Western Digital Caviar Blue 320 GB Bulk/OEM Hard Drive 3.5 Inch, 16 MB

This HDD is suitable to use as a storage drive on your desktop PC. It isn't the fastest, but has plenty of space to dump your stuff on.It is now considered "End of life" as of mid-2024 and replaced by the 256MB cache variant. (The older one has 128MB cache.) ...So check before you buy!It is very quiet.It has aggressive power-down behaviour that will reduce the life of the drive (constantly powering up and down isn't healthy for any hard drive!)You can disable its aggressive power-down behaviour with WDIDLE3 (found in Ultimate Boot CD). Simply plug this drive as your only drive on your system, boot up Ultimate Boot CD and disable the power-down behaviour.

A 2.5" HDD as a pluggable internal desktop backup

Ordered a 2.5" 1TB HDD to use as a data backup drive in a desktop computer.2.5" size chosen because it only needs a single 5V supply, and can 'run' from a fly-lead (either USB or eSATA).Note: Delock ‘do’ an eSATApd (eSATA power dual) leadset which can supply both 5V and 12V to a 3.5" drive.The chosen arrangement is as follows....1. The desktop OS runs on an SSD (M2 PCIe)2. The desktop 'data' drive is a SATA HDD3. The 'system' backup drive is a 2.5" 500GB HDD with an eSATApd flylead marked 'S'4. The 'data' backup drive is a 2.5" 1TB HDD with an eSATApd flylead marked 'D'The backup drive flyleads emerge from a grommeted hole in the front of the desktop case, and can be plugged-in to a powered eSATApd socket located in the nearest 3.5" drive bay.eSATA hot ... MoreOrdered a 2.5" 1TB HDD to use as a data backup drive in a desktop computer.2.5" size chosen because it only needs a single 5V supply, and can 'run' from a fly-lead (either USB or eSATA).Note: Delock ‘do’ an eSATApd (eSATA power dual) leadset which can supply both 5V and 12V to a 3.5" drive.The chosen arrangement is as follows....1. The desktop OS runs on an SSD (M2 PCIe)2. The desktop 'data' drive is a SATA HDD3. The 'system' backup drive is a 2.5" 500GB HDD with an eSATApd flylead marked 'S'4. The 'data' backup drive is a 2.5" 1TB HDD with an eSATApd flylead marked 'D'The backup drive flyleads emerge from a grommeted hole in the front of the desktop case, and can be plugged-in to a powered eSATApd socket located in the nearest 3.5" drive bay.eSATA hot plugging is OK provided SATA AHCI mode is enabled (and supported by your motherboard!)The backup drives can thus be left disconnected and stationary when not required, and then connected for backups.A powered-down HDD stands a chance of retaining data intact for a few years. Refreshing requires rewriting the data – making a ‘clone’ copy (or full backup) of the drive contents to another drive and then re-writing the data back to the original drive can do this.A powered-down SSD may lose data after one year – refreshing the data only requires the drive to be powered-up.Well-used, multi-layer SSDs will have the shortest retention times.Microsoft Robocopy ('Robust File Copy') is used for data backup - a batch file (script) can be kicked off with a double click on its desktop icon, which then carries out an incremental backup - this can include Documents, Music, Downloads etc. When complete, the batch file shuts down the computer, giving an on-screen warning and a 20-second countdown.The batch file has separate command-lines for each directory (folder) that is to be backed-up - it is then easy to disable the backing-up of any directory by inserting a 'REM' (Remark) statement in front of the relevant command-line.Alternatively….1. The batch file can display an on-screen menu, where backup choices can be made – and can also include instructions to ‘connect the relevant backup drive’, or....2. Multiple batch files can be written, each with a separate icon, that perform different backups - one of these can ‘force’ a full backup, if and when required for HDD-refresh.The advantages of this method are....1. Only a text editor (Notepad) is required to write a batch file (there is comprehensive on-line help for batch file and Robocopy command-line writing)2. Backup and recovery do not need proprietary software (that can go out-of-date), and the backed-up files and directory structure are identical with the originals - any file manager can locate and transfer them.Unfortunately, a system backup is not so simple any more....Current Windows installations require multiple partitions and access to the disc 'Boot' sector.Search: 'Disc clone' and 'System backup' software for more details.Acronis is well-regarded, but it's not free!Also search: Full, Incremental, Differential, Synthetic-full and Incremental-forever backup methods.Most current ‘consumer’ HDDs are reliable enough for backup duty, provided they are not stopped and started too many times - like certain 'packaged' external USB HDDs seem to be (Toshiba) - even when USB power-down is disabled in Windows (Control Panel -> Power Options)!Good luck!

Bad Product, Bad Customer Sevice and Support.

