Problem with case or drives or both?

Hi,

In Nov 09, I bought an "EXTERNAL USB 2.0 +Western Digital 2TB HARD DRIVE 1TB X2". It consists of 2 WD 1TB hdds inside a "METAL GEAR BOX USB 2.0 External Enclosure". The case fan groans loudly and I can't access the files even though it shows up under My Computer. It has a 3-yr warranty so I was going to contact the seller for an RMA but he's no longer a registered seller at eBay. I've heard that these cases are very poor so I'm not sure if the problem is with the case or with the hdds. I don't have another case to test the drives, plus they're in an array. I was thinking of buying another case so I'll know if the problem is with the case or with the drives but I don't know which case is a good one.

Has anyone run into this problem and solved it? I'm hoping for some opinions and a recommendation for a new case. Much thanks.

 

Have you considered looking at the power supply??. ed

 

Thanks for your suggestion

I just disconnected then reconnected both the power and data cable but it didn't fix the prob. I tried a new data cable, too, but it didn't help.

 

What i meant was, i believe your power supply is not suppling enough power to properly run both hds plus the fan, not sure what to tell you without having a spare to try, or borrow one. ed

 

I have an 850W psu, it's enough. The drives are in an external case that plugs into a wall outlet too. I don't see power being the problem.

 

You mean them external drives are powered by your pc power supply????

 

I will try to explain, the little thing you plug into the wall is the power supply for your external drives, for two drives to go at the same time is highly unlikely, unless, you had storms in your area and lightning got to the power supply and possibly your drives, the enclosure has nothing to do with the working of them drives, unless they are so hot they wont run, or a bad connection, or low power. ed

 

The external drives have a power cord that's plugged into the wall, not into the psu.

My Computer recognizes the drives and when I open their directory, the files on them are shown but I can't do anything with the files and I can't move additional files onto the drives.

I don't know if the drives get too hot but nothing can be done with them when I first turn on the drive, when they're still cold.

I don't know if a power surge/lightning got to them.

Since the drives can be opened, I'm assuming something works. I'm thinking that my best bet would be to first get another case to see if it makes a difference. Is there one that's better than most?

 

If i were buying one today it would be this,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5352947&Sku=T925-1500

 

It just hit me about the power supply you were talking about . . . the one that's connected to the enclosure. I don't know if it's good or bad because I don't have another one to connect to it. Since it gets power when I turn it on, I assumed that it's ok.

The "Thermaltake ST0014U BlacX Duet Hard Drive Dock" doesn't have a cooling fan. Won't the drives get hot and need a fan?