Comments on: Western Digital My Book – Opening the Case – Removing the Drive http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive My personal take on tech Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:23:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Carlton Bale http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-44896 Carlton Bale Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:36:13 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-44896 Here is the info I was trying to find, but couldn't earlier. The newest Western Digital drives (with EARS in the model number) have 4k sector sizes instead of the normal 512 byte size. This might cause compatibility problems, or might not, but I'd recommend the EADS model instead just to be safe. Here is a full write-up: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wd-4k-sector,2554.html Here is the info I was trying to find, but couldn't earlier. The newest Western Digital drives (with EARS in the model number) have 4k sector sizes instead of the normal 512 byte size. This might cause compatibility problems, or might not, but I'd recommend the EADS model instead just to be safe. Here is a full write-up:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wd-4k-sector,2554.html

]]> By: harahara http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-44601 harahara Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:25:06 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-44601 Wow thanks for ur fast reply. Would try to stick a 2TB in. Hope it works. Cheers. Wow thanks for ur fast reply. Would try to stick a 2TB in. Hope it works. Cheers.

]]> By: Carlton Bale http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-44589 Carlton Bale Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:05:03 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-44589 The jumper is two short metal pins sticking straight up from the board, spaced a few millimeters from each other. But you probalby don't need to mess that. The 2TB WD Green should work, but I'm not positive. The jumper is two short metal pins sticking straight up from the board, spaced a few millimeters from each other. But you probalby don't need to mess that.

The 2TB WD Green should work, but I'm not positive.

]]> By: harahara http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-44529 harahara Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:30:33 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-44529 Can u provide the pic for the jumper? I am trying to upgrade the drive to 2TB. Using WD Green. Will it work? Many thanks for ur guide. It helps preparing my HDD upgrade process. Can u provide the pic for the jumper? I am trying to upgrade the drive to 2TB. Using WD Green. Will it work?

Many thanks for ur guide. It helps preparing my HDD upgrade process.

]]> By: Carlton Bale http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-42250 Carlton Bale Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:05:39 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-42250 First of all, you need to use the Hitachi tools. The USB-to-SATA adapter won't magically make WD tools work on a Hitachi drive. The USB interface board is brand-neutral; you need to focus on the Hard Drive brand. The Western Digital USB-to-SATA adapter in the enclosure may not support 2TB drives, so you may be out of luck. Also, I seem to remember that some new 2TB drive are using different block sizes? That may be an issue, but I can't offer any more details. First of all, you need to use the Hitachi tools. The USB-to-SATA adapter won't magically make WD tools work on a Hitachi drive. The USB interface board is brand-neutral; you need to focus on the Hard Drive brand. The Western Digital USB-to-SATA adapter in the enclosure may not support 2TB drives, so you may be out of luck.

Also, I seem to remember that some new 2TB drive are using different block sizes? That may be an issue, but I can't offer any more details.

]]> By: TomHershaw http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-42221 TomHershaw Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:46:46 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-42221 Please Help! I followed the instructions above and upgraded my WD MBSE (White led - WD5000H1Q) from 500gb to 2tb (hitachi drive). But the new drive wont show up. I have installed WD Drive Manager, WD FAT32 formater, WD Firmware upgrade and restarted my computer (xp). When I plug in the WD drive (usb), my computer does react: I get a new "HID-compatible device" in my device manager and if I launch the FAT32 formater, it does find a "WD My Book USB Device". But when I try to format it to "factory original FAT32 partition" I get the error "Drive size too small or not supported!" :-( The WD firmware upgrader does not seem to detect the drive at all. I have tried shorting jumper J6 as described at the top of the page. Any ideas? Thanx in advance Tommy Please Help!

I followed the instructions above and upgraded my WD MBSE (White led – WD5000H1Q) from 500gb to 2tb (hitachi drive). But the new drive wont show up.

I have installed WD Drive Manager, WD FAT32 formater, WD Firmware upgrade and restarted my computer (xp). When I plug in the WD drive (usb), my computer does react: I get a new "HID-compatible device" in my device manager and if I launch the FAT32 formater, it does find a "WD My Book USB Device". But when I try to format it to "factory original FAT32 partition" I get the error "Drive size too small or not supported!" :-(

The WD firmware upgrader does not seem to detect the drive at all.

