here, you can swap boards etc, pretty easy on the larger forums like this. Way better than eBay, where most of the time you are dealing with Joe toothless selling a hard drive he got at a yard sale.

http://forum.hddguru.com/buy-sell-parts-hard-drives-etc-f15.html

There have been a lot of tips on here for data recovery already, but like has been said, 99% of the time if you have to ask about separating a drive, etc....you really should send it to a professional. there is very little room for error. When we are strapped for time and can not do it in house, its either ontrack or drivesavers. Like has been said before, most places do not do physical work themselves, it really comes down to about 4 labs in the us(non gov.) that do the work and sell to 3rd parties.

 

[NickCat11]

Its good to make some contacts with guys on here, you can swap boards etc, pretty easy on the larger forums like this. Way better than eBay, where most of the time you are dealing with Joe toothless selling a hard drive he got at a yard sale.

http://forum.hddguru.com/buy-sell-parts-hard-drives-etc-f15.html

Thanks for the link Ken. That will save me some time in the future.