External storage failure & fix

[navychop]

I jumped on the external USB storage option early on. I got a WD MyBook 500. Heck, not quite what I wanted, but it was cheap, all in one- and I should have known better.

After some weeks of use, I began to get the blinking green ring signal. ViP622 did not "see" the box anymore, claiming no USB storage box was connected. Sometimes it would come back, but before I could get another external storage box and move stuff off, it "went away" forever. I realized the hard drive was not spinning.

So I had to decide- return for warranty? Questionable- I put it to a use they could claim was not covered. Plus, I'd certainly lose all my recordings. I still had hope of recovery. So I opened the case, and plugged the drive into a power plug from my PC. Spun right up. Plugged it back into the WD box, no spin.

I quickly bought a new USB/firewire enclosure (Ultra) to pop the HDD into. Came right up. Saved all the recordings. The failure was in the WD MyBook electronics. So if this happens to you, you have a good chance of not losing everything.

BTW I now move recordings between 2 different external boxes and the ViP622- without rebooting. I read here where people say to reboot the receiver every time you swap boxes, but I've found that to be unnecessary.

 

[Miner]

Suppo,

Where's the QDR? I'd suspect the external power supply before the electronics going bad, but either way a new replacement enclosure is cheaper and quicker.

Miner

 

[navychop]

Yep, my thoughts. Lights were functional, voltage ok.

 

[downriver]

I quickly bought a new USB/firewire enclosure (Ultra) to pop the HDD into. Came right up. Saved all the recordings. The failure was in the WD MyBook electronics. So if this happens to you, you have a good chance of not losing everything.

Could you post a link to this enclosure?? Thanks!

 

[navychop]

OK- look here.

It has a very quiet fan. Too many lights for my taste, but I only planned on short term use to try to salvage the programs. Nice and cheap.

There's also an SATA version.

 

[dfergie]

Question navychop, did you have problems cracking the case on the My Book? I recently had a Seagate external HDD's USB port go bad and ended up breaking apart with screwdrivers and cutters as it has Security torx head screw's and no one around here had those bits...

 

[navychop]

Oddly, no. I did not see any screws, so I just pried up the "wrap-around" cover in one spot, and worked it around. Did not seem to even be glued, just snapped together. Now, inside- now THERE'S a few screws! Just phillips heads, though.

 

[dfergie]

Took me 15 minutes to crack the Seagate, but it had important info on it and I had external enclosure ready for it... I have 3 My Books, (2 for Dish and 1 for Direct) so that is good info to file away, Thanks!

 

[navychop]

You're welcome. I might add that I don't think they will go back together well. Anyone with a failed HDD in a MyBook should probably plan on buying a new enclosure.