I have tried shorting jumper J6 as described at the top of the page.

Any ideas?

Thanx in advance

Tommy

]]> By: Carlton Bale http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-41831 Carlton Bale Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:09:20 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-41831 Your drive should be fine, you just need a SATA to USB adapter to read it. Your drive should be fine, you just need a SATA to USB adapter to read it.

]]> By: djsplatterhouse http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-41827 djsplatterhouse Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:46:28 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-41827 anyone know how to open the 1tb my book for mac? the design is slightly different. it cut off on me while I was playing a file off the drive. now all it does is flash on all leds and my mac cant read the drive. anyone know how to open the 1tb my book for mac? the design is slightly different. it cut off on me while I was playing a file off the drive. now all it does is flash on all leds and my mac cant read the drive.

]]> By: Melanie http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-41787 Melanie Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:37:55 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-41787 Hi Tom - I'm wondering if you were able to recover your data? I just did pretty much the same thing to my MyBook 500GB (plugged the wrong adaptor into it), and now it won't power up. I've been looking online to see if anybody has had a similar experience and what hte outcome was. Were you able to recover the files and if so, what steps did you take? Thank you in advance :) Hi Tom – I'm wondering if you were able to recover your data? I just did pretty much the same thing to my MyBook 500GB (plugged the wrong adaptor into it), and now it won't power up. I've been looking online to see if anybody has had a similar experience and what hte outcome was. Were you able to recover the files and if so, what steps did you take? Thank you in advance :)

]]> By: WD My Book 320GB HDD Swap - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-41195 WD My Book 320GB HDD Swap - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:18:07 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-41195 [...] drive OFF and the power cord REMOVED!), the board will reset so it can recognize the new drive. http://carltonbale.com/western-digit...ving-the-drive __________________ Using a quad core octocore with Linux is like putting a V8 on a [...] [...] drive OFF and the power cord REMOVED!), the board will reset so it can recognize the new drive. http://carltonbale.com/western-digit…ving-the-drive __________________ Using a quad core octocore with Linux is like putting a V8 on a [...]

]]> By: Snydy http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-39464 Snydy Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:53:51 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-39464 Thanks bro, this was a big help. Thanks bro, this was a big help.

]]> By: Joe http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-38352 Joe Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:27:56 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-38352 Carlton, Thanks! Video really helped! Do you know where I can get a spare circuit board? My 640 GB My Book fell on the ground while the USB cable was connected. It ripped off the surface mounted mini-USB jack. I happened to have an identical sister drive which was unused and swapped out the board to get the one I had data on working again. At this point I would like to get a new circuit board and get the empty sister drive back in service. If anyone has these laying around from taking out the HD and putting it into a dedicate external enclosure with fan, I would be grateful if I could obtain one. thanks, Joe Carlton,
Thanks! Video really helped!
Do you know where I can get a spare circuit board?
My 640 GB My Book fell on the ground while the USB cable was connected. It ripped off the surface mounted mini-USB jack. I happened to have an identical sister drive which was unused and swapped out the board to get the one I had data on working again. At this point I would like to get a new circuit board and get the empty sister drive back in service. If anyone has these laying around from taking out the HD and putting it into a dedicate external enclosure with fan, I would be grateful if I could obtain one.
thanks, Joe

]]> By: Eric http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-34251 Eric Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:06:36 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-34251 Thanks for the tutorial. It was easy to find the tutorial for opening up the old one, but real difficult to find one for opening the new design. So thanks a lot for making this, much obliged. Thanks for the tutorial. It was easy to find the tutorial for opening up the old one, but real difficult to find one for opening the new design. So thanks a lot for making this, much obliged.

