Western Digital WD1200 IDE 3.5 inch 120G disk drive, for a desktop, circa 2002, Made in Malaysia. The outer aluminum shell and cover. Besides the 6 perimeter screws remember the two screws hidden under the label. Photo 2 by Don Tai.
This IDE Western Digital WD1200 hard disk drive, we have had, for a very long time. I do not even think it was mine, passed down by a well intended soul with a “Could you get it to work?”. Well, no. It dates back to 2002 and at 120G, made in Malaysia, was large at the time. Alas there was a clicking noise from the disk and it stopped working. All data was lost. I thought that Little Weed and I would do a father and son device autopsy, just for fun.
A disk drive is one of those things that almost every single computer needs. This old 3.5″ IDE drive is from a desktop and needs full power. It is literally the black box that holds your precious data. After a number of years the drive ceases to work. Sometimes, as in this case, it makes repetitive clicking noises, and you know that is not healthy. The noise coupled with your computer telling you the drive is either corrupt or there’s nothing there. What is inside?
At 120G this drive has 3 platters with sensors on the disk arm that read both the top and bottom surfaces. In the middle of these platters is the spinning spindle. There are some very strong magnets inside the aluminum case, and a circuit board. Really, there is not much else.
Western Digital WD1200 IDE 3.5 inch 120G disk drive, for a desktop, circa 2002, Made in Malaysia. The parts include the aluminum shell, the circuit board, 3 platters, spindle arm, magnets and spindle. Photo 1 by Don Tai.
The shell base is extruded aluminum and has some heft. The top cover uses 6 perimeter torx screws. There are also 2 screws under the sticker. If you take apart a hard disk you’ll need to remember these.
Western Digital WD1200 IDE 3.5 inch 120G disk drive, for a desktop, circa 2002, Made in Malaysia. The outer aluminum shell and cover. Besides the 6 perimeter screws remember the two screws hidden under the label. Photo 2 by Don Tai.
The disk spindle holds the 3 platters securely and spins freely. There is a retaining spacer between disks.
Western Digital WD1200 IDE 3.5 inch 120G disk drive, for a desktop, circa 2002, Made in Malaysia. The disk spindle that holds the 3 platters. There is a spacer between each platter. Photo 3 by Don Tai.
Western Digital WD1200 IDE 3.5 inch 120G disk drive, for a desktop, circa 2002, Made in Malaysia. The arm with read/write heads, one arm for each of the three disks. Photo 4 by Don Tai.
Western Digital WD1200 IDE 3.5 inch 120G disk drive, for a desktop, circa 2002, Made in Malaysia. These magnets are extremely strong and are placed on the top and bottom of the spindle arm. Photo 5 by Don Tai.
Western Digital WD1200 IDE 3.5 inch 120G disk drive, for a desktop, circa 2002, Made in Malaysia. Circuit board. The disk arm plugs into this circuit board. The circuit board also includes the data and power ports. Photo 6 by Don Tai.
It was not difficult taking it apart. You do need some smaller torx screwdrivers. There is nothing dangerous about the disk. It is interesting to see inside of something that you depend so much on for your data integrity.
