2026-04-25

Hard Disk Details (3)

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM05 mins

Slide 1289: The first thing a hard drive will do after it receives power is check for a return status from it’s chips to make sure the electronics are functioning. Then the drive will begin the self-check of its parts and wait for a return status. If both status checks are returned then the drive continues on to the next step and spin up the spindle.

Slide1389: The drive begins to spin the spindle or as you would see, the platters begin to revolve.  When the platters begin to revolve the air flow around the platter creates a force that is called an air bearing.  This air bearing will fling off debris on the platters such as any dust particles or metal fragments from the standard operation of the drive. This air bearing also causes the plastic locking arm mechanism to move out of the way as soon as there is enough air flow for the head to float. Without that airflow the arm is locked in place and will not move over the platter. This is a way to protect the platter from the head touching the platter and causing physical damage. The opposite is true during a power down. When power is cut to the drive, during the last revolutions of the motor, it generates enough power to move the head back to it park position.  Because of this, as you can imagine,  if you get enough power on and power off cycles in a row it is possible for the head to be stuck in the center of the platter and never to be parked correctly causing several types of damage. In certain 80 gig laptop 2.5″ inch drives it is common for the head to be stuck to the center of the platter, never having parked and keeping the platters from spinning. In most cases there is very little damage if the drive is opened and manually turned slow enough not to damage the head, and the data can be recovered, obviously never using this drive again.

Slide 1483: At this point, if the all has proceeded correctly the air bearing will allow the head to float over the platter allowing it to move freely without scratching the surface of the platter.

Slide 1545: At this point, if the head is reading the Servo Timing info from the platter and relaying it to the circuitry so the controller knows the geographic information for the placement of data.  (See previous speech at Defcon 14 for discussion about Voice Coil and stepping motors to understand the servo info).

Slide 1679: At this point the head moves to the System Area (SA) of the platters and reads the content that it requires as well as any additional firmware and overlays.
Most of the time, the system area is on the outer tracks – the extreme outer edge. This is chosen by the manufacturer but is most common on the outside on 3.5 and is sometimes written to the inside tracks on a 2.5″ inch drive.

System Area Information Common Names

 1.      System Area
 2.      Maintenance Tracks
 3.      Negative Cylinders
 4.      Reserved Cylinders
 5.      Calibration Area
 6.      Initialization Area
 7.      Diskware

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The mobile hard disk prompts that the file or directory structure is damaged and the recovery is successful

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM01 mins

Case:Individual customers have dozens of folders with 500G mobile hard disks. Several important folders of them cannot be opened or copied. Double -click to prompt: The file or directory structure is damaged and cannot be read. Solution:The engineer connected the mobile hard disk to the safe data recovery platform through the device, accessing the hard…

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RAID 6 Areca ARC-1120

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM14 mins

areca-card-pers

Fierce competition dominates the market for professionally-equipped Serial ATA RAID controllers. Shortly after manufacturers HighPoint and Promise became the first to launch their PCI-based products on the market, more well-known names like Adaptec and LSI Logic followed suit. A year ago, RAIDCore and NetCell also debuted their products, and made a good impression from the word go.

All of these manufacturers concentrated primarily on making their products better suited to the professional market, and are focusing particularly on offering devices on the PCI-X interface . Now, Taiwanese manufacturer Areca hopes to go them one better by supporting RAID 6.

RAID controllers are used most often in business settings, particularly for servers. The point of RAID is to increase the performance of the storage subsystem when using numerous hard drives simultaneously, and also protecting against data loss due to hard drive crashes. Even if regular backups are used, constant availability of storage systems is invaluable for business workflows, and this is what RAID provides.

A RAID Level 5 array is a common type, used in most normal business situations. In this arrangement, when data is written to the array, it is distributed to all drives but one. The controller generates a checksum (parity information) for the data set written, and writes the checksum to the final hard drive. This can be used to reconstruct the data if any one drive is lost. At the same time, performance is improved because data is being written to (or read from) many drives in parallel.

In RAID5, the drive chosen for the checksum changes for each data block written. Thus, it is an enhancement of RAID3, where a single dedicated drive is used for all checksums. RAID5 improves performance because in RAID3 the dedicated parity drive can create a bottleneck.

But there are also cases in which higher reliability is needed than can be met by RAID 5. Areca addresses this by offering the option of setting up a RAID 6 array. RAID 6 is like RAID 5 but uses two drives for parity data, which means two drives can fail without data loss. Naturally, this requires another hard drive to be put in the array. We took a close look at how well this RAID level functions, and how well it performs.

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Does Western Digital Perform Or Provide Data Recovery Services?