]]> By: ELECTROGEEK http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-32879 ELECTROGEEK Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:28:33 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-32879 Thanks for the tip! I did crack the hell out of those plastic clips. I bet they are are designed to break to void warranties. After I removed and reseated the drive to the sata connector the drive started working again. What the heck? Oh well. Reassemble and back in business. As a warning this drive failed after using microsoft synctoy 2.1 Coincidence? I don't think so. Thanks for the tip! I did crack the hell out of those plastic clips. I bet they are are designed to break to void warranties. After I removed and reseated the drive to the sata connector the drive started working again. What the heck? Oh well. Reassemble and back in business. As a warning this drive failed after using microsoft synctoy 2.1 Coincidence? I don't think so.

]]> By: Omar http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-32264 Omar Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:53:30 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-32264 Thanks so much. My disk has been giving me the click of death and I am desperate to recover the data (it's my Backup disk!) and the computer would not recognise it. This was my last hope. Very nice website design by the way ;) Thanks so much. My disk has been giving me the click of death and I am desperate to recover the data (it's my Backup disk!) and the computer would not recognise it. This was my last hope.

Very nice website design by the way ;)

]]> By: Carlton Bale http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-31576 Carlton Bale Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:01:17 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-31576 Sounds like your enclosure is dead. Follow the instructions above to recover your data. Sounds like your enclosure is dead. Follow the instructions above to recover your data.

]]> By: tom http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-31500 tom Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:16:30 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-31500 hey guys, firstly cool thread and video ok so my problem if anyone can help is; i plugged the wrong adaptor into my book (WD500H1U) 500gb the blue light flashed for half a second then nothing.....i plugged the correct adaptor in about a minute or two later after seeing i put the wrong on in, but still nothing no lights no sounds or vibrations, its still in warrantey and WD will replace the drive but all the data may be lost :( any body know any tricks to get it working again, or recover data without huge expence?! (the adaptor that got plugged in for a few minutes was a 12v dc adaptor normally plugged into a live music interface..if that helps at all) thanks in advance for any help tom :) hey guys, firstly cool thread and video
ok so my problem if anyone can help is; i plugged the wrong adaptor into my book (WD500H1U) 500gb the blue light flashed for half a second then nothing…..i plugged the correct adaptor in about a minute or two later after seeing i put the wrong on in, but still nothing no lights no sounds or vibrations, its still in warrantey and WD will replace the drive but all the data may be lost :(

any body know any tricks to get it working again, or recover data without huge expence?!
(the adaptor that got plugged in for a few minutes was a 12v dc adaptor normally plugged into a live music interface..if that helps at all)

thanks in advance for any help
tom :)

]]> By: YouDoMeIDoYou http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-29370 YouDoMeIDoYou Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:40:02 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-29370 Thanks so much! Finally I can use my WD Drive the faster way! Keep on going :) Thanks so much! Finally I can use my WD Drive the faster way! Keep on going :)

]]> By: Alastair http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-27941 Alastair Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:17:19 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-27941 Worked for me - thanks so much from Perth, Western Australia!! And Happy New Year, may 2010 be everything Obama's 2009 was NOT!! Best regards from Oz! Worked for me – thanks so much from Perth, Western Australia!!

And Happy New Year, may 2010 be everything Obama's 2009 was NOT!!

Best regards from Oz!

]]> By: griffman http://carltonbale.com/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/comment-page-3#comment-27660 griffman Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:49:32 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/2008/01/western-digital-my-book-opening-the-case-removing-the-drive/#comment-27660 Thanks for this -- my MyBook is one of this newer design, though with only a 500GB drive. The drive filled up, and I wanted to swap it. I was stumped by the case, though -- it didn't even dawn on me to remove the pads, as it was clear there wasn't a screw below them. I bought a new 1.5TB WD Green drive, connected it to the power supply/circuit board and powered it on as a test (prior to reassembling the case). The drive showed up, ready for formatting. After putting it all back together, I'm now up and running with 3x the storage - so thanks again! -rob. Thanks for this — my MyBook is one of this newer design, though with only a 500GB drive. The drive filled up, and I wanted to swap it. I was stumped by the case, though — it didn't even dawn on me to remove the pads, as it was clear there wasn't a screw below them.

I bought a new 1.5TB WD Green drive, connected it to the power supply/circuit board and powered it on as a test (prior to reassembling the case). The drive showed up, ready for formatting.

After putting it all back together, I'm now up and running with 3x the storage – so thanks again!

-rob.

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