Tool kit for platters replcement for 600$

[CrazyDoctor]

Hi All,

Someone wants to sell me tool kit for platters replacement for 600$ (including the shipping). Is it worth the money or not?

Many Thanks!

[jaclaz]

Someone wants to sell me tool kit for platters replacement for 600$ (including the shipping). Is it worth the money or not?

Yes/No.

You are the only one that can answer that question.

How many money do you plan to make by using the tool?

Are you positive you can use the tool with success?

Are you certain that the tool works/is needed?

You need to have at least:

• one recovery job needing platter exchange payed more than US$1,000
  
• two recovery jobs needing platter exchange payed more that US$500 each
  
• three recovery jobs needing platter exchnage payed more than US$350 each
  
• ....
  

to justify the expense.

Don't take this as an offence , but having the tool does not guarantee:

1. that you are able to use it
   
2. that you are able to use it properly
   
3. that you can find payed jobs where the tool is needed
   

From the other threads and the questions you asked in them, and with all due respect , I presume that you need some more experience before attempting a career in HD recovery, expecially if platter exchange is part of the needed activities.

Of all the things you can do to a poor, innocent hard disk , exchanging heads and platters are among the most difficult chores, something for which you need IMHO a far deeper knowledge and practical experience than what you currently have (or showed).

I mean, to bring it as automotive paragon, you cannot ask in the same day:

"Help I don't know how I can change my flat tire":

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=143049

and:

"What do you think, should I buy a CNC router"

(this thread)

it simply doesn't "fit".

Additionally, not knowing WHICH kit has been proposed you for US$600, it would be anyway difficult to say if it is worth it, like:

Hey peeps, someone offered me an used car fro US$ 15,780.

Do you think it is worth it?

The answer to which is obviously:

A suffusion of yellow...

http://www.thateden.co.uk/dirk/

jaclaz

[CoffeeFiend]

I agree with everything jaclaz said.

To start such a business, you would not only need FAR more experience in both electronics and computers, but there's also the mechanical side of things. You'd likely have to train replacing heads and platters on a lot of drives from different manufacturers and designs before you'd be decently good at it. You'll also need to learn pretty much every last detail about every drive type (like how Seagate drives' PCBs can't be swapped as-is and associated terminal commands and what not). Add to that the costs of everything else you may need: tools for replacing heads/head stacks, a fairly "standard" electronics lab, specialized & expensive tools like the PC-3000 UDMA (with the expensive support), a good supply for any kind of specialized/compatible hard drive parts you may need, etc.

Finally, once you've spent thousands of dollars and years learning stuff, then you'll have to compete with long-established, well known data recovery services, for whatever will be left of the magnetic-storage-on-rotating-platters business as a lot of people will be moving to SSDs in the upcoming years.

And of course, doing that as a business, you'll also have to learn about all the aspects of running a business (taxes/billing/accounting, advertising, legalities, etc)

[CrazyDoctor]

Great spots!

You really opened my eyes and help me to see what is necessarily to me right now.

By the way, there are data recovery cheap tools which you are recommend me to buy?

Best Regards,

Edited April 5, 2010 by CrazyDoctor

[jaclaz]

By the way, there are data recovery cheap tools which you are recommend me to buy?

If you are gonna open a drive you should build yourself (yes, I am notoriously cheap ) a "poor-man's cleanroom" (plese read as "inexpensive cleanbox".

This is the general idea:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=9752

http://www.forensicfocus.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4536

You can buy a "semi-professional" one (first result in a google search):

http://www.hdrconline.com/hdrc-clean-room-benefits.php

About platter exchange tool, this one (on the same site as above):

http://www.hdrconline.com/platter-exchanger-tool.php

is already 90 bucks cheaper than the one you were proposed

However the general idea is:

1. get your "clean something"
   
2. get a few old, worthless, but 100% functioning SINGLE platter Hard disks (the older the better)
   
3. try opening one, remove the platter, place it back
   
4. check that the drive is as functional as before
   
5. loop to #2 until you are perfectly familiar with all the steps and "movements" needed
   
6. try again with a multi-platter disk and loop to #3 until needed
   

Here are a few videos that show clearly WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT do:

like using bare hands, touching the platter with them, breathing or scrubbing your hands over it, using magnetic tools, using pliers to keep the rotor steady, etc., etc.

jaclaz

[VideoRipper]

using pliers to keep the rotor steady, etc., etc.

I always use a hammer and chisel, works every time!

[jaclaz]

I always use a hammer and chisel, works every time!

This makes no sense!

You cannot say "I use a hammer" like that, people may be induced to think that ANY hammer will do, whilst you need a BIG hammer!

jaclaz