Need to replace external HDD (OT- not Windows related)

pokeefe0001 · Mar 7, 2024

I have an old 3TB USB3.0 WD My Book external hard drive that is dying. (Twice it has simply disappeared from Windows' view - once during a backup and once during a speed test. It had to be powered down and back up to usable again.) I'm trying to decide what replacement to get.

The disk is used only for Macrium backups so speed, while nice, isn't critically important. 3TB is the minimum I need. I could get more, but I take weekly backups of this driver to a NAS and 3TB fits nicely on the NAS so I'd like to stay with 3TB. The drive stays permanently attached to the PC - no need for it to be portable.

Some questions:
I've always assumed (based on ignorance) that an externally powered expansion drive was more stable / reliable / had longer life than a drive powered via the USB cable. Is this true, or is that obsolete nonsense?

I've been looking mostly at WD and Seagate, but I've also seen Verbatim (which I haven't always associated with quality) and Avolusion (which I've never heard of). Are these as reliable as WD and Seagate. (For that matter, are WD and Seagate still considered reliable?)

I've seen some WD and Seagate drives labled "old generation" or "old version". Are these something to avoid? I assume those terms are not the same as "renewed" and "refurbished" (which I plan to avoid.)

And finally, even though I don't need portability and speed, is there any reason I should look at SSDs rather than limiting my search to HDDs?

allan · Mar 7, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
I have an old 3TB USB3.0 WD My Book external hard drive that is dying. (Twice it has simply disappeared from Windows' view - once during a backup and once during a speed test. It had to be powered down and back up to usable again.) I'm trying to decide what replacement to get.

The disk is used only for Macrium backups so speed, while nice, isn't critically important. 3TB is the minimum I need. I could get more, but I take weekly backups of this driver to a NAS and 3TB fits nicely on the NAS so I'd like to stay with 3TB. The drive stays permanently attached to the PC - no need for it to be portable.

Some questions:
I've always assumed (based on ignorance) that an externally powered expansion drive was more stable / reliable / had longer life than a drive powered via the USB cable. Is this true, or is that obsolete nonsense?

I've been looking mostly at WD and Seagate, but I've also seen Verbatim (which I haven't always associated with quality) and Avolusion (which I've never heard of). Are these as reliable as WD and Seagate. (For that matter, are WD and Seagate still considered reliable?)

I've seen some WD and Seagate drives labled "old generation" or "old version". Are these something to avoid? I assume those terms are not the same as "renewed" and "refurbished" (which I plan to avoid.)

And finally, even though I don't need portability and speed, is there any reason I should look at SSDs rather than limiting my search to HDDs?

1) Nonsense
2) I always use WD or Seagate. Just stick with a brand name
3) Please post a link to where you see "old generation" as a description
4) No, not if all you're going to use it for is backup storage. Either is fine, but no need to go the extra money for an SSD

Ghot · Mar 7, 2024

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/yTMTwP/western-digital-wd_black-p10-4-tb-external-hard-drive-wdba3a0040bbk-wesn

Or...

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/external-hard-drive/#rpm=0&A=4000000000000,44000000000000&sort=price&m=12,794,32,38

pokeefe0001 · Mar 7, 2024

allan said:
1) Nonsense

So I should include portable models in the list?

allan said:
2) I always use WD or Seagate. Just stick with a brand name

Good. That was my thought, too.

allan said:
3) Please post a link to where you see "old generation" as a description

Here's one that says "old model".
Here's one that says "old generation".
I can't find one that says "old version" at the moment, but I'm sure I saw one.

Anibor_11 · Mar 7, 2024

If you don´t need special software or a fancy box, consider buying an enclosure and a disk separately. It´s much more flexible (you can replace the disk easily) and the cost can be lower. Choose a good solid, metal enclosure.

Flashorn · Mar 7, 2024

I've been using this one for well over a year and maybe two.
Can't really remember when and it is used every day for transfers and video
This is CA prices so, if in the Sates , will be cheaper

https://www.amazon.ca/Elements-Portable-External-Drive-WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN/dp/B07X41PWTY/ref=pb_allspark_dp_sims_pao_desktop_session_based_d_sccl_2_2/137-7428729-4551239?pd_rd_w=txMAo&content-id=amzn1.sym.0ab3e4ec-7472-49fc-8176-d67f5a2d5e35&pf_rd_p=0ab3e4ec-7472-49fc-8176-d67f5a2d5e35&pf_rd_r=GZBXBQGF414E9VRGX4VD&pd_rd_wg=WM3EV&pd_rd_r=9deb8576-f0d5-42ff-aac4-24ff32f05747&pd_rd_i=B07X41PWTY&th=1

pokeefe0001 · Mar 7, 2024

Anibor_11 said:
If you don´t need special software or a fancy box, consider buying an enclosure and a disk separately. It´s much more flexible (you can replace the disk easily) and the cost can be lower. Choose a good solid, metal enclosure.