Hard Drive arrived DOA. It will not turn on on, I try different comp computers, and it will not work. I called over the phone in order to replace for another hard drive, same model, but none over phone could understand what I wanted it despite my detailed explanation and the end the person over the phone said, we will send a replacement. It didn't happened. Its really disappointing.Order 0021852598, Placed: Mar 27, 2024, Total $125.19. WD Blue 3.5in PC Hard Drive - 8TB, SKU: WD80EAAZ, Cache Size:256 MB.

Drives work, Customer service at WD does not.

The drives work. The customer service is horrible. I took my case and all the back and forth conversations between myself and the CS team here. I'm using it for training of my own customer service team as, "What not to do to a client." This was a one time buy with my personal account, that I will never use again. The WD Customer service team has made it so I will only ever buy from the competition. Now, I may be just one person to WD, but the company this "one person" works for buys around 25K HDD a year on the B2B side. I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure we start buying from Seagate.

False positive for bad drive?

The customer support was great although it was by far the most obtuse route I've ever seen (if you contact them they'll have you call a number that puts you on hold that sends you a text that hyperlinks to a website that eventually puts you in a chatroom. Don't remember the full detail just that it was badly indirect even by DMV or unemployment office standards but the person was helpful). I'd thought this was a failing drive with seemingly random stuttering trying to watch an old 900p video that would then play it fine trying again later, userbenchmark benched it at 6.3%--yeah seriously. It kept acting weird too which was a shame as it was half full by then. Detected no problems with the drive, crystaldisk showed poor read and very poor write speed, but every ... MoreThe customer support was great although it was by far the most obtuse route I've ever seen (if you contact them they'll have you call a number that puts you on hold that sends you a text that hyperlinks to a website that eventually puts you in a chatroom. Don't remember the full detail just that it was badly indirect even by DMV or unemployment office standards but the person was helpful). I'd thought this was a failing drive with seemingly random stuttering trying to watch an old 900p video that would then play it fine trying again later, userbenchmark benched it at 6.3%--yeah seriously. It kept acting weird too which was a shame as it was half full by then. Detected no problems with the drive, crystaldisk showed poor read and very poor write speed, but every diagnostic tool said was fine, not fragmented, optimized, not filled with disk errors etc. Finally after going to UBM again the disk flatly wasn't even being detected anymore or giving me stats on testing it. After having to pull the drive out to find drive info for the rep and plugging it back in I think a different order or cable or something it started working fine. This is not the first review and apologies for one egg. I will say though that I'm knocking an egg off because I tried unplugging/replugging before and to this day am not sure what the problem was, or if it was truly user error and the cable wasn't seated correctly (but then why was I able to use it and it would work fine then suddenly barely work with bad transfer rates as opposed to not working at all? Or consistently working poorly?) I've seen a lot of bad reviews after all this and think it's plausible that there's a lot of bad drives out there, refurbs, idk what, but as of this writing it works fine. I've not had 10fps trying to play lower quality videos since. I still am not sure if I would put it past the drive to start acting weird again but right now it's been working for a week or two as normal and had it running for under a month although other reviews make me leery after that experience. Recommend? Eh. I mean frankly it's cheap enough and on sale enough that if you get a genuinely failed drive or DOA it is Western Digital so while you can't RMA it through Newegg after a short while the company will try to help you even if you end up paying postage or partial cost of the drive or whatever and if they didn't it wouldn't be a big loss. Don't regret the purchase, happy now.

Great Data Backup option!

Big decisions on going all non-spinning or spinning... WD hard drives have always been very reliable. This 4Tb is replacing a 2Tb dated from 2012 that is still running. Obviously, non-spinning are a "million times" faster and are the best for running an operating systems, games and apps, but there is something to say about the good ole tried and true WD blue hard drives. In my case, I am using this as storage for backup data so there is no constant usage day-to-day. These are SMR drives but my usage works well with that writing technology as opposed to CMR. And the price is right! Also, no issues about noise, pretty quiet. I also just read where spinning hard drives can be more power efficient than ssd. Anyway, until I can figure out a better long term solution to ... MoreBig decisions on going all non-spinning or spinning... WD hard drives have always been very reliable. This 4Tb is replacing a 2Tb dated from 2012 that is still running. Obviously, non-spinning are a "million times" faster and are the best for running an operating systems, games and apps, but there is something to say about the good ole tried and true WD blue hard drives. In my case, I am using this as storage for backup data so there is no constant usage day-to-day. These are SMR drives but my usage works well with that writing technology as opposed to CMR. And the price is right! Also, no issues about noise, pretty quiet. I also just read where spinning hard drives can be more power efficient than ssd. Anyway, until I can figure out a better long term solution to backup data, these drives are a great value.

