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Xeb's Misadventures as a Data Recovery Engineer - All good things come to an end - Looking for a new gig

12K views 263 replies 39 participants last post by  KyleMart06 
#1 ·
Hello ladies and gents. As some of you may know, I use to be a Mac Tech (would say I was pretty not to beep my own horn). Well? I have since moved onto some MUCH green pastures. Now, I am a data recovery engineer and boy this doesn't get old. Most recoveries are never the same.

I will be posting little stories about various recoveries that are either interesting, difficult, time consuming or all of the above.

Now, rules going forward:

  • Posts will be as vague as possible.
  • I will not offer recovery support or help.
  • This is not a recovery guide.
  • Do not ask where I work.
  • Customer's names (or companies) will never be mentioned. From hence forth all recoveries will simply by referred to as Case 1, 2, etc.
  • Do not ask about the tools I use. If you are looking for one then I can guarantee you will not know how to use them or can even afford them.
  • If you need data recovery, know that I care but have NO sympathies. Please backup.
  • Do not ask about a "how-to". If it has gotten that far then it is already out of your hands.
  • This is not a step-by-step guide to recovery. Please take everything here with a grain of salt.
  • If you need help, ask in a thread and PM me. I will offer what I can.
  • All head exchanges or mechanical work is done in a clean room (ISO 5 Class 100). Yes, I look like someone from HAZMAT.
  • Backup please.
  • If you didn't get the memo on backing up, please see my sig. You know what I am going to say.

PC3000 - The best possible recovery platforms in existence. Has a combo of both complex software and hardware. I can make drives dance in the palm of my hand.

Oh boy. OH BOY! Dis gunna be gud
Case 1
So, a drive comes in. The way we work is that within the first 24-48 hours our company (meaning me and my other fellow techs). Well, one of the first things we do is plug it in and see what exactly the drive is doing.

This one? Well, it is automatically going to be a pain. WD external drives that have USB are a pain. If I need to do a head swap or anything crazy, I must do a PCB swap from one with USB to one with SATA so it can be controlled with the PC3K. A real pain and I MUST use a compatible one. Period.

Well, prior to doing that the first thing we need to know is, "Does it click?". A good recovery tech can usually tell if there is a head issue just based on how the drive sounds and behaves.

Lets plug it in at least? Nope, clicks. Activity light comes up but it REALLY clicks. That is not a good sign. Platter damage? That is why it sounds like to me.

*breaks open enclosure and opens drive.*
Oh... that is why it was clicking...



Yep... What I thought. This drive is DONE. Severe platter damage. I examined each platter see how bad it was... each one looked like the top one. Filter was nearly black as well.

How did this happen? Well, it has been dropped and mishandled lot for one. So, it likely failed after being left plugged in. Head crashed on the surface, picked up material which acted as sand paper and repeat.
Or the drive was clicking the customer kept trying over and over again to get it to work. This is why we tell people to leave them alone. Playing with a drive that is mechanically failed isn't going to fix it. You will likely make things worse or cause the above.

Okay, next one?
 
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#2 ·
Subbed. This thread is going to be good and should probably be required reading for everyone.
 
#3 ·
Just kill me already
Seagate? Check. SSD? Check. SSHD... Yep.
So, I have a seagate drive here that just got approved. This drive has the following wrong with it:

Dead PCB - Rom swap required to a matching PCB
Likely failing heads but cannot tell
Definitely degraded surface.
Me wanting to kill it.

Will keep you guys updated. Have donor drive on order but it won't be in till next week. Lets see what I have do shall we? Down the rabbit hole we go then.
 
#5 ·
It is an SSHD... THose things suck...
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

It is an SSHD... THose things suck...
Actually, I think they blow. The one I have was rather unimpressive (then again, it's a Seagate).
 
