Hard Drive Data Recovery
HGST Ultrastar Data RecoveryHUH721212ALE600 / HUH721010ALE600 / HUS726060ALE614
HGST Ultrastar drives are among the most reliable in the industry per Backblaze's annual statistics. Their helium-sealed HelioSeal design enables 7-10 platters in a standard 3.5-inch form factor. When they do fail, recovery is complex because the helium atmosphere cannot be easily restored. We recover HGST Ultrastar drives using our PC-3000 system's Hitachi/HGST module at our Austin lab.
Helium-Sealed Drive: Cannot Be Opened in Normal Atmosphere
HGST Ultrastar HelioSeal drives contain helium gas to reduce air resistance across 7 to 10 platters. Opening the enclosure is destructive. Head flight depends on the helium atmosphere, and standard clean bench work cannot restore it.
HGST Ultrastar Specifications
HGST Ultrastar drives are among the most reliable in the industry per Backblaze's annual statistics. Their helium-sealed HelioSeal design enables 7-10 platters in a standard 3.5-inch form factor. When they do fail, recovery is complex because the helium atmosphere cannot be easily restored.
- Manufacturer
- HGST
- Form Factor
- 3.5"
- Spindle Speed
- 7200 RPM
- Interface
- SATA
- Capacity Range
- 6TB-16TB+
- Recording Technology
- CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording)
- PC-3000 Module
- Hitachi/HGST
Recovery Feasibility
Helium-sealed; opening in normal atmosphere is destructive. Extremely complex due to high platter count.
Model Numbers
The following model numbers belong to the HGST Ultrastar family. Check the label on your drive to confirm it matches one of these models before referencing the failure modes below.
3 models in this family
Failure Modes
Each failure mode requires a different diagnostic approach and recovery technique. Identifying the correct failure is the first step before any work begins.
Helium loss
Helium loss changes head aerodynamics. Among the most reliable drives per Backblaze, but when they fail, recovery is difficult.
Symptoms you may notice
- Drive not spinning correctly
- Unusual noise
- Sudden failure after years of service
Related search terms
High platter count complexity
7-10 platters in HelioSeal design. Extremely complex head swap due to platter count.
Symptoms you may notice
- Multiple heads failed
- Drive not detected
- Server drive failure
Related search terms
Head Swap and Donor Matching
Donor Requirements
Helium-sealed; opening in normal atmosphere is destructive. Extremely complex due to high platter count.
We maintain a donor drive inventory at our Austin lab and can source additional donors when needed. Head swaps are performed in our ISO Class 5 clean bench environment.
Recording Technology
This drive uses Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR). Each track is independent, making sector-by-sector imaging more predictable than SMR drives. Write operations do not affect adjacent tracks.
CMR simplifies recovery because there is no media cache layer to reconstruct. The data layout on the platters directly mirrors the logical block addresses.
How We Recover HGST Ultrastar Drives
Firmware-Level Recovery
We use the PC-3000 with the Hitachi/HGST module for firmware diagnostics and repair. This handles translator corruption, service area damage, and firmware boot failures.
Firmware recovery preserves the original head assembly and avoids the risks of a donor swap. For HGST Ultrastar drives with firmware corruption, this is the first recovery path we attempt.
Physical Recovery (Helium Drives)
Helium-sealed drives cannot be opened in normal atmosphere for traditional head swap. The heads are designed to fly on helium, which is less dense than air. Recovery depends on firmware-level access or manufacturer-level tools.
If the heads have physically failed, recovery options are limited. We evaluate each case individually and provide an honest assessment of what is possible before any work begins.
Pricing
Logical and firmware recovery for HGST Ultrastar drives typically costs $300 to $600. Head swap cases requiring a donor drive run $600 to $1,500 depending on head count and donor availability. Helium-sealed drive recovery is $1,500 to $3,000 due to the specialized techniques required.
See our full pricing breakdown for details. Our No Data, No Fee guarantee means you pay nothing if we cannot recover your files.
Hard Drive Data Recovery Standards & Verification
Our Austin lab operates on a transparency-first model. We use industry-standard recovery tools, including PC-3000 and DeepSpar, combined with strict environmental controls to make sure your hard drive is handled safely and properly. This approach allows us to serve clients nationwide with consistent technical standards.
Open-drive work is performed in a laminar-flow bench filtered to 0.02 µm, verified using TSI P-Trak instrumentation.
Transparent History
Serving clients nationwide via mail-in service since 2008.
Media Coverage
Our repair work has been covered by The Wall Street Journal and Business Insider, with CBC News reporting on our pricing transparency. Louis Rossmann has testified in Right to Repair hearings in multiple states and founded the Repair Preservation Group.
Aligned Incentives
Our "No Data, No Charge" policy means we assume the risk of the recovery attempt, not the client.
Technical Oversight
Louis Rossmann
Louis Rossmann's well trained staff review our lab protocols to ensure technical accuracy and honest service. Since 2008, his focus has been on clear technical communication and accurate diagnostics rather than sales-driven explanations.
We believe in proving standards rather than just stating them. We use TSI P-Trak instrumentation to verify that clean-air benchmarks are met before any drive is opened.
See our clean bench validation data and particle test videoFrequently Asked Questions
Why is HGST Ultrastar recovery so difficult if they are the most reliable drives?
What happens when a helium-sealed Ultrastar loses its helium?
How many platters do HGST Ultrastar drives have?
Can you recover data from an Ultrastar pulled from a datacenter server?
How much does HGST Ultrastar recovery cost?
Other HGST Drive Families
We also recover these HGST hard drive families.
Not a hard drive issue? We also recover SSDs, RAID arrays, and iPhones.
Hard Drive Recovery Overview →Other Recovery Services
Nationwide Mail-In Data Recovery Service
We serve all 50 states with secure mail-in data recovery. Ship your failed drive to our Austin lab using our free shipping kit, and we'll diagnose it within 24-48 hours. No geographic limitations—we've successfully recovered data for customers from Alaska to Florida.
Popular Service Areas
HGST Ultrastar drive not working?
Ship it to our Austin lab for a free evaluation. No data, no charge.