Recover Data from Water Damaged Hard Drive

Water and electronics don't mix, but water and hard drive platters are even worse. If water gets inside the 'HDA' (Hard Drive Assembly), it can leave mineral deposits on the platters as it dries, making recovery impossible.

1. Keep it Moist!

Counter-intuitively, if a drive is submerged, keep it in a sealed bag with a damp cloth until you can get it to a cleanroom. Drying it causes corrosion to set in faster.