#8 ·
Really now? Y U DO DIS? 6 3TB drives RAID 5... Dreaded Seagate DM series...
Oh boy. Where do I start. So, my lead recovery tech was evaluating a job and he already has enough on his plate. So, what does he drop on mine? 6 3TB ST3000DM001s in RAID 5 with 2 drives failed. Both have head issues. One has a weak head the other has a dead head. Wonderful.


JK.
Alright, what do we have here?
Drives labeled 1-6. Good.
Drives 1 and 5... nerp. Each drive has 3 platters and 6 heads.
Drive 1 head 1 is weak...
Drive 5 - Head 2 is dead as a door nail. Nothing. Wont even read.

Wonderful. So, RAID 5? Check. 6 Drives? Check. Seagate DM series? Check. Not enough drives to build RAID? Check.

What do we do? Well good thing is that MOST RAIDs these days (when bought pre-built) all have IDENTICAL drives. Hell, even down to the damn preamp. Awesome.

Off to the clean room.
An hour later...


Guess what? Drive 5 which use to take baout 2 minutes to stop clicking and get ready only clicks for about 15 seconds. w00t! The other drive? Just readies up like a boss. Even better? The one with the weak head is imaging at full spead. The other one is protesting but I have it reading backwards. The drive right now is spilling its last remaining data (already imaged off the good surfaces). How good is the clicking one going? Well, a lot better than you a night after a frat party.

Once all the bad drives are imaged (and I image the good ones for insurance) I have to reconstruct the RAID. However, I need to find the RAID parameters. Good thing there are tools at my disposal. No, you are not going to know what is used. Trust me though, this is going to take about 18 hours to find them... e-e. That does not include extracting the data. Guess the FreeNAS I built when I first came here is going to be our best bet. 32 2TB drives in ZRAID 2 with 4 hot spares anyone? (yes, I do have volume replication enabled so it is fully backed up).

And people whine and moan how much it costs to recover. Now you know why.
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Really now? Y U DO DIS? 6 3TB drives RAID 5... Dreaded Seagate DM series...
Oh boy. Where do I start. So, my lead recovery tech was evaluating a job and he already has enough on his plate. So, what does he drop on mine? 6 3TB ST3000DM001s in RAID 5 with 2 drives failed. Both have head issues. One has a weak head the other has a dead head. Wonderful.


JK.
Alright, what do we have here?
Drives labeled 1-6. Good.
Drives 1 and 5... nerp. Each drive has 3 platters and 6 heads.
Drive 1 head 1 is weak...
Drive 5 - Head 2 is dead as a door nail. Nothing. Wont even read.

Wonderful. So, RAID 5? Check. 6 Drives? Check. Seagate DM series? Check. Not enough drives to build RAID? Check.

What do we do? Well good thing is that MOST RAIDs these days (when bought pre-built) all have IDENTICAL drives. Hell, even down to the damn preamp. Awesome.

Off to the clean room.
An hour later...

Guess what? Drive 5 which use to take baout 2 minutes to stop clicking and get ready only clicks for about 15 seconds. w00t! The other drive? Just readies up like a boss. Even better? The one with the weak head is imaging at full spead. The other one is protesting but I have it reading backwards. The drive right now is spilling its last remaining data (already imaged off the good surfaces). How good is the clicking one going? Well, a lot better than you a night after a frat party.

Once all the bad drives are imaged (and I image the good ones for insurance) I have to reconstruct the RAID. However, I need to find the RAID parameters. Good thing there are tools at my disposal. No, you are not going to know what is used. Trust me though, this is going to take about 18 hours to find them... e-e. That does not include extracting the data. Guess the FreeNAS I built when I first came here is going to be our best bet. 32 2TB drives in ZRAID 2 with 4 hot spares anyone? (yes, I do have volume replication enabled so it is fully backed up).

And people whine and moan how much it costs to recover. Now you know why.
Data recovery costs so much because recovery techs like this guy waste their work time posting on computer forums instead of doing work :p You are probably the guy who also takes 15 minute bathroom breaks 6 times a day...
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by axipher View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Really now? Y U DO DIS? 6 3TB drives RAID 5... Dreaded Seagate DM series...

