data recovery update

[golfcart]

This is just an update to this thread that I had in the trader forum.

I had two WD 1200BB drives in a RAID 0 array. One of the drives failed big time. I removed the PCB from the drive and one of the ICs was burnt to a crisp.

I finally got my hands on a matching donor drive today to try and get my data back. I put a known good PCB on the bad drive and fired it up. It did spin up and make all of the normal sounds that a good drive makes. This was a great step forward as it didn't even spin before. Unfortunately the BIOS was unable to detect the drive

I'm not even sure that my theory would work even if the platters are in good shape. Has anybody ever successfully swapped parts from one drive to another?

The data isn't that important because I have a full backup from a few weeks ago. I just couldn't let it go without giving it a decent shot.

If anybody has any more ideas or tricks up their sleeve let me know. I'm looking at this as more of a challenge than a nightmare

PS: Don't just tell me to RMA it. I don't care about the cost of the drive. I'd like to learn something and maybe get my data back. Thanks

[Briantist]

I know someone who does data recovery. His prices are actually affordable to home users, as well. If you've tried calling OnTrack, I'm sure you got crazy prices like I did. I had two SCSI drives in RAID 0 and one failed. OnTrack wanted nearly $400 to look at the drive and said it would cost at the absolute least $1,500. Insane.

If you want to check out my friend's site, it's http://www.darepc.com/dr.html

I know for a fact he's done platter swaps before, if it comes down to that, but he may even be able to get you a matching PCB. From talking to him, I found out that the same manufacturer often uses different chips and such, and it's important to match certain ones up. I don't now the details too well, but he sure does.

Oh one other thing: DO NOT TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVE YOUR SELF. If there's one thing he always told me it was that. There is a reason they are completely sealed. They are not meant to be opened and should be opened only in a clean room.