Here’s a question for you.
Why do you think that most data recovery centers do not prefer to swap the platters from a donor drive but would rather swap the head stack assembly? I’m speaking specifically about hard drives with multi platters and pretty much all the hard drives being produced today are multi plattered.
Here’s the answer.
All modern hard drives being produced today have platters that are assembled in a very specific manner. This is so that the platters remain aligned to each other which assist with writing – and later – reading of data from the blocks that have been written on.
Let me try to elaborate.
Most multi-platter drives access sectors using logical numbers. The sectors are formed into servo tracks and zones. Each head contained inside the hard drive is located on the Head Stack Assembly and is responsible for one zone. When the head goes over the limit of one zone, it moves on to the next one. Once it completes that zone, it continues to another and so on with all assigned zones designated to a head in the head stack assembly.
When you remove the platter from a hard drive, you are risking breaking the alignment of those exact zones between the heads. It’s a little bit like breaking apart a chain where everything fits and works with each other part until something goes missing or is removed.
What this means is that when one head has completed its assigned zone, the next head will try to read its assigned zone. If the platter was placed back inside the casing without keeping the original alignment – breaking the chain – a failure is going to be the next action. In other words, the servo tracks on the platters were misaligned and caused a failure.
Is it possible to realign the platters?
Actually, that is possible in most cases, however, if the drive has five platters and each of them has been dismounted and placed back without the original alignment, it just gets a whole lot more complicated. As I’ve already stated, this is a very delicate type of repair that requires certain tools and skills that not every data recovery lab has access to.
That’s because the realignment can take a very, very long time. Remember, precision is crucial in this case. Comparing damages and data recovery from damaged platters to scratched platters and the burnishing of the data recovery process, you’ll end up with a relatively good idea. What I mean is, this process could take weeks and very possibly extend into months. Essentially you are not looking at a two-day recovery project.
Why would it be unrecoverable?
Well, let me paint you a picture. You’ve received a diagnostic report from a data recovery center and they indicated that the platters have been misaligned. They add that any further data recovery is not possible as a result.
You are left with a hard drive that contains data that can’t be recovered. Or at least that’s what they have told you. But is it really a fact? Not really. While misaligned platters are problematic and a highly precise issue to remedy, it is not uncommon to be told it can’t be done.
Here’s why they probably told you that:
- Reason 1 – The lab either doesn’t have the technology to work with misaligned platters, or…
- Reason 2 – The lab is not willing to invest time in your recovery job.
Can they actually do that, you know, tell you your drive can’t be fixed even if they are not prepared to attempt to help?
Well, yes they can. I’ve written about data recovery firms that conduct business in ways that hurt this industry. This tactic is one such example. However, you do have a course of action you can take.
Should you seek another opinion?
Of course, you should. Don’t be surprised if you get the same response from the ‘second opinion’ you seek. But that is to be expected. What you need to do in this instance is to keep looking for a recovery lab that will be able to recover your data. Be prepared as the one that will be able to help is still going to cost you a fair deal of money. That’s because these types of recoveries do take time and expertise and will cost about as much as any other problem that includes severe platter damage.
We can give you assistance.
If you happen to have a hard drive with misaligned platters or are in that place where you are now seeking that second opinion, we can help guide you, if you wish. Just send us a message through our Contact Form. Please be sure to give us as much detail as possible about the misalignment. We’d also like to know where you’ve taken your hard drive and why your hard drive was rendered unrecoverable.
We may have a different answer for you.