Hmm. I hadn't thought of that. A vertical orientation (such as some WD drives) would be more convenient for me, and I don't know if any of the enclosures are intended for vertical use, but I'll look into that

Wynona · Mar 7, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
I have an old 3TB USB3.0 WD My Book external hard drive that is dying. (Twice it has simply disappeared from Windows' view - once during a backup and once during a speed test. It had to be powered down and back up to usable again.) I'm trying to decide what replacement to get.

The disk is used only for Macrium backups so speed, while nice, isn't critically important. 3TB is the minimum I need. I could get more, but I take weekly backups of this driver to a NAS and 3TB fits nicely on the NAS so I'd like to stay with 3TB. The drive stays permanently attached to the PC - no need for it to be portable.

Some questions:
I've always assumed (based on ignorance) that an externally powered expansion drive was more stable / reliable / had longer life than a drive powered via the USB cable. Is this true, or is that obsolete nonsense?

I've been looking mostly at WD and Seagate, but I've also seen Verbatim (which I haven't always associated with quality) and Avolusion (which I've never heard of). Are these as reliable as WD and Seagate. (For that matter, are WD and Seagate still considered reliable?)

I've seen some WD and Seagate drives labled "old generation" or "old version". Are these something to avoid? I assume those terms are not the same as "renewed" and "refurbished" (which I plan to avoid.)

And finally, even though I don't need portability and speed, is there any reason I should look at SSDs rather than limiting my search to HDDs?

If you are using Windows, then your question(s) are not OT.

Flashorn · Mar 7, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
Hmm. I hadn't thought of that. A vertical orientation (such as some WD drives) would be more convenient for me, and I don't know if any of the enclosures are intended for vertical use, but I'll look into that

But, you'll need external power source.

https://www.amazon.ca/Enclosure-External-Vertical-Aluminum-Adapter/dp/B0739XG7VN/ref=sr_1_11?crid=FQJK29QG8CWR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Wt3HomsKJVyKbfAhc9Z07lEQ94Bh1Qk4pzO1vzCgAeCCUYWUEedPfj69Xm7-5-AqrUheiA5dpzH2JhEkq-UzH_Fj23_T9lpZ62Cx6l90fZAhfod0c1BEwBR391-PUW4nopolbd2H02bvpoP5kNKMNXiizLehw-YZKM8mJKj5PR_rWIpZTsToC1MsBgNUt9MSCLSbBG6Tvb-V1nxKeQyasxZPr1P_GgfJ1lqCEGvbWf_N-q32J19MzHeCqVS8OYqgtJpWrsllUfxuIddIn91vruzVwTm7bTToDWlFTNzVnac.bmfgU8VxDUPprPAXy-L1cHvOfUKloYGmAWUivdXT5L0&dib_tag=se&keywords=hdd%2Benclosure%2B3.5&qid=1709851147&s=electronics&sprefix=HDD%2Benclosure%2Celectronics%2C94&sr=1-11&th=1

cereberus · Mar 7, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
Hmm. I hadn't thought of that. A vertical orientation (such as some WD drives) would be more convenient for me, and I don't know if any of the enclosures are intended for vertical use, but I'll look into that

Be careful - some external usb drives are built with hardwired Sata links i.e. you cannot remove drive. I always buy separate enclosures and drives.

antspants · Mar 7, 2024

I don’t buy external WD or Seagate drives anymore. I buy SSD’s and an external USB-C casing.

https://www.amazon.com.au/UGREEN-Enclosure-Aluminum-Adapter-Compatible/dp/B07Y825V4N/

If I need a HDD external, I use something like what @Flashorn posted.

SIW2 · Mar 7, 2024

Another way is to have a caddy in a front 5.25 bay. Handy for hotswapping, slide any 2.5 or 3.5 disk in and out.

I generally use this sort of thing. There are individual power switches so could have a 3.5 disk in the bottom tray and switch on and off as required.