DATARECOVERYUNION.COM013 mins

Western Digital will stand behind the warranty that is supplied with the defective hard drive. If your drive is still within its warranty period, the drive can be replaced through Western Digital RMA Process.

We apologize, but Western Digital does not perform data recovery services.

You may however use one of Western Digital’s authorized data recovery service companies. In order to retain the warranty of the defective hard drive, you must use a Western Digital authorized data recovery service company. For more information on Western Digital’s authorized data recovery service companies, please see the information in the following.

Americas Data Recovery Partners:

(North America,Central America,South America)

CBL Data Recovery Technologies

Toll Free: (800) 551-3917
Atlanta: (678) 417-9150
Houston: (281) 895-7515 New York City: (914) 765-0220
San Diego (619) 449-1200
Toronto, Canada: (905) 479-9938

More Locations:
Barbados
Brasil
Canada

Data Mechanix

Toll Free: (800) 886-2231
Phone number: (949) 263-0994
Fax number: (949) 263-1549

DriveSavers Data Recovery

Toll Free: (800) 440-1904
Phone number: (415) 382-2000
Fax number: (415) 883-0780

DTIDATA Recovery Services

Corporate Headquarters
Toll Free: (866)-438-6932
Phone number: (727)-345-9665
Fax number:: (813)-830-6032
WD Customer Discount

ESS Data Recovery

Toll Free: (800) 237-4200
Phone number: (618) 654-3553
Fax number: (800) 299-7815
E-mail: readytohelp@essdatarecovery.com

First Advantage Data Recovery Services

Corporate Headquarters
Toll Free: 877-304-7189
Address:
8650 Freeport Parkway S. Suite 150,
Irving, Texas 75063
WD Customer Discount

Flashback Data

Address:
4029 S Capital of Texas Hwy
Suite 224
Austin, TX 78704

Toll Free: (866) 786-5700
Phone number: (512) 301-5700
Fax number: (512) 301-0333
E-mail: info@flashbackdata.com

Nortek Certified Data Recovery

Address:
2000 Main Street West
North Bay, Ontario – Canada
P1B 8G5

Toll Free: 1-877-474-2058
Phone number: (705) 474-2058
Fax number: (705) 474-2409

Ontrack® Data Recovery

Kroll Ontrack Corporate Headquarters
Address: 9023 Columbine Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Toll Free: 800 872 2599
Phone number: 952 937 5161
Fax number: 952 937 5750

Los Angeles, California
Kroll Ontrack
Address: 18350 Mt Langley St Ste 110, Fountain Valley CA 92708
Toll Free: 800-872-2599
Phone number: 714-641-0530

Washington, DC
Kroll Ontrack
Address: 11411 Isaac Newton Square S, Reston VA 20190
Toll Free: 800-872-2599
Phone number: 703-821-8101

New York City, New York
Kroll Ontrack
Gateway Plaza
Address: 1 Harmon Meadow Blvd Ste 225, Secaucus NJ 07094
Toll Free: 800-872-2599
Phone number: 201-770-0400

Toronto, Canada
Kroll Ontrack
Address: 155 Gordon Baker Rd Ste 100, Toronto Ontario M2H 3N7, Canada
Toll Free: 800-872-2599
Phone number: 416-491-1650

SalvageData Recovery Service Lab

Toll Free: (800) 970-7188
Phone number: (203) 973-0242
Fax number: (203) 621-0628
Contact for FREE Quote

Vogon International

Toll Free: (800) 392-5373
Phone number: (405) 321-2585
Fax number: (405) 364-8242
E-mail: data.recovery@vogon.us

EMEA Data Recovery Partners

(Europe,Middle-east,Africa)

1st Computer Traders Ltd

Address: Unit 6, Mercian Park,
Felspar Road,
Amington Industrial Park
Tamworth, Staffs. B77 4DP,
UK Phone number: +44 (0) 1827 55555
Fax number: + 44 (0) 1827 66666
E-mail: dr@1ct.com

CBL Data Recovery Technologies

Germany
Toll Free: 0 800 5500 999

United Kingdom
Toll Free: 0 800 028 2069

CSSI Africa

Midrand Office
Computer Storage Services, Johannesburg
CSS House
Augrabies Road
Waterfall Park
Midrand
South Africa
Phone number: 011-541 9900
Fax number: 011-541 9920
E-mail: dr@cssi.co.za

Cape Town Office
Computer Storage Services, Cape Town
K3 – Centurion Business Park
Montague Gardens
Cape Town
South Africa
Phone number: 021-555-4450
Fax number: 086-602-9178
E-mail: drcape@cssi.co.za

Durban Office
Computer Storage Services, Durban
4 Pencarrow
Pencarrow Park
Armstrong Avenue
Umhlanga Rocks
South Africa
Phone number: 031-566-5377
Fax number: 086-695-9677
E-mail: infodurban@cssi.co.za

Datex Europe

French:
France 01 69 31 01 01
Others: +33 1 69 31 01 01
E-mail: bienvenue@datex.fr

Spanish
(+34) 626 65 01 37
E-mail: urgencia@DatosExpress.com

Portuguese
+33 1 69 31 01 01

English
UK : +44 28 7082 5678
Others : +33 1 69 31 01 01

Mention WDC and receive special discount rates.

