TIPS - How to Diagnosis for a Faulty Harddrive?

Opening the Drive
Diagnosing before opening!
What does the drive feels like?
Is it spinning?
Does it click?
Does the head seek and park, then the drive spin down?
Is the drive HOT?
Look at the PCB board and look for burns and hot spots.
Documenting!
Take pictures of the drive.
Put an O on the PCB Board for Original on the label.
Xerox the label upon receiving it.
Label everything.
Use Organized Screw containers.
Get yellow sticky post it notes and write things down.
Keep tape handy.
What to look at after opening?
Look at the platter and the heads and their location.
Look at the air filter and see if there is silver dust in the case.
Look at the physical head for damage?
Look for brackets in the platters?
Spin the motor and look for bearing problems.