WD Elements vs WD Mybook

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sen8or

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Topic # 87207 22-Jul-2011 13:42

Looking for a USB HDD that I can attach to my router (is a vodafone one that you can plug a USB drive into and it acts as NAS) and am confused by the myriad of different external hard drives out there.

Will mostly be used for media files and as external backup of some accounting data using norton360 backup.

I'm looking at the 2tb drives, they seem to be around $150- 200 or so on pricespy/trademe but am just confused as to which one is the right one for the job (if either of these)

either this one

http://www.alphacity.co.nz/index.ph...72b5f294658013d

or

http://www.alphacity.co.nz/index.ph...72b5f294658013d

I don't need the wd backup software etc, and for now it is only 1 pc attached (will soon be 2 or 3 but thats a few months away), so I think the elements one will be ok, but if others may be better suited, am happy to explore other options

Cheers
Sen

Ragnor

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Reply # 496753 22-Jul-2011 14:51

Yeah MyBook comes with software you won't be using or need if you are attaching the drive to the Vodafone router.

So yeah just get the WD Elements.

Seagate have a similar 2TB model called the Seagate Desktop Expansion, but WD is cheaper atm.

Gordy7

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Reply # 496773 22-Jul-2011 15:24

I don't know what interfaces the drives you are looking at have...

USB2 is ok for powering and copying small files.

It might be worth considering USB2 and Esata combo drives when it comes to moving lots of data about.

Cheers

Gordy

webwat

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Reply # 497220 23-Jul-2011 23:03

Looked at those a while ago while getting a WD Elements replaced (probably a head crash or something). Apparently the other one is USB3, which they said connects more efficiently USB2 as well. Apart from that, don't assume you will recover any data from the drive when something goes wrong ? WD aren't interested; and the 2.5" ones without separate power supplies would at least ensure that the drive heads will park safely if the USB cable gets disconnected.

Qualified in business, certified in fibre, stuck in copper, have to keep going ^_^

sen8or

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Reply # 505718 12-Aug-2011 19:36

Hi

I seem to have run into a slight problem with this. I picked up the 2tb WD elements today.

I have it connected via the Vodafone DSL router with ftp server enabled as per the instrucitons here http://www.vodafone.co.nz/documents/pdf/modem-guides/vodafone-broadband-complete-ug.pdf

System specs -

Winxp mce edition with latest service packs etc
intel core2duo6600
2gb Ram
9800gtx gfx card

The problem is that although using the ftp command in explorer I can see and utilise the full 2tb drive, when I follow the instructions on the vodafone manual and map a network drive to the storage device, it only shows 30mb available, not 2tb.

I need to have a mapped drive so that Norton360 can backup to it, this obviously fails with only 30mb showing as being available.

As far as i can tell, I have followed the instrucitons in the manual properly, when I look at the device using the vodafone router interface, I can see the 2tb (well, 1.9 but some must be for system files) and as above, when I use explorer and ftp to it, no worries either seeing the 2tb, its just the network drive path that cant see it

Is there something I am missing?

Cheers
Sen

sen8or

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Reply # 505719 12-Aug-2011 19:38

Oh, and looked at the WD element drive, is formatted as ntfs if that makes a difference (as is my HDD - 2 x 320gb sata drives set to Raid 0)