If you can trace the circuit with R3 back to an IC, there may be a datasheet with resistors specified.

Or if R3 goes to power/ground, and it's not connected to a Voltage Regulator, you could try guessing the value starting at 100k, then 10k, 5k...

If you want to post photos, maybe people here can estimate what the values are.

After replacing the missing cap the drive spins up, although it doesn't complete seek test.
Traced the R3 to be a bridge between one of the head pins and main IC. Replaced it with an 4k7 resistor (the same as the closest one) but still no go.

After some time the drive finally did the seek test, although it couldn't finish it. The heads are clicking. Opened it up and no surprises. Head still intact. I am not sure whenever it is the resistor thats the problem or bad heads/platter/FW cause board alone isn't detected. It just hangs on detecting drives.

Here are the photos. Do note the original resistor which was near it broke off in the picture.