Disklabs

United Kingdom
Unit 6 and 7 Mercian Park
Felspar Road
Tamworth
Staffordshire
B77 4DP, England
UK Phone number: 0800 DATA SOS (0800 3282 767)
Intl Phone number: +44 1827 55999
UK Fax number: 01827 66666
Intl Fax number: +44 1827 66666
Email dr@disklabs.com

Netherlands
Orlyplein 85
1043 DS, Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Entrance Busitel 1, 3rd floor
Open for delivery 08:30 till 17:30
Phone number: 020 403 7579
Fax number: 020 403 7310
Tel Int: +31 (0) 20 403 7579
Fax Int: +31 (0) 20 403 7310
Email info@disklabs.nl

Moscow Data Recovery Laboratory

Russia
Phone number: +7(495)979-12-57
E-mail: support@mhdd.ru
Website: http://www.mhdd.ru

Norman Data Recovery Service

Netherlands
Head office
Diamantlaan 4a
2132 WV Hoofddorp

Phone number: +31-(0)23-78 90 244
Fax number: +31-(0)23-5612670
E-mail: datarecovery@norman.nl
Website: http://www.norman-datarecovery.nl

Belgium
Grote Baan 119/2
3511 KURINGEN

Phone number: +32-(0)11 323 022
Fax number: +32-(0)24027180
E-mail: datarecovery@norman.nl
Website: http://www.norman-datarecovery.be

Ontrack Data Recovery – Europe

Austria
Kroll Ontrack GmbH
Zweigniederlassung Österreich
Landstraßer Hauptstraße 71/2
A-1030 Wien
Österreich
Toll Free: 0800 644 150
Phone number: +43 (0)1 717 28 380

Belgium
Kroll Ontrack Sarl
Pegasuslaan 5
1831 Diegem
Belgique
Phone number: +32 (0)2 709 20 41

Denmark
Ibas Danmark ApS
H. P. Christensensvej 1
3000 Helsingør
Danmark
Phone number: +45 70 22 34 00

Finland
Kroll Ontrack – Ibas
Läkkisepäntie 11
00620 Helsinki
Finland
Phone number: +358 9 2727 210

France
Kroll Ontrack
2 Impasse de la Noisette
91371 Verrieres-le-Buisson Cedex
France
Toll Free: 0800 10 12 13
Phone number: +33 1 69 53 66 99

Germany
Kroll Ontrack
Hanns-Klemm-Straße 5
71034 Böblingen
Deutschland
Toll Free: 0 800 10 12 13 14
Phone number: +49 (0)7031 644 0

Ireland
Kroll Ontrack
Marsh House
25-28 Adelaide Road
Dublin 2
Ireland
Toll Free: 1800 930 183
Phone number: +353 (0)1 6048250

Italy
Kroll Ontrack Srl
Via Lario, 1
22070 Fenegró (CO)
Italy
Toll Free: 800 44 00 33
Phone number: +39 031 3525611

Netherlands
Kroll Ontrack
Holland Office Center
Kruisweg 825c
2132 NG Hoofddorp
Nederland
Toll Free: 0800 5 765 565
Phone number: +31 (0)23-5673030

Norway
Kroll Ontrack – Ibas
Postboks 1250
Arkoveien 14
2206 Kongsvinger
Norge
Toll Free: 810 10 100
Phone number: 47 62 81 01 00

Poland
Ontrack Sp. z o.o.
ul. Jana III Sobieskiego 11
40-082 Katowice
Polska
Toll Free: 0 800 90 90 90
Phone number: + 48 (32) 77 999 99

Russian Federation

Phone number: +7 495 229 44 38

Spain
Kroll Ontrack Iberia S.L.
C. Anabel Segura 7 1ª Planta, Oficina B
28108 Alcobendas
Madrid
España
Toll Free: 900 112 012

Sweden
Kroll Ontrack – Ibas
Märstagatan 4
753 23 Uppsala
Sverige
Phone number: +46 (0)18 10 44 40

