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General discussion

WD MyBook 500GB: Can I Constantly Listen To Music With It?

Aug 8, 2006 10:40AM PDT

I have a very good question that needs answering..

Can I use my 'WD MyBook 500GB' or any OTHER external hardrive to listen to music/view media on a regular basis?

In other words, can I use my external hardrive just like any other hardrive? The reason for this type of question is that I feel a little uneasy about seeing how hard my hardrive has to work.. or how it heats up after long periods of time. It's enough to get anyone a little concerned.

Discussion is locked

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Mine work just fine.
Aug 8, 2006 9:35PM PDT

I have (personally, not including office units) one unit that does not have a fan, the other does. Given the variety of designs out there I give a nod to fan equipped cases.

Bob

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Another comment about fans & external hardrives.. ^,^
Aug 9, 2006 1:26AM PDT

I'm thinking an external hardrive is meant for back-up only and then you're finished, then you unplug it.. end of story.

But, I'm an avid collector of music and I listen to it on a regular basis. So, that means I'm constantly making WD's MyBook work hard.. by making it's insides churn, and heat up. My other WD hardrive (160GB, not a MyBook) never really got hot or made a lot of noise. To be honest, my other hardrive was much faster and probably performed better overall! I've heard it's because the MyBook writes/reads slow.. could this be the case? It came with a FAT32 filesystem and I decided to change it to NTFS because I've heard it's safer too. So far, I noticed very little speed boost.

Anyway, with all these reviews and comments about data failing on external hardrives (USB/firewire).. I guess I have to be careful with mine? lol, and also my dad has a Lacie external hardrive.. I don't think it has a cooling system (fancy fan) either. But, I've read reviews about it overheating. In this case, I have personally used it for long periods of time and felt it to be very hot afterwards. If you're caring around a lot of data.. even that is at risk. Backing up a back-up drive seems a bit funny, but I'm beginning to believe it really IS necessary. You never know what's going to happen!

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Let's test if these are backups. Here's the test.
Aug 9, 2006 4:30AM PDT

Find the WRITE PROTECT switch.

Bob

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There's definately one of those "write" buttons/switches
Aug 9, 2006 5:14AM PDT

WD's MyBook can also come equipped with software that with the touch of a button, backs up all of your computer's files; the Premium Edition to be exact.

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Sadly that model fails for backup.
Aug 9, 2006 6:23AM PDT

The button is a backup button but no switch to stop a virus or human from wiping out the drive accidently.

These fail the basic test of a backup.

The next test is having the second and third copies. I found only one person to have more than one backup.

BOb

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Oh, I see what you mean - A lock switch?
Aug 10, 2006 2:12AM PDT

If you mean if there's a lock switch where no data can be written on the hardrive.. then yes, there is one!

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Then that's great news.
Aug 10, 2006 2:24AM PDT

About time someone get the formula right. Now to tackle that multiple copy item.

With just one device/media the pests can infect it and you can't go back. Also it can't be left off site in case of fire, theft.

Bob

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Ultimately, can I really use an ext. hd any way I see fit?
Aug 11, 2006 2:35AM PDT

..by that I mean, can I push it to the limits and use it as much as I like to?

I'd just like to clarify what I was saying in my first question.

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I can.
Aug 11, 2006 3:50AM PDT

Mine work just super.

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Ah, what do you use?
Aug 11, 2006 11:52AM PDT

Curious.

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One's a Metal Gear case (no fan), the other has a fan.
Aug 11, 2006 12:11PM PDT

It's rare to find a good fanless so I agree you want cases with fans. The other is some no-name from newegg or geeks.com

Bob