Symptoms

Suspect faulty hard disk.  Hard disk content is not accessible on computer.  If possible recover personal files (documents, photos, etc.).

Investigation

Brand: Toshiba
Model: MQ01ABD100 (1TB 5400RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s)
Manufacturing Date: 20 Dec 2014
Serial Number: Z4KVTC9OT
Shock detection circuit: Yes
Platters: 2
Heads: 4
Cylinders: 231312
Logical Block Addressing (LBA) blocks; 1,953,525,168

• The hard disk powers up properly.
• The hard disk controller board appears to be properly driving the actuator arm and spindle motor.
• There does not appear to be a seized spindle / ball bearing.
• The spindle motor is capable of spinning up the platters to full speed.
• The hard disk spins continuously and does not spin down / spin up repeatedly.
• There is no characteristic sound of the read/write head actuator arm reaching the end stop (*tick-tick-tick*).
• The actuator arm is properly parked in the landing zone.
• The actuator arm is not stuck.
• The read/write head has not crashed.

There is however a repetitive noise coming from the hard disk read/write head.  It is too faint to record on a cell phone; you have to place your ear on the drive to hear it.

• The read/write head appears to be experiencing problems judging from the sounds made by the actuator arm when the hard disk is connected to a SATA power cable briefly.

It is not possible to replace a single read/write head.  It is possible to attempt to swap platters where the stack of platters is transferred to an identical donor hard disk.  This is an operation that requires clean-room facilities and specialized tools.  If the protective cover of the hard disk has been removed, or if the hard disk has been left running connected to a computer, it is likely one or more of the platter surfaces may have been damaged.  The chances of a complete successful recovery are slim – if anything the recovery will be partial and the cost will be significant (dust-free environment, sourcing of an identical donor hard disk, platter swap procedure).

Please indicate whether or not you would like us to return the faulty hard disk via Australia post regular mail in a padded envelope (at no cost).

Tablelands Computers
0497 795 444