Windows Server - WD SES Device USB Device

Asked By Andyba

15-Jan-10 10:28 AM

Just acquired a new WD Passport My Essential drive (WDBAAA2500ABK-00) for
SBS 2008 backups.

Turns out it is not exactly the same as previous ones I have bought. Slightly
smaller, and with a different style USB connection on the drive.

More importantly it shows an error in device manager, and a driver update
fails to find anything to correct the error.

I have done a backup (but not a restore) with it, with no indicated error,
but I should really find the correct driver to loose the exclamation mark.

Anyone else had this?

TIA
Andy

15-Jan-10 02:16 PM

Is this one of those "SES" drives that has the Smartware on it?

Windows fails to locate drivers for an external hard drive
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1708&p_created=1197400455&p_sid=kTdKW3Sj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_srch=1&p_lva=1708&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NTYsNTYmcF9wcm9kcz0yMjgsMTk1LDI1NSZwX2NhdHM9MCZwX3B2PTMuMjU1JnBfY3Y9JnBfc2VhcmNoX3R5cGU9YW5zd2Vycy5zZWFyY2hfZm5sJnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9c2VzIGRldmljZQ!!&p_li=&p_topview=1

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Merv  Porter   [SBS-MVP]
============================

16-Jan-10 05:13 AM

Yes, it "did" have Smartware on it.

I have looked at that page previously too, and originally assumed that OS
support in Windows 7 would include OS support in SBS2008, but not apparently
so.

My attempts to get rid of the driver error have involved:

Update to firmware. (EssentialEliteFirmwareUpdaterv1.032_1.0.7.4)
Update to Smartware. (WDSmartWare_SoftwareUpdater_for_Windows_1_2_0_7a)
Use of Virtual CD manager to remove the Virtual CD.
(WDSmartWareVirtualCDManagerforWindows-v1.0.7.4)
Then a full NTFS format.
Finally when configured as an SBS 2008 backup drive it will have received
another trashing!

it is presently formatted NTFS and not configured as an SBS backup drive.

I have just tried it now on OS's that have never seen it before, and have no
WD software installed.

XP SP3. Wanted to connect to the internet to find a driver. Same device
manager error as SBS2008. Presently I have not connected to try and find one.
Shows up as G: in Disk Management, but does not appear in "My Computer".

Vista and Windows 7. Same device manager error and cancelled driver search
as XP, except it did show in "Computer", and I was able to read and write.

I'd like to control the driver install so I know were it comes from, hence
the reason for not allowing Vista and Windows 7 to search the internet.

I thought SBS backup was going to be easy, and it was with the previous WD
Passport, but this new beast has me searching for a tape drive!

Rgds

16-Jan-10 08:16 AM

I have not found anything that will allow you to disable the SES (SCSI
Enclosure Services) on these new drives.  So, if you cannot install the
driver for it, you will continually get the pop-up to install it.  It appears
Western Digital has taken an otherwise good drive and turned it into a
brick.  Sad to see this as I have been using their Passport drives for the
past 3 years without incident.  At this point, I would return the drive for
a full refund and go to their competition for an external hard drive.

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Merv  Porter   [SBS-MVP]
============================

16-Jan-10 12:08 PM

There is some more info here, and a link to a driver, although I do not think
I will try it on a server.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/networking-nas/1104424-new-wd-passport-smartware.html


Yup

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Passport-Essential-WDBAAA5000ABK-NESN/product-reviews/B002KG2LOA/ref=cm_cr_pr_all_summary?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

The comments about the dodgey connector convinced me. Not what you want when
you are changing drives regularly!


Any Reccomendations?

Rgds
Andy

16-Jan-10 01:07 PM

I have not had the need to buy a new USB drive for a while, but I'd probably
give the Seagate Freeagent Go drives a try.

Seagate FreeAgent Go 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-FreeAgent-Portable-External-ST905003FGA2E1-RK/dp/B001FWCDQG

I have seen some data that suggests that the USB connectors on most consumer
and business grade equipment is really only intended for 50-500 connects or
disconnects.  To reduce the wear and tear on the external drive connector
and on the server's USB connector, I usually buy a (Male A-to-Female A)
extender USB cable, connect it to the server, connect the USB cable that
comes with the external USB drive to that drive and then mate the two
cables.  When it comes time to switch out external drives, I break the
connection between the extender cable and the external drive's USB cable,
always leaving the USB cable connected to the external drive and the
extender cable connected to the server.  The second external drive, again
with it is short USB cable always connected to it, is then connected to the
extender cable.  This seems to work well.

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Merv  Porter   [SBS-MVP]
============================

17-Jan-10 09:57 AM

I have had good results with the seagates, including the 1TB drives.

For swapping, HP has some nice 2.5" drives (320gb), that slip into a cradle
like a cell phone charging cradle - might save the connectors some stress.
They also come with a zip-up carrying case.

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Les Connor [SBS MVP]

17-Jan-10 01:51 PM

Do the 1TB FreeAgent Go units require an external power supply or do they
pull their power from the USB port (as with the lesser capacity drives)?

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Merv  Porter   [SBS-MVP]
============================

18-Jan-10 09:13 AM

I am not sure if mine is a "go" or not, but it uses external power.

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Les Connor [SBS MVP]

18-Jan-10 09:31 AM

I have been trying to avoid drives with external power supplies.  They're fine
as long as all external backup drives are identical.  But when a drive goes
out after year two or three and you have to buy a new drive with a different
power supply, the client can get confused when swapping out both drive *and*
power supply.  Using the wrong power supply can lead to some headaches.

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Merv  Porter   [SBS-MVP]
============================

18-Jan-10 12:38 PM

It appears that Seagate also makes a "dock" for the Freeagent Go drives:

(the "dock" is the one on the left; best picture I could find)
http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/packagecontents.jpg

This may be the way to go if you want to use the Freeagent laptop drives.

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Merv  Porter   [SBS-MVP]
============================

19-Jan-10 02:19 PM

I have just received a Seagate Expansions 250GB

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160906

Similar to the Freeagent, but a bit cheaper, with 2yr warranty as opposed to
five, if it does not get lost before then!

Standard mini-usb too. Doesn't look like it will fit that cradle as the
socket is on a long edge.

More importantly it connected, and configured straight off, with no problem.

Done a test backup fine, so off to the clients it goes tomorrow.

Rgds