Western Digital My Book Studio 1TB review

I just got 2 new 320 GB MyBooks. How did you upgrade the firmware? I'm just curious.

I'm glad I found this. I've been using a 1TB MyStudio since November. While it work fine most of the time, every once in a while it goes to sleep and doesn't wake up for a Time Machine backup. Hopefully the firmware update will fix it.

odedia said:

Hey MM07.

I downloaded mine from here:

http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=39&swid=60

I also downloaded and installed the WD Drive Manager(Mac) from here:

http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=39&swid=61

Make sure it is the same for your drive, they are most likely totally different products. My particular product had serious problems with the initial firmware that shipped with it.

Click to expand...

I am going to try the first link that you provided.

What do you use the second link for?

Thanks!

I have a Western Digital MyBook World Edition II 1TB and have never had any problem with it. Then again, I only use it for accessing huge video files, so YMMV.

I am looking to get the 500gb Studio Edition for my Macbook Pro for Logic Studio files somewhat soon. This will be my first External Hard Drive. When I get it I will download the new firmware and and WD Drive Manager Mac. For the files I want to go into the WD Drive do I just simply drag them from my internal HD to the External HD icon? Any other info I should know would be great. Thanks,

Also, I saw that it has a Fireware 800 to 400 cable as well as the 400 to 400. Would there be any difference in performance or anything to use an 800-400 rather than just a 400-400?

- Patrick

I just bought this drive a week ago and it works like a charm!

The price was very low on this drive and I figured I should better buy it at once since I really needed more space.

I am downloading the firmware update as I type as I didn't realize it was important.

I am currently daisychaining to a FW400 drive which I use as a Time Machine backup.

After installing the firmware update I installed the new WDDriveManager. It acted flakey and at one point the menubar icon stopped respondiing. I have enough problems with Leopard stability, so I removed it again. It isn't necessary to have it.

That's funny, my unit doesn't report any capacity numbers and the firmware did nothing to resolve the fan issue. This thing is a hoover.

Do the WD MyBook Studio HD's have a fan?

I am looking to get the 500gb Studio Edition for my Macbook Pro for Logic Studio files somewhat soon. This will be my first External Hard Drive. When I get it I will download the new firmware and and WD Drive Manager Mac. For the files I want to go into the WD Drive do I just simply drag them from my internal HD to the External HD icon? Any other info I should know would be great. Thanks,

Also, I saw that it has a Fireware 800 to 400 cable as well as the 400 to 400. Would there be any difference in performance or anything to use an 800-400 rather than just a 400-400?

- Patrick

Anyone please? Want to get one some time soon.

-Patrick

I bought this drive a few months ago.
Was very well price for 1tb external drive with all the port/connection options on it.

The main problem i had with it was if i had it connected to my mac via firewire 800 and plugged in the mains and then turn off the mains plug for everything at my desk. Then turn the mains back on and turn on my mac it doesnt mount the drive and i had to unplug the firewire and the mains to the drive. Then plug just the mains in, turn the drive on, then plug in the firewire it would then mount it.

Hope that made some sense.

But all has been fixed with the firmware update. That problem has gone now. Great drive and quiet. Looks nice. But is made out of plastic. So i feel like i have to be a bit more careful with it then my lacie drives.

I dont use any of the software that came with it for the light on the front. Try to keep startup/background appz down to a min.

Oh forgot to add that i only use it for time machine backups

Okay, sometimes I can't help but ask the dumb question.

I have my first Apple on order (a 2.5 15" Macbook Pro). I still have a Dell Desktop that I need to keep around for various reasons for a while (the plan is if I fall in love with my MBP to probably get an iMac to replace the desktop at some point). Anyway, will this external (or an external in general) work on both a PC and a Mac? Do anything special or can I "plug and play" between the two?

Thanks!

Does it mean if I were to install this firmware update I must use the software?

alphaod said:

Does it mean if I were to install this firmware update I must use the software?

Click to expand...

No, you do not need the WDDriveManager software. I just uninstalled it because I am having the sleep of death problem on Firewire as well.

It works fine without the software. I reported it to Western Digital and they sent me on a wild goosechase to see if the drive passed diagnostics. The drive is fine, their software is flaky.

Cheers,
Rob

Are these problems only associated w/ Leopard? Sorry, first time hearing about this.

RAlfieri said:

No, you do not need the WDDriveManager software. I just uninstalled it because I am having the sleep of death problem on Firewire as well.

Click to expand...

What did you do to uninstall it? I have it on my menu bar and it doesn't really do much for me.

MM07 said:

What did you do to uninstall it? I have it on my menu bar and it doesn't really do much for me.

Click to expand...

Run the installer again and you will see a remove option next to the install button.

lwcoffer2 said:

Are these problems only associated w/ Leopard? Sorry, first time hearing about this.

Click to expand...

The firmware upgrade is for Leopard specifically. I do not know if there were issues associated with Tiger.

The WD Driver Manager is installed in the App. Support folder.

The WD Driver Manager is installed in the Library/Application Support/WesternDigital director after install on Mac! and accessible in menu bar.

I'm thinking of buying this unit from newegg. Any new experiences from users? I've read all of the newegg and Amazon reviews and there seems to be a problem with the unit not going to sleep or turning off when one's mac turns off while connected through FW800 only. Also, what did the firmware update resolve? One of the other comments that had me worried was that daisy chaining was NOT recommended via FW800 by Western Digital themselves. Can anyone shed some light on some of these issues? Thank you.