Does the WDTV work with usb-powered drives? Options

[Kain]

Tried to do a search on this, but didn't have much luck finding an answer. Basically, I'm looking into picking up my external hard drive, and what's important to me is that the drive be usb-powered, rather than have to plug the Hard Drive itself into an outlet when I want to use it. I'm particularly looking at the Seagate FreeAgent Go 500gb. It's listed on the compatible drives page of WD's site, but the model number they give is not for the FreeAgent Go (ST905003FAA2E1-RK), but rather for the FreeAgent Desktop (ST305004FDA1E1-RK).

If it matters, I'll be using the official WDTV firmware and only connecting the one drive.

Thank you very much.

[ToJa92]

If you're going to get a 2.5" drive, get a WD My Passport drive( http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/...asp?DriveID=517 ), since it actually turns off with the WDTV itself. If 3.5", the "recommended" for WDTV is My Book, here is the 1TB version: http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=353

[Kain]

If you're going to get a 2.5" drive, get a WD My Passport drive( http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/...asp?DriveID=517 ), since it actually turns off with the WDTV itself. If 3.5", the "recommended" for WDTV is My Book, here is the 1TB version: http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=353

Thanks, but I've sworn off Western Digital drives. I used to be one of their loyalist supporters back in the day; I only bought their drives, I'd use their drives when I built custom PCs for people, etc. Then I bought an 80gb Caviar drive, and it died after a mere three months of use. Just started going into a click-clack frenzy and wouldn't even be recognized by the computer. Too much time had passed, so I couldn't exchange it at the store, so I had to buy a new one. This one did the same thing. Shipped it straight to WD for a replacement, and they didn't even have the decency to send me a new one, they sent me a refurb. Not that it mattered, because that one ended up doing the same thing within a month of use. And I'm not talking hard usage either. On one drive, the frenzy started when I had nothing running but my browser opened up to a .txt file on GameFAQs. I was reading it while playing a game on my TV, and then just suddenly *click-clack-click-clack-croak!* So I bit the bullet and turned away from my beloved WD and bought a Maxtor. Never a single problem. Been with Maxtor ever since.

Didn't mean to turn that into a rant. :S But yeah, I took a chance on the WDTV because, well, no moving parts. So, no chance of a click-clack death here. But It'd rather get a HD from someone else.

[ToJa92]

Then I don't really know. I've been using WD without any problems. Maybe you should give them another chance? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Anyway, maybe someone else knows a good drive that works. I only use WD drives and they work perfectly.

[Rev Drew]

I've had to many WD drives fail on me as well, I like seagate and samsung now.

that said, I just went into my buddies shop last week and bought a 1GB WD drive, non caviar though, he claims they have improved the quality and reliability so I figure I'll try one and see how it goes. this is how he makes his livelihood and he has a great reputation so I have no reason not to trust him.
this one is going in my pc, not the wdtv, time will tell if it was a waste of money or not..

any drive will work with the wdtv, personally I prefer one with it's own power supply, the wdtv gets fairly warm on it's own, taxing it by powering a drive cannot be good for it as far as I'm concerned..

[Kain]

I've had to many WD drives fail on me as well, I like seagate and samsung now.

that said, I just went into my buddies shop last week and bought a 1GB WD drive, non caviar though, he claims they have improved the quality and reliability so I figure I'll try one and see how it goes. this is how he makes his livelihood and he has a great reputation so I have no reason not to trust him.
this one is going in my pc, not the wdtv, time will tell if it was a waste of money or not..

any drive will work with the wdtv, personally I prefer one with it's own power supply, the wdtv gets fairly warm on it's own, taxing it by powering a drive cannot be good for it as far as I'm concerned..

Hmmm... Well, the reason I want a usb-powered drive is really for convenience. I want to be able to just grab the drive and unplug it from my system and take it with me to my friends' house and hook it up to their PS3 or HTPC, without having to get on my floor, crawl under my desk, and unplug it every time; then have to carry the power supply with me; and finally re-run the wire back behind my desk when I get back home to hook it back up to my system. Besides, I'm already on one surge protector and one power strip behind my desk and I'm not sure I even have a free outlet in either one left back there, and don't want to add another strip because it might start turning into a fire hazard. Next closest wall outlet panel is too far away on another wall, and both outlets are used. :S

Aside from taxing the actual WDTV unit, you don't think any actual damage could happen if the device is powering a hard drive, do you? As in, the WDTV or the "Asian Power Supply" plug might overheat and start some sort of fire, do you?

[Rev Drew]

nope, shouldn't be a problem, use any drive you like..
just check the manufacturers specs so that it isn't pulling any more power than the recommended WD drive.. I don't think there will be much difference but better safe than sorry..

keep the wdtv well ventilated and there shouldn't any trouble at all.

[owen]

If you're going to get a 2.5" drive, get a WD My Passport drive( http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/...asp?DriveID=517 ), since it actually turns off with the WDTV itself. If 3.5", the "recommended" for WDTV is My Book, here is the 1TB version: http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=353

I, today asked a question concerning My Passport and WDTV. If I turn off the WDTV via remote, the My Passport does not turn off.
Is this normal, or do I have a problem. I too, was looking for the convenience of not having to disconnect the HD from the USB port, but merely turning off the WDTV.

[Rev Drew]

I, today asked a question concerning My Passport and WDTV. If I turn off the WDTV via remote, the My Passport does not turn off.
Is this normal, or do I have a problem. I too, was looking for the convenience of not having to disconnect the HD from the USB port, but merely turning off the WDTV.

I answered you in that thread...