Thanks! Depends on what standard you look at, we have either a class 10 or a class 3 cleanroom at Intel. I'll definitely try an identical drive, but first I have to find one. Isn't too old, I don't think, so it shouldn't be too hard to find one.
10 particles maximum per cubic foot of air is pretty clean. I'm pretty sure hard drives are made in class 100 cleanrooms, so I think I'll be fine, provided that the platters work correctly.
I "dented" the side with the circuit board, not the metal cover over the platters, so I think it's a controller issue. I might try swapping the boards first, then take the things to work to do a full swap if needed. But it could be the alignment because some sectors are readable and some aren't, but again if it's a controller issue that could also be why it reads here and there.