Oh boy. Where do I start. So, my lead recovery tech was evaluating a job and he already has enough on his plate. So, what does he drop on mine? 6 3TB ST3000DM001s in RAID 5 with 2 drives failed. Both have head issues. One has a weak head the other has a dead head. Wonderful.



JK.

Alright, what do we have here?

Drives labeled 1-6. Good.

Drives 1 and 5... nerp. Each drive has 3 platters and 6 heads.

Drive 1 head 1 is weak...

Drive 5 - Head 2 is dead as a door nail. Nothing. Wont even read.

Wonderful. So, RAID 5? Check. 6 Drives? Check. Seagate DM series? Check. Not enough drives to build RAID? Check.

What do we do? Well good thing is that MOST RAIDs these days (when bought pre-built) all have IDENTICAL drives. Hell, even down to the damn preamp. Awesome.

Off to the clean room.
An hour later...

Guess what? Drive 5 which use to take baout 2 minutes to stop clicking and get ready only clicks for about 15 seconds. w00t! The other drive? Just readies up like a boss. Even better? The one with the weak head is imaging at full spead. The other one is protesting but I have it reading backwards. The drive right now is spilling its last remaining data (already imaged off the good surfaces). How good is the clicking one going? Well, a lot better than you a night after a frat party.

Once all the bad drives are imaged (and I image the good ones for insurance) I have to reconstruct the RAID. However, I need to find the RAID parameters. Good thing there are tools at my disposal. No, you are not going to know what is used. Trust me though, this is going to take about 18 hours to find them... e-e. That does not include extracting the data. Guess the FreeNAS I built when I first came here is going to be our best bet. 32 2TB drives in ZRAID 2 with 4 hot spares anyone? (yes, I do have volume replication enabled so it is fully backed up).

And people whine and moan how much it costs to recover. Now you know why.
Data recovery costs so much because recovery techs like this guy waste their work time posting on computer forums instead of doing work
tongue.gif
You are probably the guy who also takes 15 minute bathroom breaks 6 times a day...
That was just unwarranted.
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by axipher View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Really now? Y U DO DIS? 6 3TB drives RAID 5... Dreaded Seagate DM series...

Oh boy. Where do I start. So, my lead recovery tech was evaluating a job and he already has enough on his plate. So, what does he drop on mine? 6 3TB ST3000DM001s in RAID 5 with 2 drives failed. Both have head issues. One has a weak head the other has a dead head. Wonderful.



JK.

Alright, what do we have here?

Drives labeled 1-6. Good.

Drives 1 and 5... nerp. Each drive has 3 platters and 6 heads.

Drive 1 head 1 is weak...

Drive 5 - Head 2 is dead as a door nail. Nothing. Wont even read.

Wonderful. So, RAID 5? Check. 6 Drives? Check. Seagate DM series? Check. Not enough drives to build RAID? Check.

What do we do? Well good thing is that MOST RAIDs these days (when bought pre-built) all have IDENTICAL drives. Hell, even down to the damn preamp. Awesome.

Off to the clean room.
An hour later...

Guess what? Drive 5 which use to take baout 2 minutes to stop clicking and get ready only clicks for about 15 seconds. w00t! The other drive? Just readies up like a boss. Even better? The one with the weak head is imaging at full spead. The other one is protesting but I have it reading backwards. The drive right now is spilling its last remaining data (already imaged off the good surfaces). How good is the clicking one going? Well, a lot better than you a night after a frat party.

Once all the bad drives are imaged (and I image the good ones for insurance) I have to reconstruct the RAID. However, I need to find the RAID parameters. Good thing there are tools at my disposal. No, you are not going to know what is used. Trust me though, this is going to take about 18 hours to find them... e-e. That does not include extracting the data. Guess the FreeNAS I built when I first came here is going to be our best bet. 32 2TB drives in ZRAID 2 with 4 hot spares anyone? (yes, I do have volume replication enabled so it is fully backed up).