Dual-Bay-3-5-2-5-Inch-SATA-III

jimbo45 · Mar 8, 2024

Another way - especially if using "Spinners" == simply get a stand alone powered (mains powered) USB->SATA adapter - then you can stand the HDD anyway you like including vertically. I've got one attached to one of the ports on my NAS and it's driving a 14TB spinner running 24/7 - it's been on for the last 6 months without any problems either. Another advantage is that you can easily switch the drive without a problem between machines without having to open and dismount the drive from the caddy.

Cost around €14 or equivalent. Works brilliantly and does either 2.5 inch SSD's etc or the older 3.5 inch classic spinners up to 20TB.

cheers
jimbo

Try3 · Mar 8, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
Twice it has simply disappeared from Windows' view

I assume you replaced the cable to eliminate the possibility that the problem is caused by the cable & that the disk itself is still OK.

Denis

allan · Mar 8, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
So I should include portable models in the list?

Good. That was my thought, too.

Here's one that says "old model".
Here's one that says "old generation".
I can't find one that says "old version" at the moment, but I'm sure I saw one.

I have to believe they are differentiating between mechanical drives ("old generation") and SSD's (new generation).

I wouldn't overthink this. Stick with a brand name and an inexpensive external enclosure and you'll be fine.

ShamrockRig · Mar 8, 2024

I'd just buy an external ssd with the usb cable for connection, Its pennies between them. Wd, Seagate, Crucial, Samsung, Adata are also pretty under rated.

Berton · Mar 8, 2024

Comment: I got 2 x 4TB WD My Book drives couple years ago, the package was marked as for PC or Macintosh, they were formatted as exFAT, not NTFS. I had a WD Elements 2TB that had died but it was the interface in the case, not the drive itself which I removed from the case, reformatted and use as a Data drive inside my latest Desktop.

Mac OS X can read NTFS but not write to NTFS without an additional app being installed hence the need for exFAT. Can't say if the newer macOS has the same thing.

pokeefe0001 · Mar 8, 2024

jimbo45 said:
Another way - especially if using "Spinners" == simply get a stand alone powered (mains powered) USB->SATA adapter - then you can stand the HDD anyway you like including vertically. I've got one attached to one of the ports on my NAS and it's driving a 14TB spinner running 24/7 - it's been on for the last 6 months without any problems either. Another advantage is that you can easily switch the drive without a problem between machines without having to open and dismount the drive from the caddy.

View attachment 89484

Cost around €14 or equivalent. Works brilliantly and does either 2.5 inch SSD's etc or the older 3.5 inch classic spinners up to 20TB.

cheers
jimbo

Oh, my. I'm embarrassed to say that I have one of those somewhere. Sheesh!

Try3 said:
I assume you replaced the cable to eliminate the possibility that the problem is caused by the cable & that the disk itself is still OK.

I don't have a spare cable with a USB3.0 micro-B connector. I did try another USB port and it didn't help. While it could be the cable, the failure happened only during big data transfers - a large backup and a disk performance test. I guess it would make sense to get another cable and check.

Flashorn · Mar 8, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
Oh, my. I'm embarrassed to say that I have one of those somewhere. Sheesh!

I don't have a spare cable with a USB3.0 micro-B connector. I did try another USB port and it didn't help. While it could be the cable, the failure happened only during big data transfers - a large backup and a disk performance test. I guess it would make sense to get another cable and check.

If it happened while testing the HDD, I would trust that the HDD is on it's last leg(s).
which app did you use to test it with? It's not just for Seagate's HDD. I use it on my WD External drives as well.

Try Seagate's Seatools if not tried it yet and run a Long test from the Advanced tab

SeaTools Diagnostics - How to Perform Basic Tests | Support Seagate US

SeaTools | Support Seagate US

SeaTools - Quick diagnostic tool that checks the health of your drive.

www.seagate.com

pokeefe0001 · Mar 9, 2024

Flashorn said:
If it happened while testing the HDD, I would trust that the HDD is on it's last leg(s).
which app did you use to test it with? It's not just for Seagate's HDD. I use it on my WD External drives as well.

It was just a drive performance test - ATTO Disk Benchmark. The drive essentially disappeared during the test.

Flashorn said:
Try Seagate's Seatools if not tried it yet and run a Long test from the Advanced tab

SeaTools Diagnostics - How to Perform Basic Tests | Support Seagate US

SeaTools | Support Seagate US

SeaTools - Quick diagnostic tool that checks the health of your drive.

www.seagate.com

I downloaded and tried it. The short generic test failed but the utility gave no specifics. (That may be my not knowing how to use the tool.) I suspect the drive is truly failing. The drive has been in daily use for nearly 10 years so it's probably due for replacement.