Tech Medion Enternal HDD2go power

Subject: Tech Medion Enternal HDD2go power
From: MikeL2
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 02:51 PM

Hi

Can anyone help.

I have a Medion HDD2go 250 gb External Hard Drive.

I use it to back all my picture files - many of them !!!!!!

When I came to plug it in tonight it - literally - blew up. Loud bang and smoke coming from what I suppose is the power pack.

Of course now it doesn't work.

I have tried to find the original brochure but unsuccessful.

1. Anyone know if and where I might get a spare PU??. ( I am in UK).
2. Is there any way I can get the pictures off without the powerpack?

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: Tech Medion Enternal HDD2go power
From: gnomad
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 07:04 PM

You will need some sort of power supply, but I think Medion are a sort of "cover" brand, buying in components from wherever is cheapest on the day, and re-badging them. If that is correct I doubt that you will easily run an actual replacement supply to earth any time soon. I find it useful to have something like this in reserve for when power supplies go tits up (seems to be a recurring problem, to me at least) Just read the label on the dead supply to see what voltage, amps and polarity are required and set the adapter accordingly. The best ones come with a supply of different connectors, and you just use the one that fits.

You can get them with a variety of output amps, I have found that 1000mA covers most eventualities, but they start from 300mA and go up certainly to 2000mA, maybe more.

Of course it may be that the drive itself is what killed the power supply, but I would guess not from your description of events. It has to be worth a try, and a spare adapter is always handy.

Subject: RE: Tech Medion Enternal HDD2go power
From: MikeL2
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 05:34 AM

Hi gnu

Thanks for reply.

Unfortunately it is not the adapter that has blown but the power pack inside the casing.

I am already using an adapter exactly the same as in your link as the original one blew out some time ago.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: Tech Medion Enternal HDD2go power
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 06:53 AM

Simplest answer is to buy a new 'caddy' and swap the hard drive into it. Hopefully the drive hasn't suffered any damage.

You'll need to know whether the hard drive is PATA (old style IDE) or SATA (new style with completely different plugs).

The easy way to tell is PATA has two rows of pins whereas SATA has two small sockets.

There are plenty of external units available without drives, but you need to get a really simple one (USB usually) rather than a NAS (Network Attached Storage) unit which will probably need to reformat your drive before it will work.

You may even be able to install (temporarily or permanently) the hard drive in your desktop compuetr, if there's room.

Where in the UK are you? I'm in the Manchester area.

Subject: RE: Tech Medion Enternal HDD2go power
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 06:57 AM

What is a 'compuetr'?!! Keyboard's okay, so it must be my fingers!

Subject: RE: Tech Medion Enternal HDD2go power
From: MikeL2
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 10:27 AM

hi bernard

Thanks for your kind response.

The changing of caddy seems to be the best option for me as an almost non-techie.

I have the Medion Drive Instruction Manual but it doesn't say whether the drive is PATA or SATA. It is a few years old so probably PATA ??

When you say about the pins and plugs are these on the outside of the case or do I need to remove it??

As the case stands it has two socket connections - the power connection and another one connects the drive by USB to the computer.

I am from the Manchester area too....though I don't get about much these days due to illness.

cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: Tech Medion Enternal HDD2go power
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 03:45 PM

Mike, PM me with your phone number and we'll sort something out - I have spare caddies, so at least we can try the drive before you buy something you then find you don't need. I also know the best places around here to buy such stuff cheap!

The pins, etc., are on the drive itself, which involves dismantling the caddy. There's nothing on the 'net about your unit, so a screwdriver and a big hammer seem to be the only options...!! Okay, maybe not the big hammer...