And people whine and moan how much it costs to recover. Now you know why.
Data recovery costs so much because recovery techs like this guy waste their work time posting on computer forums instead of doing work
tongue.gif
You are probably the guy who also takes 15 minute bathroom breaks 6 times a day...
Ah, Axi, how you wound me so. Let it be known to all. Your skill of the League of Rockets of only second par. Wilt thou humor thyself a selfish request? A recording of one being trounced and beaten by yours truly? Your lack of skill is not a disability but a birth right.

*mic drop*
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by axipher View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Really now? Y U DO DIS? 6 3TB drives RAID 5... Dreaded Seagate DM series...

Oh boy. Where do I start. So, my lead recovery tech was evaluating a job and he already has enough on his plate. So, what does he drop on mine? 6 3TB ST3000DM001s in RAID 5 with 2 drives failed. Both have head issues. One has a weak head the other has a dead head. Wonderful.



JK.

Alright, what do we have here?

Drives labeled 1-6. Good.

Drives 1 and 5... nerp. Each drive has 3 platters and 6 heads.

Drive 1 head 1 is weak...

Drive 5 - Head 2 is dead as a door nail. Nothing. Wont even read.

Wonderful. So, RAID 5? Check. 6 Drives? Check. Seagate DM series? Check. Not enough drives to build RAID? Check.

What do we do? Well good thing is that MOST RAIDs these days (when bought pre-built) all have IDENTICAL drives. Hell, even down to the damn preamp. Awesome.

Off to the clean room.
An hour later...

Guess what? Drive 5 which use to take baout 2 minutes to stop clicking and get ready only clicks for about 15 seconds. w00t! The other drive? Just readies up like a boss. Even better? The one with the weak head is imaging at full spead. The other one is protesting but I have it reading backwards. The drive right now is spilling its last remaining data (already imaged off the good surfaces). How good is the clicking one going? Well, a lot better than you a night after a frat party.

Once all the bad drives are imaged (and I image the good ones for insurance) I have to reconstruct the RAID. However, I need to find the RAID parameters. Good thing there are tools at my disposal. No, you are not going to know what is used. Trust me though, this is going to take about 18 hours to find them... e-e. That does not include extracting the data. Guess the FreeNAS I built when I first came here is going to be our best bet. 32 2TB drives in ZRAID 2 with 4 hot spares anyone? (yes, I do have volume replication enabled so it is fully backed up).

And people whine and moan how much it costs to recover. Now you know why.
Data recovery costs so much because recovery techs like this guy waste their work time posting on computer forums instead of doing work
tongue.gif
You are probably the guy who also takes 15 minute bathroom breaks 6 times a day...
Ah, Axi, how you wound me so. Let it be known to all. Your skill of the League of Rockets of only second par. Wilt thou humor thyself a selfish request? A recording of one being trounced and beaten by yours truly? Your lack of skill is not a disability but a birth right.

*mic drop*
thumbsupsmiley.png
applaud.gif
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimensive View Post

I came here to learn about data recovery, now I've learned a great comeback. Lol, "Your lack of skill is not a disability but a birth right."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by axipher View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Really now? Y U DO DIS? 6 3TB drives RAID 5... Dreaded Seagate DM series...

Oh boy. Where do I start. So, my lead recovery tech was evaluating a job and he already has enough on his plate. So, what does he drop on mine? 6 3TB ST3000DM001s in RAID 5 with 2 drives failed. Both have head issues. One has a weak head the other has a dead head. Wonderful.



JK.

Alright, what do we have here?

Drives labeled 1-6. Good.

Drives 1 and 5... nerp. Each drive has 3 platters and 6 heads.

Drive 1 head 1 is weak...

Drive 5 - Head 2 is dead as a door nail. Nothing. Wont even read.

Wonderful. So, RAID 5? Check. 6 Drives? Check. Seagate DM series? Check. Not enough drives to build RAID? Check.

