Anyone know how to open this Toshiba 2TB External Enclosure? (PH3200U-1EXB)

Mine contains a Samsung Spinpoint F3EG (EcoGreen) 2TB. With the current prices of 2TB drives, I would like to remove this drive and use it in a USB3.0 enclosure (Ultra Aluminus) I purchased. Preferably, I would like to open it without destroying it. I will probably install a slower drive in it at a later date. Here is a link to the drive on the zon.

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-eSATA-Desktop-External-PH3200U-1EXB/dp/B002XRMNN0

 

I would be surprised if you could open this without at least marring the finish and it being noticeable.

It is possible, of course: just use a thin/small flat screwdriver and/or thin sheets of metal (smoothed edges) to click open the clips that are holding it together - this won't be easy (I'd rather buy another HDD), but it is doable.

Is this drive shipped with the virtual cd application? Another reason to not remove it (not that I like software with my external's; but it may be difficult to remove, if it is removeable at all.

A bigger reason to not attempt this is that this may have the connectors soldered on and this might/would prevent you from simply using it as a normal drive in another system.

All of the above reasons are why I always recommend a good external enclosure such as the Vantec series and the HDD of your choice.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the reply. I have read about the virtual CD, and the initial batch of these drives had a problem where they would power down completely after 5 minutes of idle. Fortunately, they released a firmware that would remove the virtual CD partition, and the power down feature. The Gen2 drives (which mine is), came without the virtual CD partition. FWIR, this houses a completely standard Spinpoint F3EG drive. People have reported "tearing it apart" and using it in their desktop's even. I would like to do the same minus the "tearing it apart" part.

It's not really that big of a deal if I end up destroying it. I do have a spare Vantec Nexstar 3 USB2.0 enclosure. But, the Toshiba was a gift, so I'd rather keep it intact.

 

FYI, I did end up getting it open. I found an opening, stuck a flat screwdriver into it, and pushed up until something gave. I didn't realize i was breaking clips as I removed the top though. Looks like I broke half the clips holding the top on. I wish there were notches along the way to push those clips in. But, there was absolutely no way to tell where the clips were. I can still use double sided tape or something if I want to re-use it. I have the drive out now and testing on my Thermaltake BlacX dock.

Thanks for the advice.

 

I actually was able to open this quite easily without any damage. Facing the back of the unit, with the DC jack on the bottom, there is an opening between the black case and the silver on the lower RH corner. Place the unit on its side so you see the P/N and S/N on the left of the base. You should be looking directly at the P/N and S/N label. Place a very small flat screwdriver in the left corner, slightly down and press away and up easily, the corner lifts. Then slide along carefully from left to right, each time the screwdriver stops, press away and up and each clip will be revealed and disengaged.