Data Recovery
Introduction to Hard Disk Chapter 1
Written by
Ann LeFlore
Introduction to the Hard Disk
• The hard disk is mounted into a physical
enclosure.
• The internal environment has to remain free
from dust.
• If dust enters between the read/write heads and
the platters it will cause a head crash
Introduction to the Hard Disk
• The bottom of the disk is called the base casting.
• The drive mechanics are placed into the base casting.
• A rubber gasket is placed between the base and cover to ensure a tight seal.
• The drive is closed with a number of small screws and a center screw to stabilize the spindle motor
shaft and secure the axis of the actuator assembly
Hard Disk Assembly
• The entire base and covered chamber including
the heads, platters, and actuator is called the
hard disk assembly.
• The drive should never be opened in an
uncontrolled environment outside a clean room.
Introduction to the Hard Disk
• The bottom of the disk is called the base casting.
• The drive mechanics are placed into the base casting.
• A rubber gasket is placed between the base and cover to ensure a tight seal.
• The drive is closed with a number of small screws and a center screw to stabilize the spindle motor
shaft and secure the axis of the actuator assembly
Hard Disk Assembly
• The entire base and covered chamber including
the heads, platters, and actuator is called the
hard disk assembly.
• The drive should never be opened in an
uncontrolled environment outside a clean room.
Internal Air Flow and Filters
a
• HD have an internal air flow within the
sealed chamber
• The air flow continuously filters the air .
• Inside the chamber is a small re-circulating
filter for added security
Housing Screw Holes and
Connectors
• Screw holes are built into the aluminum base
of the disk
• Different connectors and jumpers are used to
configure the HDD to the rest of the system
• The connectors vary from ATA (IDE), SCSI,
USB and SATA
Internal Air Flow and Filters
• HD have an internal air flow within the
sealed chamber
• The air flow continuously filters the air .
• Inside the chamber is a small re-circulating
filter for added security
Housing Screw Holes and
Connectors
• Screw holes are built into the aluminum base
of the disk
• Different connectors and jumpers are used to
configure the HDD to the rest of the system
• The connectors vary from ATA (IDE), SCSI,
USB and SATA
Internal Air Flow and Filters
• HD have an internal air flow within the
sealed chamber
• The air flow continuously filters the air .
• Inside the chamber is a small re-circulating
filter for added security
Housing Screw Holes and
Connectors
• Screw holes are built into the aluminum base
of the disk
• Different connectors and jumpers are used to
configure the HDD to the rest of the system
• The connectors vary from ATA (IDE), SCSI,
USB and SATA
Stepper Motor and Actuator
• Head changing is an electronic function
• Changing sectors involves waiting for the right sector number to spin around and come under the head
• Changing tracks the heads must be shifted making sure this can be done accurately is extremely important.
• There are two types of head actuators
Stepper Motor and Actuator
• Before HD used stepper motors to control the movement of heads over the surface of the platters.
• The motor turns in a rotary fashion and can stop at any time in its rotation
• Stepper motors can only stop at predefined steps as it turns around the disk
Stepper Motor and Actuator
• Stepper motors used for actuators attaches the arms to the motor and each time the motor steps one position
the arms moves in or out one position.
• Each position defines a track on the surface of the disk.
• Stepper motors are used for both turning the spindle and positioning the head on floppy disk drives.