Well here it is the repairs are now complete and the drive looks good as new, and you know what...?  I bet I will not experience click click whir whir again, do you....?

WARNING

Whilst I did try to ensure that my instructions were as precise as possible I have had reports of people trying the modification for themselves and not having the same satisfactory results that I have. One person has claimed the procedure lead to a Seagate drive being made, another to a Quantum. However in both cases I was able to identify the cause. The correct temperature of the blowtorch is critical and the use of a Microwave for the treatment of the platters is just not good enough.

I cannot be held responsible for the outcome of your efforts if you do not follow my process precisely.

There is, as yet totally unsubstantiated, a report of one person producing an IBM drive. Now for this I will take NO responsibility. And whilst, we all hope, that this report is not true we MUST be aware of the dangers in undertaking this difficult, and yet potentially rewarding procedure.

Many thanks to Karl-Heintz Kätschup Müller for his tireless work and dedication in these findings. I hope, in time, he can come to appreciate his newly made Seagate as much as I love my Maxtor.

Dave also writes...oh btw an extra tip, I hear if you use an angle grinder at
the right angle you can double the capacity of the drive, however the angle
you apply the grinder is critical...

Much appreciate your Deathstar repair guide, followed with my 60gb
Deathstar after it started the click of death. One suggestion though I
found a bigger hammer more effective.

Adam

Totally off topic, but I love the web link.
We manufactured a product that had these IBM Deskstars in. Oh the
returns we had!  In the end the company sold the remaining stock (all
brand new) to employees for next to nothing. But still most people
wouldn' t touch them!

BobC