[mythtv-users] Help with a semi-busted hard drive (with all my recordings)

[Mike Grusin]

> >The "traditional" method of getting data off a drive with bad control
> >electronics (and the one most commercial data recovery outfits try
> >first) is to obtain an identical drive and swap out the control
> >board. In fact, most commercial recovery companies maintain a
> >collection of control boards for this purpose.

Quite correct, and if you have the cojones (and an identical good drive),
this is something you can try at home:

http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000840067578/

NOTE that once you open a drive, even if you manage to fix it, its lifetime
will be effectively gone because of the dust etc. that will get into it (the
heads fly over the platter at an altitude less than a human hair; every
piece of dust it hits scratches off the magnetic coating).  If you get the
drive spinning, IMMEDIATELY copy its contents to yet another drive.

Good luck! -Mike G.