Home > Consumer Reviews > Western Digital My Book Home Edition 1 TB USB 2.0/FireWire 400/eSATA Desktop External Hard Drive WDH1CS10000N
Western Digital My Book Home Edition 1 TB USB 2.0/FireWire 400/eSATA Desktop External Hard Drive WDH1CS10000N
See it at Amazon.com for $119.99Average Customer Rating
(3.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First | + Share34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
works great
(5 out of 5) by Eduardo Feigenblatt on Jan 7, 2008 (San Francisco, CA USA)My drive works flawlessly.
It's plugged to an Intel Mac Mini through FW.
It was recognized immediately but I had to do a quick re-format to HPFS
as it comes formated for Windows.
No problem there, just remember to save the Windows tools which are inside the drive if you think you might need them later.
I also love the fact that it doesn't have a separate power brick.
The power supply is a "wall wart" that's smaller and lighter than other drive's bricks and it fits nicely in my overcrowded power strip.
The drive is surprisingly quiet and has a very decent performance.
The "breathing" or scrolling light effects are annoying though.
A dim, discrete LED would have been better.
There are lots of options out there for you to pimp your rig if you like that stuff.
Still, for me it's a no brainer.
Not only I'm considering getting another one as I'm recommending it to my friends.
But I might get the model with FW800 this time.
It's plugged to an Intel Mac Mini through FW.
It was recognized immediately but I had to do a quick re-format to HPFS
as it comes formated for Windows.
No problem there, just remember to save the Windows tools which are inside the drive if you think you might need them later.
I also love the fact that it doesn't have a separate power brick.
The power supply is a "wall wart" that's smaller and lighter than other drive's bricks and it fits nicely in my overcrowded power strip.
The drive is surprisingly quiet and has a very decent performance.
The "breathing" or scrolling light effects are annoying though.
A dim, discrete LED would have been better.
There are lots of options out there for you to pimp your rig if you like that stuff.
Still, for me it's a no brainer.
Not only I'm considering getting another one as I'm recommending it to my friends.
But I might get the model with FW800 this time.
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
Power management features make drive unstable on eSATA
(1 out of 5) by Misha Taylor on Jul 8, 2008 (Tallahassee, FL USA)This drive automatically spins down when not being used, and there is no way to disable this feature. Unfortunately on my computer under Windows, this means that the drive disappears in "My Computer" and the Disk Management tools if I don't use the drive for extended periods of time. The only way to get the computer to recognize the drive again is to power cycle the drive manually by pushing the power button on the back, it will not automatically "wake up" when I try to use the drive.
Western Digital's only recommendation was that I switch to a slower USB/Firewire connection, as their "button manager" software can keep the drive alive. This feature is not supported on the faster eSATA connection, however. (If that's the case, why did I pay more for an eSATA-capable drive?) At least the company did do an RMA exchange of my drive, just in case it was a problem with the drive or other components, but the replacement had the same issue too. This seems to be a "feature".
Their tech support also said that numerous customers have had similar issues if they plug the drive into a UPS or power strip. They recommend plugging the drive directly into a wall socket, but that didn't seem to help me at all.
I have another external eSATA drive from another vendor on the same computer (plugged into my UPS, no less), and it doesn't have this issue at all. I've left it connected for days not using it and the drive doesn't disappear. So it definitely appears to be an issue with this model of drive.
Western Digital's only recommendation was that I switch to a slower USB/Firewire connection, as their "button manager" software can keep the drive alive. This feature is not supported on the faster eSATA connection, however. (If that's the case, why did I pay more for an eSATA-capable drive?) At least the company did do an RMA exchange of my drive, just in case it was a problem with the drive or other components, but the replacement had the same issue too. This seems to be a "feature".
Their tech support also said that numerous customers have had similar issues if they plug the drive into a UPS or power strip. They recommend plugging the drive directly into a wall socket, but that didn't seem to help me at all.
I have another external eSATA drive from another vendor on the same computer (plugged into my UPS, no less), and it doesn't have this issue at all. I've left it connected for days not using it and the drive doesn't disappear. So it definitely appears to be an issue with this model of drive.
24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
Avoid the WD My Book Home Edition 1 tb model
(1 out of 5) by Kuulani Seto on Dec 12, 2007 (Mililani, HI USA)I have have 500 gb model running on OSX 10.5 with no issues. The 1 tb model is problematic with quality. I have already returned 5 drives for various issues (Does not spin up 2x, Spins up but not recognized 2x, and DOA). Did simon says with tech support, swap cables, connected to diff CPU, diff OS (Vista, XP, OSX), diff interfaces, swapped out with existing WD My book drive(500 gb model). Uninstalled and Reinstalled drivers. If you still want to try it make sure you can return it. Because you probably will.
30 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
Mine is dead, too
(1 out of 5) by loafstone on Nov 15, 2007I brought mine home yesterday and it was never recognized by any PC and the light was solid only once. Now the light flashes briefly once plugged in and never returns. I can hear something running in it, but the drive won't come up.
I called tech support, and, after giving them my name, phone number, address, email address, and the serial number of the product, he initially told me it cannot be plugged into a power strip and needs to be plugged directly into the wall. As if this is possible with most computers needing at least two plugs (more if you count printers, scanners, speakers, etc.) With his permission, I wrangled an extension cord and tried it again with no luck. He then had me test a different USB cable and then asked for me to connect the firewire cable. My computer does not have firewire. He said I have a defective unit and to return it.
Disappointing, since I have used smaller versions with no issues. This one goes back to Costco.
I called tech support, and, after giving them my name, phone number, address, email address, and the serial number of the product, he initially told me it cannot be plugged into a power strip and needs to be plugged directly into the wall. As if this is possible with most computers needing at least two plugs (more if you count printers, scanners, speakers, etc.) With his permission, I wrangled an extension cord and tried it again with no luck. He then had me test a different USB cable and then asked for me to connect the firewire cable. My computer does not have firewire. He said I have a defective unit and to return it.
Disappointing, since I have used smaller versions with no issues. This one goes back to Costco.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
Easy-to-Use. Fast. Reliable. Great Value.
(5 out of 5) by Jeffrey E Ellis on Mar 3, 2008 (Naperville, IL USA)The Western Digital "My Book" Terra Byte external hard drive is a great value, east-to-use, and solid performer. I am using it on a home network though an HP Desktop (Pavilion 450n) as a group backup device with VISTA.
The easiest thing was setting it up. Plug in the firewire (faster than the USB 2.0) and the power cable, turn it on and you're in business. VISTA recognized it immediately as an external hard drive and it was easy to access.
I am using it for regular (weekly) backups of three computers on the network as a central backup device.
I have found it to be fast and quiet. I am thrilled with it and highly recommend central backup - safe from any single device failing or becoming corrupted. All those wedding pictures, personal photos, financial records, etc. etc.
The easiest thing was setting it up. Plug in the firewire (faster than the USB 2.0) and the power cable, turn it on and you're in business. VISTA recognized it immediately as an external hard drive and it was easy to access.
I am using it for regular (weekly) backups of three computers on the network as a central backup device.
I have found it to be fast and quiet. I am thrilled with it and highly recommend central backup - safe from any single device failing or becoming corrupted. All those wedding pictures, personal photos, financial records, etc. etc.