NAS Bay (purchase advice )

[AsifSaddique 836]

Yeah, it's just a drive, nothing more. The media server governs the network transfers. That's what Plex is for.

Looking forward to installing it in my PC, waiting for my Amazon delivery today!

 

[SpyderTracks]

Looking forward to installing it in my PC, waiting for my Amazon delivery today!

They're great drives, I have about 6 in my server, been running 24/7 for years.

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

Unfortunately my 2.5 4tb external wd drive started playing up , only had it for just over a year and now it’s vibrating and pc doesn’t recognise it, wish I kept a backup!

 

[SpyderTracks]

Unfortunately my 2.5 4tb external wd drive started playing up , only had it for just over a year and now it’s vibrating and pc doesn’t recognise it, wish I kept a backup!

External drives, it's usually the USB circuitry that fails.

Often if you break it down and remove the drive, the drive is still fully functional.

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

Ah right, i might open if up, will it have the ports/connectors to attach in a pc?

 

[SpyderTracks]

Ah right, i might open if up, will it have the ports/connectors to attach in a pc?

It's just a standard SATA drive unless it's extremely old in which case it would an unsupported PATA drive, but it's almost certainly just SATA

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

Il open it up, its a new one bought over a year ago like this

WD 4 TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0, Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0713WPGLL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_136794KPTPY2CMBPA4TD

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

The Elements drives are standard SATA drives inside....not the easiest to pry open by the looks of it. Here's a video that may (or not) be of use:

I’ve opened it up but ordered the special screw driver to detach the drive with its little screws , see if I can get it working etc

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

Do I need to open it further, how can I fit that in my PC.? I haven’t done my research on which connectors/cable I require though

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

Thanks for that, yeah got plenty of cables from PC.

From this pic, do I need to detach the drive further from the pc board? Looks like this is a custom built board for the drive.

 

[Aza]

No. Its only the outer shell (which youve already removed) what you have left in the photo is the full HDD
In your welcome pack (should of got a cardboard box with the manuals n stuff in) you should have spare sata leads and power cables.

Normally there are spare power connections already available in the case already, have a look at whats tucked in the back of the machine, theyre daisychained and often spare unusued cables or a spare port on a cable where theres 3 or 4 on one cable. The SATA data lead will be in the box and your motherboard manual should have a diagram showing you were your ports are.

This is a SSD, but cables are the same.

 

[Aza]

I believe, and I say that as I am not 100% sure, that the connector there is the USB connector. If I'm right, then that circuit board will be removable. This is what a HDD would normally look like on the connector end:

View attachment 33575

However, I haven't seen a WD drive for many years and no idea if the drives in the Elements enclosure are different or not

Oh I see what you mean.... I thought he was talking about taking the metal plate off!

 

[Aza]

Id take a good look at it up close before you remove any parts though, I wouldnt of thought a USB adaptor would span the whole underside of the drive like it appears to.... and they have a circuit board on one side anyway, Any chance you can get a few picks up, up close and sides/underside etc.... might be the USB bit is hardwired to the actual drive rather than an adaptor you can take off.

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

That’s what I’m thinking, i think the usb component is hardwired

 

[Aza]

They normally look something like this

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

Here

 

[Scott]

Looks like micro USB B to me. Can probably just get a cable for it. I would get a Y version just to make sure there's enough power.

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

Looks like micro USB B to me. Can probably just get a cable for it. I would get a Y version just to make sure there's enough power.

Sorry Im a little confused, it does have a micro usb b cable and have tried it and with spares , the drive vibrates and does appear on file explorer but not loading up.

to attach where?

The drives not working.

 

[Scott]

The interface is USB only. It's not using a conversion board unfortunately. If you can't get anything from it as is, and after trying another cable, then I would say it's toast.

 

[AsifSaddique 836]

The interface is USB only. It's not using a conversion board unfortunately. If you can't get anything from it as is, and after trying another cable, then I would say it's toast.

I thought so , thanks