Western Digital Elements External Hard Drives: 1TB Portable USB 3.0 HDD $64, 2TB USB 2.0 HDD $84, 3TB USB 2.0 HDD $104 After Rebates

in a way off topic - but how do you crack open one of these external drives? Is there an easy way to do it?

You see I have a Thermaltake Level 10 GTS Mid-Tower - the kind with four Hot-Swap Drive Bays.

This past Monday Newegg had a sale on the Tower - after rebate the cost was only $49.95 including shipping. So I bought another tower for extra parts and to have four additional Hot-Swap Trays in which to install drives. (Normally those spare trays cost $10 each).

So I want to install some of these external drives as internal Hot Swap drives, so I can just plug them in and use them as Back-up drives when I need them, and then remove them when I'm done. I just need to now how to open the cases and since they are SATA drives, there shouldn't be a problem installing them in one of my Hot-Swap Trays.

Any ideas on cracking them open? Just use a well aimed screwdriver and hammer?

Thanks,

Korian

Quote from Korian : in a way off topic - but how do you crack open one of these external drives? Is there an easy way to do it?

I've found that if you want advice on anything that has to do with equipment, the first place to look is Youtube.

If you go to Youtube.com and enter "Western Digital Elements open", you'll find a few videos that may help. The reader comments are sometimes helpful, too. Here's the first one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCS8ui-6WZY

Quote from vip00 : As is always the question... What's inside if you crack these open? ~$5 shipping for me. I hate that TigerDirect is so inconsistent about free shipping

When I opened my WD 1TB External Hard Drive (after the 2nd one died on me) I found a W-D Green Drive inside.
I put the Hard Drive into a Thrmaltake Blac X HDD Docking Station-has worked fine ever since.

Quote from Korian : in a way off topic - but how do you crack open one of these external drives? Is there an easy way to do it? You see I have a Thermaltake Level 10 GTS Mid-Tower - the kind with four Hot-Swap Drive Bays. This past Monday Newegg had a sale on the Tower - after rebate the cost was only $49.95 including shipping. So I bought another tower for extra parts and to have four additional Hot-Swap Trays in which to install drives. (Normally those spare trays cost $10 each). So I want to install some of these external drives as internal Hot Swap drives, so I can just plug them in and use them as Back-up drives when I need them, and then remove them when I'm done. I just need to now how to open the cases and since they are SATA drives, there shouldn't be a problem installing them in one of my Hot-Swap Trays. Any ideas on cracking them open? Just use a well aimed screwdriver and hammer? Thanks, Korian

Usually a screwdriver gets the job done.