Lots of storage. Semi annoying to access.

Plnety and i mean PLENTY of storage. I store Starcraft and League of legends and tons of photos and apps so i can run it off there. The only severely annoying bit is having to sign into it everytime i turn on the computer. It has a passcode you have to setup to access it. Although afterwards, it just has you have to doible click it to open it everytime you log in so you can access whats on it. Wish you didn’t have to if it stayed connected to the same computer or laptop. But otherwise its good.

Splendid

I have no complaints with the product thus far. I purchased it after the stock HDD died in my laptop. It's been running splendidly since I installed it (about three weeks ago).So far, so good. I don't see any reason against buying it if your laptop has a failing HDD - but every other component is still running close to when you first took it out of the box. Luckily, all the additional infrastructure of my four-year-old laptop is in stellar condition.It was either spend $40 for the HDD swap that I can do myself, or buy a new laptop for $350-plus with downgraded specifications from my current laptop. The other option was sending the laptop back to the manufacturer for over $200. They would replace my HDD with a refurbished HDD. It's not cost-effective.

Use these for a backup drive.

I've bought two of these so far and will purchase more, but I do not believe in consumer grade, rather, I use them as backup only drives, and I use them only because I can not get a WD black in 2 TB. Keep in mind two things, I've been a tech for over 40 years, and if there is a BETTER hard drive, I will pay the extra couple dollars for it rather than trying to save money by buying good enough, with hard drives, that does not exist. Second, I've had a brand new WD Black for laptop come bad in the box, so again, spend the money on better rather than recovery of data later. VERY IMPORTANT if the backup is going to be external (both of these were internal backups) I buy a laptop drive case and still buy these and mount them. I NEVER use a ready made external storage ... MoreI've bought two of these so far and will purchase more, but I do not believe in consumer grade, rather, I use them as backup only drives, and I use them only because I can not get a WD black in 2 TB. Keep in mind two things, I've been a tech for over 40 years, and if there is a BETTER hard drive, I will pay the extra couple dollars for it rather than trying to save money by buying good enough, with hard drives, that does not exist. Second, I've had a brand new WD Black for laptop come bad in the box, so again, spend the money on better rather than recovery of data later. VERY IMPORTANT if the backup is going to be external (both of these were internal backups) I buy a laptop drive case and still buy these and mount them. I NEVER use a ready made external storage drive for saving data, NEVER NEVER NEVER, as if they fail, the usb is part of the drive making recover far more expensive and difficult. Expect drives to fail, backup your data, and this is a good drive for that.

WD80EAZZ - Quality cold storage drive.

Very nice HDD for "cold storage".I bought this 8TB in Nov-22 for $120.I already have a fast pc and fast storage. I have a 1TB of arguably the fastest PCIe4x4 nand SSD, a 960GB Optane SSD, and a cold storage 3TB Seagate HDD and they were getting filled with stuff I didn't actively use and didn't want to redo or redownload. My long term backup method to optical(or M-disc) takes too long for anything but the most valuable data, and an 8TB SSD costs too much to justify.This 8TB drive will give me a lot more space to keep what I want. It also does sequential R/W in Crystaldiskmark of over 200MB/s compared to the 140MB/s of the other smaller HDDs I have and 5x as fast as my 340Mb/s cable internet download speed when the internet is perfect.My drive came straight ... MoreVery nice HDD for "cold storage".I bought this 8TB in Nov-22 for $120.I already have a fast pc and fast storage. I have a 1TB of arguably the fastest PCIe4x4 nand SSD, a 960GB Optane SSD, and a cold storage 3TB Seagate HDD and they were getting filled with stuff I didn't actively use and didn't want to redo or redownload. My long term backup method to optical(or M-disc) takes too long for anything but the most valuable data, and an 8TB SSD costs too much to justify.This 8TB drive will give me a lot more space to keep what I want. It also does sequential R/W in Crystaldiskmark of over 200MB/s compared to the 140MB/s of the other smaller HDDs I have and 5x as fast as my 340Mb/s cable internet download speed when the internet is perfect.My drive came straight from WD and was manufactured in Oct-22.And like most that buy them it ran perfectly and I expect it to last as long as the still running WD Blue 1TB in my daughter's PC that I picked up in 2011.Also it is not clicky like the old Velociraptor HDD I have in the office.It is often slow for things like games, and isn't the best choice for continuous reading and writing, but that isn't what I got it for. If I store a modded game on it and I want to play it for more than a few hours I will likely drag that folder to a faster drive. If I want to backup my phone's photos/videos the WD can hold them until I save them permanently. If I have a video project that is taking too much space, to the WD it can go.Tons of space that is fast enough for cold storage.