Can a WDTV Live Hub run without the HD? Options

[metalgod_dave]

Hi all, would anyone know if the WDTV Live Hub can run without the internal HD?

I don't have one in my possession, but plan on purchasing one soon.

I just had an idea of using the Hub as a WDTV Live (streaming from file server), and it's HD for something else completely.

Would it work?
The Hub shouldn't require that the HD be installed in order to operate, should it?

[Rev Drew]

then why not just buy a live or a live plus and a separate good hard drive..

I have no idea if it would work without the hard drive but I am fairly certain it would void your warranty.

[metalgod_dave]

because I want gigabit ethernet and I am aware that my warranty will become void

[Rev Drew]

fair enough, but you wont really gain much with the gigabit ethernet

FYI - I can stream the 34GB avatar from my PC to my live over cat5 100MB with no issues so gigbit isn't really needed

but if you want the gigabit, then I honestly don't know how the hub would act without the internal storage.. sorry.

[WDUser]

You'll also need to go to some serious trouble to remove the internal HDD. From what I've read so far, it is not meant to be user-serviceable at all, and is not easy to simply remove and replace with another etc.

[Erusman]

lol. About two hours after I found out it took forever to transfer files onto the hard drive, I removed it. Who cares about warranties anymore. The case is very easy
to open. Took the hard drive out and plugged it into my Thermaltake BlackX and transfered some movies over via the estata connection.

You can take your fingernails around the top edge of the WDTV live hub and open it. Its that easy. Once the top is off you simply remove the Hard drive with one single philips screw holding it down.

To answer your question. YES the WD live hub will work with the hard drive removed. YOU WILL get a nag screen everytime you start up your WD live hub up though. It will say something about the internal drive is disconnected.. if the problem persists contact Western Digital Support. But after the nag everything will boot as always and you can go about your business.

It would be kind of stupid of them to total disable the whole unit if the hard drive failed wouldn't it?

Erusman

[WDUser]

Well, thanks for taking the plunge and testing it out for the rest of us! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Also, one measly screw? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) The review I read on a site that opened it up stated that the HDD was difficult to remove.

[Erusman]

Yes, just one screw with a bracket holds it down. Here is a link to a review with some pictures inside of it.
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1456/2/

I was thinking the other day to totally mod the thing. I have a few ideas. Probably just totally remove the
circuit board from case. Buy yourself a project box from Radio Shack or make your own. Allowing for the
hookup of a 3.5 3TB. I am not sure the power requirements of the chip they have in there. Check the
Amps it is giving out. But there is enough room in the "L" shape design of the board to mount a 3.5. I checked
and it will fit just fine. Maybe I will get around to it in next few days and post some mod pics.. and test if it
works.

[Rev Drew]

Erusman, I can almost guarantee that will not work.

However if you go with a 2TB drive instead you may have the result you are looking for: http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5875

[Erusman]

Yes, you are probably right. Different voltages on the 2.5 and 3.5 inch hard drives. Unless you have some sort
of external power supply. Then you might have to have some sort of female sata adapter to esata hooked up.
But hey thanks for the link on the 2TB issue.

[Diddy Smalls]

"However, our dual drives and network products larger than 2 TB are not affected by this issue and can continue to be used with our WD TV product line."

Does that mean... I could build myself an external RAID box and throw in, let's say, 3 of WD's 3TB drives and it will work if connected to the Hub's USB port?

[Rev Drew]

I doubt it.
USB port means the drive is directly connected, the only thing that they say will work is a dual drive (USB is fine) or a network drive, using USB from a raid array is neither.

but without trying it, can't be 100% sure either way. for me the risk of losing that much data is to great to take the chance, but that's just me..

[Diddy Smalls]

I guess I should probably go with a NAS RAID array. This is all down-the-road talk anyway. New firmware will probably be released before I get around to putting anything together.