Hey guys, I need your advise on this one.
What do you do if you have to image and analyse a drive that has been soaked in water (during a fire).
What I've heard in the past is to collect the drive and keep it in a container with the same water it's been in contact in to prevent oxydation of the electronic components. After that, I was told to image it ASAP before the drive begins to rust.
My dilemma is between imaging the drive immediately and risking a short circuit on the PCB because of the humidity on the drive and waiting for it to dry but then the components might start to rust…
What's your advice on this ?
Thanks
I have had this issue before. However, not trying to collect a DD. I sent my drive to a hard drive recovery center. It costs around 1200$ however the data was worth much more than that. If money is an issue I would dry that sucker off with a heater as much as possible for at least 24 hours. I would worry more about the corrosion on the drive more then rust for now. Good luck )
Try to find the same HDD somewhere (eBay etc.). Mostly you can exchange the circuit-boards easily.
I would dry that sucker off with a heater as much as possible for at least 24 hours. I would worry more about the corrosion on the drive more then rust for now.
@ Donven But if I remove it from the water and it comes in contact with air, won't the corrosion get to the drive during the time the drive dries off?
Agree with the above that I would, first, keep it wet and send it to a drive recovery firm that specializes in this. The risk is not the water, so much as it is the contaminants in the water.
Short circuit is not your problem. The logic board can be removed and dried easily. The problem will be any water plus contaminants which may have come in contact with the heads or platters.
Unless the data are non-essential and you are prepared to open the drive, yourself, including the drive mechanism, I'd leave this to someone who has done this before.
The problem will be any water plus contaminants which may have come in contact with the heads or platters.
@ Seanmcl Isn't the platters/heads compatiment fully sealed off? I really thought the problem would be caused by water/corrosion of the PCB…
The problem will be any water plus contaminants which may have come in contact with the heads or platters.
@ Seanmcl Isn't the platters/heads compatiment fully sealed off? I really thought the problem would be caused by water/corrosion of the PCB…
Should be. But look carefully at a drive and you'll see appliques covering holes. Water damage can damage the glue on these and seep in. Also, the spindle bearings can be worn allowing for possible infiltration.
Bottom line. If the data are critical, don't try spinning it up. Send it to a data recovery company with experience in flood damaged drives.
The heads are not fully sealed from water. But yes, good point if you dry the hard drive the contents in water could get on the disks and when it spins it will scratch the disks.
My disk got a bucket of "drinkable" water dropped on it. So I did not think of the contents in dirty water.
Ok, thanks everyone for your input on this.
I would take the drive apart, dry the platters and put it back together.
If the electronics fail, as suggested get a replacement piece.
Alternatively, if it is worth more, ship it to a repair facility.
I believe, newer drives are no longer sealed as the drive read heads need air to unlock and to keep them floating.
I also do not think keeping them in the liquid will retard oxidation, unless it is completely submerged and every air bubble is out.