Failure Types - Hard Drive

Hard drive logical faults relate to filesystem or data corruption on a hard drive that otherwise functions correctly. It is common in these cases that a percentage of data is irrecoverably lost.

A hard drive is, essentially, a “computer within a computer”. The System Area is an area of the hard drive specifically reserved for its own needs. Service Area faults relate to system corruption of this system-reserved area – most cases are fully recoverable.

Hard drives store their data on electromagnetic media. Age will cause this meda to degrade – once caught in time these type of failures will generally present a full recovery.

Seized spindles, heads stuck on platter surface (stiction), damaged read/write components due to fall etc. The majority of hard drives we receive, in this category, have suffered a fall, bang etc. Media/platter damage is usually present and usually rules out the possibility of a recovery. Drives in this category and previous “DIY” recovery attempts would constitute nearly all of the unrecoverable work we encounter.

Power surges, motor controller failures, corrision, faulty construction methods etc. Usually completely repairable but also the Number 1 DIY attempt by IT hobbyists or repair shops. They are told / read on the Internet that all you have to do is get a “compatible drive” and swap the boards – This is not true !! – see our Data Recovery Myths section.