[STAPLES] HP SimpleSave 1TB External Hard Drive $54.99 Shipped (AC +tax)

Great Price But... Apparently these drives are handcuffed to the installed backup software and cannot be reformatted/wiped clean. My research revealed that the HP software is in the firmware and there is no firmware update allowing you to choose between using their backup software or not. The HP software will appear as a Virtual CD and always be there. Even those who think they can reformat using a Mac will be thwarted. There are ways to hide/disable it but it'll still be present. Search for yourself before you purchase so you understand what your future with this drive is.

So you can't ever reformat, or you just can't get rid of the backup software?

Quote from RenkaCb : Great Price But... Apparently these drives are handcuffed to the installed backup software and cannot be reformatted/wiped clean. My research revealed that the HP software is in the firmware and there is no firmware update allowing you to choose between using their backup software or not. The HP software will appear as a Virtual CD and always be there. Even those who think they can reformat using a Mac will be thwarted. There are ways to hide/disable it but it'll still be present. Search for yourself before you purchase so you understand what your future with this drive is.

Wow thanks for saving me. Was gonna grab this for media but after research it seems ridiculous. I hate bloatware. Heres what another user did if you want an idea of what your in for if you want to get rid of the bloatware:



"I tried everything in mac and ubuntu to get rid of the "HP launcher", no go, came here and, thanks to the note about this issue being firmware, I took apart the brand-new drive (it seems you have to destroy the enclosure to do so) and put the drive in a different enclosure I had here. ubuntu now says there are still 2 extra "unknown" partitions that it can not get rid of. When I try to, it says they are busy, but they are really, really small. this is the last HP product I will ever buy."

Quote from Freak4Dell : So you can't ever reformat, or you just can't get rid of the backup software?

If this info [hp.com] is still accurate, then yes (I don't have mine in hand yet). (more info, less organised) [hp.com]
Every report I've read says they found a Western Digital "Green" inside. Also, to the best of my knowledge, the Virtual CD firmware is located in the enclosure if you wish to be rid of it completely.

in for 1, even better if you combine with the AMEX 10 off 50 promotion running via AMEX twitter account.

That is 45+TAX+Coupon fee, which is around 50 for me.

Thanks, OP

Yeah, I don't feel like buying the drive then having to spend more money on another enclosure, so I'll pass on this one.

The enclosures seem to come apart pretty easily.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTsrmPPOSnU

The video above reveals a standard looking Western Digital Green SATA drive is inside. I have to wonder why the bare drive couldn't simply be updated with Western Digital's firmware.

The drive would have to be removed from the HP enclosure and hooked directly to the SATA port inside a computer (or a SATA dock) in order to load the Western Digital firmware.

I suspect this may be what has stopped a lot of people from getting rid of that SimpleSave crap.

(The drive in the video is a model # WD20EADS. That drive is now discontinued but the video is about a year old. These units probably have EARS or EARX drives now, which currently retail for a little over $100)

good deal

Quote from LordTyger : If this info [hp.com] is still accurate, then yes (I don't have mine in hand yet). (more info, less organised) [hp.com] Every report I've read says they found a Western Digital "Green" inside. Also, to the best of my knowledge, the Virtual CD firmware is located in the enclosure if you wish to be rid of it completely.

What those people are missing is that the drive firmware can't be updated while it's in the HP enclosure. That is not at all surprising. I'd be shocked if it were otherwise. I don't know of any USB enclsoure that allows drive firmware to be updated.

To update drive firmware, you need direct access to the SATA port, that means removing the drive from the enclosure. Keep in mind that this enclosure itself also has firmware, that's probably what they're all moaning about because that's probably where HP has put the customization. Not in the drive's firmware, but in the enclosure's firmware - probably.

Even so, I can't confirm that these drives can be repurposed. I've done a little searching but haven't found any confirmed reports that standard WD firmware can be loaded onto these. There is a very remote possibility that there's something unique about the drive inside the enclosure. Perhaps HP ordered a custom drive? They do have the purchasing power to do that. Even so, I really doubt there's anything unique about the drive, still, I can't guarantee it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6822136490

thats the drive i got last time when i bought this hp drive. i opened it up and put it in another external after the bs files on the drive.

Quote from RenkaCb : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6822136490 thats the drive i got last time when i bought this hp drive. i opened it up and put it in another external after the bs files on the drive.

I'm guessing you removed that HP daughter card that is bolted to the bottom of the drive?

Did you update the firmware?

Quote from dingalpha : in for 1, even better if you combine with the AMEX 10 off 50 promotion running via AMEX twitter account. That is 45+TAX+Coupon fee, which is around 50 for me. Thanks, OP

How do you get the promo?