philo Loc: philo, ca

I have a dock and purchased a 1T drive and when I plugged it in it showed the drive to be 17kb. I returned it.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

I can't believe that people are swapping hard drives in a out of a dock like CDs and that those drives are the backup for their images. Instead of always looking for what seems like the cheapest route for backup why not invest in a proper storage solution that will provide some redundancy and convenience like a network (NAS) or direct (DAS) device that uses a RAID configuration. It's also better than having a stack of bare or enclosed drives in the corner that can be damaged or accidentally overwritten. Most NAS (many options) or DAS (i.e. Drobo) options start with a two drive mirror (RAID1) to many drives running RAID5 or higher. You can also grow these boxes dynamically when you want by adding larger drives over time.

Just so you know, I do use one of these docks but only for the testing or diagnosis of drives that I may be having trouble with.

philo Loc: philo, ca

from now on i will stay with wd passports. they don't require a special power line, and that can be a real problem. I have an older unit and i can't fine a power line for it.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Mainshipper, "I can't believe that people are swapping hard drives in a out of a dock like CDs and that those drives are the backup for their images." Simple test... do you believe that 2+2=4 ? Look your statements "testing or diagnosis of drives " suggest that you are an IT guy. Did you come up with 4 on the simple test??

I believe that what is done is similar to me... about once a month I do a backup on my photo drive and my C: drive. I have switched to SSD and could drop them from atop the trump tower and they would still be good after penetrating the skull of a SS man on the sidewalk. Or in my jean's pocket after the wash. I store my backups in a static bag and have two drives each that I rotate. If needed, I can open the side of my failed computer removed the dead HD and replace and be in business in moments. But I will add that I have not had a computer failure in many years...knock knock ... on wood.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

First let me say that I'm impressed that you understand what you are talking about. Let's see...NAS, DAS, RAID1, RAID5, Drobo, 2 drive mirror...H-m-m-m, I wonder what that has to do with my problem. I have heard references to RAID for years, usually uttered by IT professionals at the office. They also spoke in tongues and navigated networks, evidently for money and for entertainment. I asked then why I needed RAID of any kind and I never got a clear and simple answer, especially when I added the subsequent question HOW. Suddenly they began speaking in tongues again.

Now, I know I'm older than dirt and resistant to some new things...but not all. The fact that you can't believe that people are swapping naked HDs like CDs is interesting to me because I've been doing that for decades (I think) and I've had No/0/Zero problems. I have had an internal drive or two crash for some reason or another, but that had nothing to do with my docking solution, nor the fragility of naked HDs. Like some others who have replied above, I am reasonably careful when handling the HDs. I try not to drop them...at least not very far (humor). I have them clearly labeled so I don't get them mixed up. I store mine in a heat and water resistant SentrySafe. I try to remember to put a little descant in the safe and recondition it now and then. Most importantly, I think I pretty much understand my little process, and I'm comfortable that I have backed up my most important files, including those all important photos. I don't see the need for RAID1 or 2 for that matter. I'd have to consult my IT professional who can't even tell me how the whole idea would work. If they would answer me at all, it would be with a string of more acronyms and I would still not know anything. I attended hundreds of meeting in my working days, and I listened intently to more acronyms than I could count. At the appropriate time I would ask one question...Could you tell me what those acronyms stand for? Most of the time there was a sigh of relief in the room and then the realization that only one person in attendance actually thought they knew what was said.

I don't like the concept of storing things in a cloud somewhere in never-never land. I like being able to put my hands on my stuff...AND on my copies of my stuff. George Carlin would have understood that I think. I once saw a Drobo at a Kelby seminar and asked how much it cost. I concluded it was pretty pricey for something I didn't understand the need for.

My objective is to have a pretty good place where I can put my hands on a copy or two of my most important files if I need to. I have written some notes to my kids telling them where my records and files are located and how to access them if they have to when I grab my chest and drop dead. Beyond that, I have no illusions that anyone will find 99.9% of my data even interesting, let alone necessary. I'm pretty sure family pictures will be treasured for a while, but I know everyone will go about their lives after I'm gone and will seldom if ever refer to my stuff once I'm history. Most of what I want them to remember is contained in my self-written memoirs, which they can find in those files I mentioned. I really don't need a Drobo or an Eieio. Just thought I would mention that those docking stations work pretty good for me, and I'm way too old to pursue a PhD in data processing in order to improve that.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I recently started buying enclosures, you can get one from Micro Center for $19.00 , they work great for me, and your not handling the bare drives all the time.
Though I doubt handling it will hurt it, dropping it might.

also internal drives are a lot cheaper than external drives so u can save a fewbucks.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have the same thing - works fine. My only concern is the price. I could buy two Sabrents and have money left over.
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Lay-Flat-Docking-EC-DFLT/dp/B00LS5NFQ2/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1493134374&sr=1-3&keywords=sabrent+enclosure

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...bought a couple of docks in the USB 2 days, now have four USB 3 docks. I concur...got a bunch of bare drives around here, and they all reside in the same place and are handled carefully!

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Ergo all docks coupled with 1T drives are defective and one should not even think of using such.

er.... aaaa.... scuse me... that is Trumponian Logic.... Philo! what are you telling us??? That sounds like a 1/1,000,000 happening.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Yes, I am an IT guy who understands the pitfalls of what you are doing with your drive swapping routine and that's I'm done trying to offer a better solution to the Luddites who frequent this board.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...I'm working towards that solution! Eventually my pile of bare drives will disappear! But, in the meantime...

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Garry Owen!! I flew Hueys with A/229th with the 1st Cav 71-72.

I'm glad someone is getting my message.

Robertven Loc: Fort Worth

I use a dock called the Voyager. I have three computers and have a Voyager on all three. Love them.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Not fragile unless jarred or dropped while the disks are moving?

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...hahaha, well brother, I was a LOH driver, so you know I have limited intelligence, but LOT'S of energy!