Hard drive mod

[dfigravity]

So I came into a few extra HDD's and I have been wanting to try the HDD window mod. I'm pretty much done but I have a question. I have seen one tutorial out there (http://www.techangel.co.uk/articles/hdwindow/) that shows the guy putting an LED in there too. I also happen to have a few green LED's laying around...however he doesn't mention where he draws power for it. I'm too nervous to drill ANYTHING on the case for fear of getting metal filings / dust on the platter. I already have the top off, cut out, the plexi cut out and I'm about to adhere it to the lid. I am fairly certain that the important half of the HDD is still safe and I dont want to ruin that. Anyone out there have luck with this or know where I can pull power for the LED??

[Bucko]

You could drill a hole in the top while it's off and draw the power from the molex connector.

[dfigravity]

You could drill a hole in the top while it's off and draw the power from the molex connector.

pop the pins out and tap right in that way? That is a great idea...but I'm still baffled as to how that guy got power to the led all stealth like...

[dfigravity]

aaaaaaaand pictures!

here's the plexi...

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3417.jpg

the initial cuts in the cover...a grinder will clean this up

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3421.jpg

Here's the same type of HDD but it was already dead so I opened it up to get the lay of the land...

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3427.jpg

and another angle...
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3428.jpg

and the LED
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3426.jpg

[SgtM]

I just noticed you're in the Air Force. I can't believe I haven't picked on you yet. j/k. Nice job so far. Keep the pics coming. +rep.

[dfigravity]

I just noticed you're in the Air Force. I can't believe I haven't picked on you yet. j/k. Nice job so far. Keep the pics coming. +rep.

Hoorah or something...Right? :) My brother in law is a Marine...just got out, but once a Marine always a Marine...
And you can pick on me all you want my friend but I have stepped out of the Chair Force and into the JSOC arena...in june I'm heading off to a Joint Spec Ops type unit...word. It's always good to see fellow military around :)

Where in Ohio are you from...my family and I hail from Columbus

[SgtM]

It's all good my friend, nothin wrong with a little inter-service rivalry. I'm in Niles, Ohio. About 10 minutes from Youngstown. I spent some time in Columbus. Lived in Dublin off of Hard Rd when I worked for Qwest Communications (that was about 5 years ago). Now, I work for First Energy in Akron.

[dfigravity]

I worked at that Super America at Sawmill and 161 FOREVER...thought I'd never get out of there...grew up inUpper Arlington, "live" on Morse rd about 3 blocks E of High st

[azminisk8r]

yeah just solder to the molex connector either inside the hdd or outside, inside's going to be hard to stealth but if you did it outside you could have the wires run under then add a bottom cover or something to cover up the circuitboard and led wires

[Mach]

I believe this is what mashie did for his Y2K bug mod. Check out his site for pics.

http://www.mashie.org/casemods/y2k04.html


28000mcd of action, it is brighter in real life. The drives survived the stunt, passed both formatting and a surface check without issues. The wires from the LEDs are soldered to the bottom of the hard drive PCBs where the molex is connected.

[dfigravity]

Sweet...great info...I might rethink my design...pictures to come. It all depends on work tomorrow...grr

[dfigravity]

Here are a few new pictures...still some rough edges...prolly finish that tomorrow

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3435.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3438.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3440.jpg

that's that...I've found a GREAT way to run the wires...theres a little sticker that open up a holeunderneath and just at the edge of the platter...it's flirting with disaster, but it comes out underneath the circuitboard almost right next to where I'll need to solder the wires...




Here we are...here's the hole leading out from just under the HDD (yes, this is the dead on that I am using for reference)
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/hole.jpg


And here is that hole from the other side...keep in mind the wires will be sandwiched between the HDD and circuitboard...and voila, there are the point that I need to solder to. Now I just need to find a tip small enough...
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/hole2.jpg

[azminisk8r]

yeah and make sure the solders down really close to those nodes, dont wanna short anything

[dfigravity]

yeah and make sure the solders down really close to those nodes, dont wanna short anything

I'll surely try...damn that's a tight area though :)

[dfigravity]

ok...it's almost finished. I just have to solder the LED wires...

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/complete.jpg

I haven't had the balls to plug it in yet...I've just been looking at it for about a half an hour...:neutral:

I think I might plug it in just to make sure it works......anyone know a good disk checking utility?

[Redundant]

Are you sure it's not damaged?

In the tutorial for this kin of mod I read, they took special precaution so dust did not get on/in the hard drive. (I.e. Tupperware container) From your pictures, I see plenty of dust is on the platter and can get under the head when turned on.

Does the head hit the wire going out the bottom? Looks pretty close.

Hope it still works out though. :up:

[dfigravity]

Are you sure it's not damaged?

In the tutorial for this kin of mod I read, they took special precaution so dust did not get on/in the hard drive. (I.e. Tupperware container) From your pictures, I see plenty of dust is on the platter and can get under the head when turned on.

Does the head hit the wire going out the bottom? Looks pretty close.

Hope it still works out though. :up:

The earlier pictures were of a harddrive that was already dead that I used as a reference...the picture above is the hopefully good one


---Alas...it didn't work. I used a drop of super glue under the led to hold it in place....I think that was a bad idea. About 45min. after I sealed the drive back up, funny streaks/spots appeared on the platter....that was sad. Then I fired it up just to see and the head was all jumping around crazy like making clicking sounds...then a fog started to appear on the underside of the glass...I think the heat in there made the super glue do funny things. damn damn damn. damn. shoot. crap. smeg. Oh well...lesson learned I guess...I'll have to see if I can find another hard drive :)

[rendermandan]

that sucks!!! I wonder if it had something to do with the fumes super glue gives off and not the heat. I'll give you a +rep just for having the balls to try it.

[Mach]

Sorry to hear that man. I would guess that superglue would out gas and cause contamination. Check mashie's worklog, I believe he used sterile or medical grade silicone. I think he also put the LEDs on the drive cover not thru HD body. Either way its a dicey exercise.

Points for trying it at all. I've got 4 vacuum formed transparent HD covers that I've never had the balls to try.

[dfigravity]

I'll say the it definitley made me sweat. You know, it never even occured to me that the fumes could cause such a problem. I'm not giving up yet though...it might be a little while, but I'm going to get it right. grr. I'll update when it happens :devious:

[dfigravity]

EUREKA!! Well I finally came back and finished this silly little mod. Here's picture of it in all it's green glory!

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/hug5-1.jpg


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3749.jpg


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/dfigravity/IMG_3750.jpg

[chaksq]

Nice mod dude, I should try that with a spare. I am assuming it still works.
+rep

[dfigravity]

Nice mod dude, I should try that with a spare. I am assuming it still works.
+rep

It does...the key to my success was steaming the bathroom for a few minutes, letting the steam clear then working in there, You have to be quick in swapping the saranwrap (or whatever you use) with the cover.

[chaksq]

Hmm, thats a good idea. I probably won't get to it for a while. My house is getting an addition so dust/sawdust is prevalant.