What do we do? Well good thing is that MOST RAIDs these days (when bought pre-built) all have IDENTICAL drives. Hell, even down to the damn preamp. Awesome.

Off to the clean room.
An hour later...

Guess what? Drive 5 which use to take baout 2 minutes to stop clicking and get ready only clicks for about 15 seconds. w00t! The other drive? Just readies up like a boss. Even better? The one with the weak head is imaging at full spead. The other one is protesting but I have it reading backwards. The drive right now is spilling its last remaining data (already imaged off the good surfaces). How good is the clicking one going? Well, a lot better than you a night after a frat party.

Once all the bad drives are imaged (and I image the good ones for insurance) I have to reconstruct the RAID. However, I need to find the RAID parameters. Good thing there are tools at my disposal. No, you are not going to know what is used. Trust me though, this is going to take about 18 hours to find them... e-e. That does not include extracting the data. Guess the FreeNAS I built when I first came here is going to be our best bet. 32 2TB drives in ZRAID 2 with 4 hot spares anyone? (yes, I do have volume replication enabled so it is fully backed up).

And people whine and moan how much it costs to recover. Now you know why.
Data recovery costs so much because recovery techs like this guy waste their work time posting on computer forums instead of doing work
tongue.gif
You are probably the guy who also takes 15 minute bathroom breaks 6 times a day...
Ah, Axi, how you wound me so. Let it be known to all. Your skill of the League of Rockets of only second par. Wilt thou humor thyself a selfish request? A recording of one being trounced and beaten by yours truly? Your lack of skill is not a disability but a birth right.

*mic drop*
thumbsupsmiley.png
applaud.gif
HAHA. Axi is my buddy. Hell, when I get into OCN's teamspeak (which is rare D:) it is always a good time.
 
#18 ·
DID SOMEBODY SAY NESTED QUOTES?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimensive View Post

I came here to learn about data recovery, now I've learned a great comeback. Lol, "Your lack of skill is not a disability but a birth right."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by axipher View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Really now? Y U DO DIS? 6 3TB drives RAID 5... Dreaded Seagate DM series...

Oh boy. Where do I start. So, my lead recovery tech was evaluating a job and he already has enough on his plate. So, what does he drop on mine? 6 3TB ST3000DM001s in RAID 5 with 2 drives failed. Both have head issues. One has a weak head the other has a dead head. Wonderful.



JK.

Alright, what do we have here?

Drives labeled 1-6. Good.

Drives 1 and 5... nerp. Each drive has 3 platters and 6 heads.

Drive 1 head 1 is weak...

Drive 5 - Head 2 is dead as a door nail. Nothing. Wont even read.

Wonderful. So, RAID 5? Check. 6 Drives? Check. Seagate DM series? Check. Not enough drives to build RAID? Check.

What do we do? Well good thing is that MOST RAIDs these days (when bought pre-built) all have IDENTICAL drives. Hell, even down to the damn preamp. Awesome.

Off to the clean room.
An hour later...

Guess what? Drive 5 which use to take baout 2 minutes to stop clicking and get ready only clicks for about 15 seconds. w00t! The other drive? Just readies up like a boss. Even better? The one with the weak head is imaging at full spead. The other one is protesting but I have it reading backwards. The drive right now is spilling its last remaining data (already imaged off the good surfaces). How good is the clicking one going? Well, a lot better than you a night after a frat party.

Once all the bad drives are imaged (and I image the good ones for insurance) I have to reconstruct the RAID. However, I need to find the RAID parameters. Good thing there are tools at my disposal. No, you are not going to know what is used. Trust me though, this is going to take about 18 hours to find them... e-e. That does not include extracting the data. Guess the FreeNAS I built when I first came here is going to be our best bet. 32 2TB drives in ZRAID 2 with 4 hot spares anyone? (yes, I do have volume replication enabled so it is fully backed up).

