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

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage XYLOPHONE <rhubarbe0@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hello,
> 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.

> Luc.

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.

Arno
-- 
Arno Wagner, Dr. sc. techn., Dipl. Inform., CISSP -- Email: arno@wagner.name
GnuPG:  ID: 1E25338F  FP: 0C30 5782 9D93 F785 E79C  0296 797F 6B50 1E25 338F
----
Cuddly UI's are the manifestation of wishful thinking. -- Dylan Evans

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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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