FLOOD DAMAGED HARD DRIVE 2

[GoGuard]

How can I repair a flood damaged hard drive myself?

 

[technome]

If any water, even a partial drop has crept into the drive you can not do anything yourself, it must be send out. If a fraction of a drop is on the platters, and you start the drive up, you will crash the head into the platters for sure

 

[micker377]

The drive should be sealed. You can remove the board and clean with alcohol and dry completely. If this doesn't work, that's as far as you can go without a "clean room".

 

[technome]

Some but not all drives are hermetically sealed. Check for obvious breather holes, which can be located on any side of the drive, breather holes are not always visible. Check with the manufacturer directly.

 

[technome]

If the drive is definitely hermetically sealed, and if the drive is throughly dry,( placing it in a low heat gas or electric oven at 120 degree for 24 hours will definitely remove moisture from the electronics) and the drive still does not work after drying, most likely the drive electronics are shorted out...
The drive electronics can be replaced by purchasing an EXACT make and model drive, and carefully changing out the electronics interface board. Relatively easy, but generally specialty screw drivers are needed ( static electricity precautions should be taken.
If the drive still does not work, your only options is to send it out for data recovery.