Switzerland
Kroll Ontrack S.a.g.l.
Piazza Boffalora 4
P.O.Box 191
6830 Chiasso 3 Boffalora
Suisse
Toll Free: 0800 880 100
Phone number: +41 (0)91 682 86 92

Kroll Ontrack Sagl
Hertistraße 25
28304 Wallisellen
Switzerland
Toll Free: 0800 880 100
Phone number: +41 (0)44 877 30 90

United Kingdom
Kroll Ontrack Limited
The Pavilions1 Weston Rd Kiln Ln
Epsom Surrey KT17 1JG
United Kingdom
Toll Free: 0800 243 996
Phone number: +44 (0)1372 741 999

Recovery Labs

Spain
Parque Empresarial Euronova III
Ronda de Poniente 4
CP: 28760 Tres Cantos
Madrid ESPAÑA
Phone number: 902 109 009/ +34 91 804 94 23
Fax number: 902 199 009/ +34 91 804 94 63
irl@recoverylabs.com

Germany
An der Welle, 4
PLZ: 60322
Frankfurt ALEMANHA
Phone number: +49 (0)69 7593 8454
Fax number: +49 (0)69 7593 8200
irl@recoverylabs.net

Italy
Via Torino 2, 4º Piano
CAP: 20123
Milano ITALIA
Phone number: +39 02 72 54 64 72
Fax number: +39 02 72 54 64 00
irl@recoverylabs.it

Brasil
Rua Willy-Aureli, 623
04789-090 Interlagos
São Paulo S.P. BRASIL
Phone number: (011) 5667-9569
sac-brasil@recoverylabs.com

Portugal
Avenida da Liberdade, 110, 1º Andar
CP: 1269-046
Lisboa PORTUGAL
Phone number: +351 21 340 46 35
Fax number: +351 21 340 45 75
irl@recoverylabs.pt

France
La Grande Arche – Paroi Nord – 14/15 Floor
CP: 92044 La Defense
Paris FRANCE
Phone number: +33 (0) 1 40 90 31 23
Fax number: +33 (0) 1 40 90 31 01
irl@recoverylabs.fr

APAC Data Recovery Partners:
(Australia,New Zealand,Pacific Islands,Asia,China)

CBL Data Recovery Technologies

Australia
5 / 180 Anzac Ave.
Redcliffe, Queensland
Australia 4020
Local Phone number: (07) 3283.3303

China
58 Sanlihe Road
Beijing, P.R. China
100045
Phone number: (0086 10) 68 55 70 58

Singapore
2 No.51, Changi Business Park Central 2
Unit #08-08
The Signature
Singapore, 486066
Phone number: +65 65880261
Fax number: +65 65880484

India
No 10, Sadanand CHS
St. Anthony’s Street
Kalina, Mumbai
400098
India
Tel.: 22 26651499

Japan

3-4-17 Kudan-Minami
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0074
JAPAN

Ontrack® Data Recovery

Australia
Kroll Ontrack
28 Donkin St Ste 8
West End Queensland
Australia
Toll Free: 800 872 259
Phone number: +61 7 3255 1199

Hong Kong
Kroll Ontrack (HK) Ltd.
1701-02 Central Plaza,
18 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Toll Free: 800 930 324

Japan Tokyo
182 Shinkoh, Iruma,
Saitama, 358-0055 Japan
Phone number: +81 (0)42-932-6365
Toll Free: 0120 413 374
Fax number: +81 (0)42-932-6370

Singapore
Kroll Ontrack Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Nordic European Centre
3, International Business Park
#02-17
Singapore 609927
Toll Free: 1800 872 2599

Shanghai Myung Information Technologies Co.,Ltd.

Mr.Chen Du.
Phone number: 021-50815652
Toll Free: 800-820-7077
Cell Phone: 13816888477

Shanghai
Room 8017,Zhangyang Road,
Huacheng Building
Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Phone number: 021-50815662

Beijing
RM 814,office Tower 1,Junefield Plaza,
No.6 Xuanwumenwai Street,Beijing
Phone number: 010-63108100, 010-63108101

Shenzhen
Room 3010,Block A,Stars Plaza
No.38 Hongli Road,Shenzhen
Phone number: 755-83975075, 755-83975076

Guangzhou
Room 1311, Longhui Bldg., No. 5
Longkou East Rd., Tianhe, Guangzhou
Phone number:020-87596211,020-87584150

Vector Technology Company Limited

RM.3010, Block A, Stars Plaza, #38 Hongli Rd., Shenzhen, Guangdong P.R.China 518028
Phone number: 86-755-83975076
Fax number:86-755-83741954

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