On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 2:29 PM, Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Never drop them! Sticktion can (usually) safely be fixed by placing the drive on a smooth surface, rapidly rotating it a few times with a flick of the wrist, then quickly applying power. Dropping risks head damage. The only time this did not work for me, I had to sacrifice the drive by opening it and spinning the platters manually. The drive was absolutely on borrowed time from that point on, but I managed to recover the data. Does not bother using it after that.
I have had no problems opening a drive to de-stiction it while carefully minimizing exposure to dust. The enclosure is not a vacuum and opening the drive for a minute to free it is not necessarily a death sentence. Dropping a computer for any reason is worse if you ask me.