Western Digital WDG1U2500 My Book Essential Edition 250 GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive

i bought this at a college bookstore discount less than a year ago. it was working fine 4 the most part, although every once in a while (after about 4-5 months) it would make a loud, ugly noise that sounded like something was scraping around on the inside. i should have replaced it then, but nothing seemed 2 have been damaged or lost & i didn't have the money.

all of a sudden, today it dies. it turns on but won't show up in finder. files are all gone, some of them irreplaceably. suddenly i have no options 4 backing up my computer, which i having a few problems of its own. looking 4 the warranty right now, hopefully they'll just refund me the money instead of sending a new unit.

it's not worth the trouble! get something else. i've heard good things about the seagate freeagent products, so i might look at those next.

I have a 500gig Essential that died after 15 months. I had no idea when I bought it that this only has a one year warranty. I've never heard of ANY harddrive with less than three years. With only one year, this is absolutely not worth the money. I've bought a number of Western Digital drives & have found them 2 be less & less reliable. As it turns out, this will be my last!!

Although set-up was easy, the WD didn't provide any back-up software. I would've rated the 2500 at least a three, if the transformer hadn't died within just 3-months.

The upright design of this thing was a big mistake, especially since the thing is so fragile. I had it sitting upright, & it inevitably got bumped & tipped over on its side. That was the end of hundreds of gigs of very important files.
I was shocked that it broke so easily! It wasn't like I abused the thing, & it sounds like I'm not the first person 2 tip this unstable thing over. It did such a great job of completely breaking that even though it turns on, it makes a loud clanking noise & can't be read at all.
I'm very sad & will be looking into more reliable options.

Like everyone else, I found the same thing. One day the unit failed 2 show up in explorer - & that was it. All data lost. Eventually, you're data will be lost too.

Tried the "Plug it in 2 a regular outlet, instead of a power strip" thing - Nothing. The manufacturer (if you search long enough) has another solution -Go spend $200+ an hour with another company 2 get your data back again. YGBFSM!

Short story here is that you can make the drive work again, but all data will be lost. If you have one of these, it will just be a matter of time.

With USB 2.0 interface, enjoy not only this sleek unit's 250GB storage capacity but also the compatibility with both PC & Macintosh. 7200 rpm 4 fast read & write times 8.9 ms average seek time Automatic power-up, Safe Shutdown & LED activity lights make this drive easy 2 use Capacity gauge lets you see at a glance how much space is left on your drive Stackable metal case looks like a book & sits horizontally or vertically Compatible with PC & Mac Average Latency - 4.2 ms System Requirements - Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000, XP, Mac OS 9.2.2, X 10.2.8 or later, available USB port

Is your computer loaded with photos, music, video, & all sorts of important files? If so, you should make extra room, back them up, & keep them safe on Western Digital's WDG1U2500 My Book Essential Edition 250 GB Hard Drive. This reliable, easy-to-use external hard drive is the perfect storage solution 4 all your precious digital assets.

Save & back up all your digital assets with the My Book Essential Edition Hard Drive. View larger.

Simple, easy-to-use design.

Connects 2 your computer via USB 2.0 interface. View larger.

The elegant case takes up very little space.

Installation is a breeze because you don't really "install" anything -- just plug it in & it's ready 2 use. There is not even an installation CD because all the included software loads automatically from the hard drive the first time you plug it in. The My Book Essential is all about simplicity. Just plug it into your computer's USB 2.0 port & you're ready 2 start saving & backing up your files.

But that's not all. Western Digital uses a smart design 2 make the My Book Essential look as good as it performs. The elegant case resembles a book & takes up very little space on your desk. Plus, it stacks horizontally & allows two or more drives 2 nestle neatly together like encyclopedias on a shelf. Inside the stylish exterior is an exceptionally fast, ultra-quiet, cool-running hard drive. Last but not least, the My Book Essential is equipped with free Google software that searches your drives, manages your photos, & simplifies Web searches.

My Book Essential Edition Hard Drives are ideal for:

• Simple add-on storage 4 your files, music, photos & movies
• Adding virtually unlimited storage with multiple USB 2.0 external hard drives
• Archiving the music stored on your MP3 player
• Adding plenty of space 4 digital video capture & editing
• Saving & organizing your digital photo collection

Note: For higher performance & automatic backup software, consider the My Book Premium Edition 250 GB Hard Drive.

What's in the Box
My Book Essential 250 GB USB 2.0 external hard drive, USB cable, AC adapter with power cord, & quick install guide.