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Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair??

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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Jerry Peters wrote
> XYLOPHONE <rhubarbe0@yahoo.com> wrote
>> Arno <m...@privacy.net> wrote
>>> XYLOPHONE <rhubar...@yahoo.com> wrote

>>>> I am trying to get my 20MB Miniscribe 3.5" hard drive running
>>>> again. The problem is that it doesn't spin up anymore when I power
>>>> it up. I disassembled the drive's PCB, and swapped it with the PCB
>>>> from a working drive, and the other HD works with both PCBs, so
>>>> proving the problem is with the spindle motor itself.
>>>> Looking closer at it, I notice that when I power it up, the platter
>>>> spins about 1/4 of a revolution, then stops forever, until I power
>>>> off and on again. Rotating it manually doesn't fix it.
>>>> What could be the problem? I feel that if I can get the HDD to
>>>> correctly spin again, I should be able to access the data. This
>>>> drive is vintage, so I'm doing all efforts to rescue it.
>>>> Thanks for any information, any hint, or any similar situation
>>>> experienced.

>>> First, if the data has any real worth, STOP MESSING AROUND and
>>> get help from a professional data recovery service. Chances are you
>>> will just make matters worse.

>>> As you say the drive spins 1/4 revolution, so it cannot be stiction.

>>> Sounds like not all coils in the spindle motor get powered. As
>>> you tried the PCB swap, this would not be a problem with the
>>> motor driver amplifiers. One possibility is a contact problem.
>>> Another one is a possibly broken winding in the motor itself.
>>> Both can be debugged with a multi-tester by mesuring winding
>>> resistances. (If you have no clue what I am talking about, then
>>> you are not qualified to look into this, sorry.)

>>> The contact problem is typically easy to fix temporarily
>>> when located. The broken winding is usually unfixable.

>> Thanks Arno, I'll carefully try to see the contacts.

>> However, I forgot to mention that, when I first removed the PCB,
>> everything underneath was covered with tiny DARK BLACK dust, just
>> like black laser printer toner, or maybe even smaller grain powder. I
>> gently wiped all that black dust away. When I removed the PCB from
>> the working HDD, there was a little bit of that black dust, but far
>> less than on the non-spinning drive.

>> Does this dust make a click to anyone?

>> Thanks again...

> Disintegrated foam perhaps?

I've never seen any foam deteriorate as comprehensively as that.

> I seem to remember dismantling a drive with a thin
> piece of foam between the pc board and the drive.

Yes, some Seagates did have that at one time.

> Might have been to dampen vibration.

Dont believe it was for that.

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Thread

MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? XYLOPHONE <rhubarbe0@yahoo.com> - 2011-12-02 09:59 -0800
  Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? "Percival P. Cassidy" <Nobody@NotMyISP.net> - 2011-12-02 13:43 -0500
    Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? Krypsis <krypsis@optusnet.com.au> - 2011-12-03 06:27 +1100
  Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? Arno <me@privacy.net> - 2011-12-03 00:59 +0000
    Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? "Salam" <salem@dogfucker.com> - 2011-12-03 13:58 +1100
    Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? XYLOPHONE <rhubarbe0@yahoo.com> - 2011-12-02 22:44 -0800
      Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? Jerry Peters <jerry@example.invalid> - 2011-12-03 22:45 +0000
        Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2011-12-04 13:08 +1100
      Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? Franc Zabkar <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> - 2011-12-04 09:55 +1100
        Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? Winniethepooh@100acrewoods.org (GMAN) - 2011-12-04 19:09 +0000
      Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? "larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> - 2011-12-05 09:25 -0800
        Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? Arno <me@privacy.net> - 2011-12-05 19:15 +0000
        Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2011-12-07 04:13 +1100
  Re: MFM Miniscribe HDD does not spin, how to repair?? Franc Zabkar <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> - 2011-12-09 07:49 +1100

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