And people whine and moan how much it costs to recover. Now you know why.
Data recovery costs so much because recovery techs like this guy waste their work time posting on computer forums instead of doing work
tongue.gif
You are probably the guy who also takes 15 minute bathroom breaks 6 times a day...
Ah, Axi, how you wound me so. Let it be known to all. Your skill of the League of Rockets of only second par. Wilt thou humor thyself a selfish request? A recording of one being trounced and beaten by yours truly? Your lack of skill is not a disability but a birth right.

*mic drop*
thumbsupsmiley.png
applaud.gif
HAHA. Axi is my buddy. Hell, when I get into OCN's teamspeak (which is rare D:) it is always a good time.
Ah man you need to visit more.

There's, like, nobody online, usually, but we've all got Steam open.
thumb.gif
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Ah, Axi, how you wound me so. Let it be known to all. Your skill of the League of Rockets of only second par. Wilt thou humor thyself a selfish request? A recording of one being trounced and beaten by yours truly? Your lack of skill is not a disability but a birth right.

*mic drop*
Burn!
devil.gif
tongue.gif


Glad to see you're back at it.
thumbsupsmiley.png
 
#20 ·
Thanks. it is nice being at a job I actually enjoy again. Plus, my new bosses are freaking amazing. Hell, every now and then we are treated to lunch by the owner! w00t!!!! Plus, you have an issue? Voice it. Got a better idea? Bring it up. Need something for a job? Let them know and buy it. Sressful but the good kind of stress.
 
#21 ·
@OP

Subbed.
biggrin.gif
Quick question: what's DR companies' policy on being offered drives for free?

Why do I ask? I have a habit of collecting dead drives; I know you guys/gals have spare heads/motors/PCBs etc on tap for reconstruction purposes. Last time I had 17 drives in various conditions which were no longer wanted/needed - damaged, dead, clicking or simply too small (I DBAN'd the working ones). I called a few places and just got "umm, aahhh, umm", nothing concrete.

Eventually, I got frustrated so they ended up at a disposal company who put them through a crusher, which was not what I wanted. So, will DR companies accept drives for spare parts?

EDIT
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Drive 1 head 1 is weak...
What do you mean by this? An issue with the actuator or the head itself?
Quote:
The other one is protesting but I have it reading backwards.
As in reading from the inside of the drive to the outside?
Quote:
The drive right now is spilling its last remaining data (already imaged off the good surfaces).
Are you saying that the recovery equipment you use can take data from specific pairs of heads? Individual heads?
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by CynicalUnicorn View Post

DID SOMEBODY SAY NESTED QUOTES?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

HAHA. Axi is my buddy. Hell, when I get into OCN's teamspeak (which is rare D:) it is always a good time.
Ah man you need to visit more.

There's, like, nobody online, usually, but we've all got Steam open.
thumb.gif
Only thing on OCN TeamSpeak anymore is the PodCast when it was running, every time I poked my head in, it was empty. Like right now, just checked, empty...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Thanks. it is nice being at a job I actually enjoy again. Plus, my new bosses are freaking amazing. Hell, every now and then we are treated to lunch by the owner! w00t!!!! Plus, you have an issue? Voice it. Got a better idea? Bring it up. Need something for a job? Let them know and buy it. Sressful but the good kind of stress.
Well I'm glad you found yourself a good job, I'm the in the same boat where I recently switched jobs a month ago and couldn't be happier.
 
#23 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by parityboy View Post

@OP

Subbed.
biggrin.gif
Quick question: what's DR companies' policy on being offered drives for free?

Why do I ask? I have a habit of collecting dead drives; I know you guys/gals have spare heads/motors/PCBs etc on tap for reconstruction purposes. Last time I had 17 drives in various conditions which were no longer wanted/needed - damaged, dead, clicking or simply too small (I DBAN'd the working ones). I called a few places and just got "umm, aahhh, umm", nothing concrete.

Eventually, I got frustrated so they ended up at a disposal company who put them through a crusher, which was not what I wanted. So, will DR companies accept drives for spare parts?

