Taking apart a hard drive

So you have an old hard drive that can't store information any better then an oven stores fruit? I assume you've replaced it with a new one but what to do with the old one. It can't perform it's most basic function, to store data, so you cant well use it, why not take it apart and see how it works? This instructable was performed on a Western Digital Caviar WD2500 but doesn't differ much on any other brand or model. I have not tried this on a sata hard drive but it can't be too much different, and SSD's are like a 3 piece design. This is my first instructable and I hope you find it useful. 

Sorry for the poor quality pictures but my camera is a piece of crap, it's kinda self explanatory though. For my own safety I must say this instructable is a one way operation, only do this if you intend on destroying all saved data because it will not be recovered and I cannot be held responsible for your loss. 

*Update* I would like to thank WestFW for contributing better pictures that in most cases replaced the old ones. It's not the same model but like I stated earlier they're all mostly the same.

Step 1 Plan of Attack

First of all you'll need some tools. I used a T-8 for the majority of the screws and a T-7 on the platters but this can very by company. I also used a flathead screwdriver to help remove the cover and magnets. Remember throughout this instructable, if a part isn't coming out, you probably missed a screw.

It's best to remove the chip on the bottom and undo any screws under the board to make future steps easier. There's normally only 5-7 screws holding the board on and it can be lifted pretty easily.

Comments

[westfw]

Make me a colloborater, and I'll stick in some better pictures that were supposed to go into the Instructable I was going to write (someday) about the same topic...

[Scatmanbrandt]

Done, I think. Thank you too because this was taken with plenty of light but my camera sucks so bad I had to have another light (seen in the last pic) in order to get anything but a black photo.

[westfw]

Ok; I attached my collection of photos to a new step; feel free to move them to appropriate steps and/or remove them...

[Scatmanbrandt]

I used all of them since I replaced most of the old pictures with yours because they were much higher detail.