EDIT
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Drive 1 head 1 is weak...
What do you mean by this? An issue with the actuator or the head itself?
Hard drives have platters and heads. Think of them like a high tech record player. These particular drives are Seagate ST3000DM001s. They have 3 platters and 6 heads. Each head on the end of the armature (AKA HSA) has actually 2 heads: read and write. The read head is all I care about and is the most important. When a head goes bad it stops reading or has a hell of a time reading (meaning it runs REALLY slowly and encounters errors more often). If there are errors on a weak head, a lot of time you can go back and re-read those unreadable sectors and it reads fine. However, in this case, head 1 was so weak that it just constantly read with errors and would occasionally read okay. Once a head exchange was performed from a donor drive it read fine. Went for over 27000 unreadable sectors to 108. Plus, I did not get a full image either. All the sectors head 1 was in charge of were bascially unread. Went back over them after the head exchange and completed the image.
Quote:
The other one is protesting but I have it reading backwards.
As in reading from the inside of the drive to the outside?
It is a bit more complicated than that. I am having the drive read in reverse in regards to starting and ending LBA. So, if a drive has 100 sectors, instead of reading at sector 0 I start at sector 100 and read backward. This is rather helpful because reading backward is not only a LOT slower but also tricks the drive because its firmware doesn't understand what it is actually reading. It allows me to avoid any kind of possible issues in regards to false ECC or integrity checks.
Quote:
The drive right now is spilling its last remaining data (already imaged off the good surfaces).
Are you saying that the recovery equipment you use can take data from specific pairs of heads? Individual heads?

Yes, you are correct. I can invidually turn off heads as need be. Hell, i can do a lot more than just that. A LOT more. I describe it as having the ability to make a hard drive dance in the palm of my hand.

Quote:
Originally Posted by axipher View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by CynicalUnicorn View Post

DID SOMEBODY SAY NESTED QUOTES?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

HAHA. Axi is my buddy. Hell, when I get into OCN's teamspeak (which is rare D:) it is always a good time.
Ah man you need to visit more.

There's, like, nobody online, usually, but we've all got Steam open.
thumb.gif
Only thing on OCN TeamSpeak anymore is the PodCast when it was running, every time I poked my head in, it was empty. Like right now, just checked, empty...

I know...
frown.gif
You should come onto my teamspeak whenever you want. There are usually people there (inculding myself). ts3.protocol.black

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xeb View Post

Thanks. it is nice being at a job I actually enjoy again. Plus, my new bosses are freaking amazing. Hell, every now and then we are treated to lunch by the owner! w00t!!!! Plus, you have an issue? Voice it. Got a better idea? Bring it up. Need something for a job? Let them know and buy it. Sressful but the good kind of stress.
Well I'm glad you found yourself a good job, I'm the in the same boat where I recently switched jobs a month ago and couldn't be happier.
cheers.gif
 
#24 ·
You guys know that RAID? Yep, got data.

Do you guys want me to go into a little more detail as to what exactly went wrong and what had to be done to recover it? I won't go step by step but I will get into detail.
 
#25 ·
@Lord Xeb

Many thanks for the explanation. It actually helps me to firm up a theory I have that some drives are actually larger drives with defective platters; i.e.a 3TB drive is actually a 4TB drive with a flaky platter thrown in to recoup some of the investment from poor yields, a bit like AMD with their 3-core processors. Or that some drives actually have the platters of larger drives, but "short-stroked" in the firmware to give a lower usable capacity - the transfer speeds (indicator of areal density at a given rotational speed) are a bit of a clue.

The first theory is why I stay away from 1.5TB (2TB), 3TB (4TB) and 6TB (8TB) drives.

EDIT:
Yes please!
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#26 ·
AMD hasn't had tri-core anything for yeeeeaaars.

They have, however, had tri-module stuff thanks to Bulldozer.
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As for drives, I'm not sure if they're flaky platters or not. I've seen some claims that they just don't install the recording heads for one side. Xeb would probably be able to confirm/refute this.
 
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