Iomega Select Portable Hard Drive Disassembly and Internals

I needed to buy a new hard drive for my laptop, and I needed to be able to connect my old laptop drive to my computer after I installed the new one. So, instead of buying an enclosure and a OEM drive, I decided to spend less money and buy a 500GB portable USB drive ($69 on sale at Futureshop in Canada as of January 2011).

I didn't find any disassembly instructions for this particular budget drive online, so I decided to document the aftermath to show other people how I did it and what I discovered.

This video shows how the clips are clever and will likely break once you open it. This clip also shows you the USB 2.0 controller and how it connects to the SATA drive.

I now have a replacement drive and a easy-to-use USB 2.0 to SATA controller board.

Thanks to the other YouTubers who posted their other portable hard drive disassembly videos. This gave me the confidence to try out a disassembly too, and I decided to post to help others.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• usb
• portable
• drive
• disassembly
• iomega
• howto
• hack

[rahulshroff17]

how did you open it ?



[cokobware]

@rahulshroff17 Flat end screw driver... Actually I got my friend to open it while I was doing something else.

[debochch]

is this a select or a select II model? and what speed drive did it have inside 5400 or 7200?

[cokobware]

@debochch If you watch the video, you can clearly see it's a Select drive on the box, not a Select II. However, the drive is 5400 PRM.

[smartinez281]

so how did u open yours? i cant open mine

[cokobware]

@smartinez281 I used a butterknife and a small flathead screwdriver. There are better ways, like a plastic opening tool.

[tossabaddle]

This casing was a BITCH to open.. GOOD GOD! ><

[SCIFIguy64]

@cokobware I used a knife.

[caenleve]

Very helpful guide. I bought it thinking it was a 7200 rpm HD, but seems I was wrong, however the price rocks! ($73 dll in Mexico). Thank you.

[JJO117]

is it wirless or wired cuz im gonna try to use it on my 360 or just carry it to school and play games on free time

[Reptile405]

@sechapm

So it worked?

Sitting here with mine wondering if I should or shouldn't open it.

Already backed my old files on it and everything

[sechapm]

i just did this to mine to turn my ps3 into a 320gb because using it as a external hdd wouldn't work to save my games and downloads

[milesthegreatbt]

could you make a video on how to open it?

[horlonangel]

hhd wd is pool shit

[cokobware]

@koozie11 I think it's just the same thickness of any normal 2.5" SATA drive.

[koozie11]

Do you know the thickness of the drive after the case is off of it?

[Beastontheroad1]

I just opened this drive (1TB version) with out breaking a thing :) Just start at the small side near the USB port with a fingernail (if you have one long enough) and then once you have a gap wedge a paddle pop stick in and slowly work you way around the housing and it will open without breaking any clips. Then you can reuse the house for your old drive :) Good luck.

[maxassasin911]

@cokobware it was for 20 more and it did not work on ps3 so i used in my laptop its the same model as yours but easier to open the case does not break

[cokobware]

@maxassasin911 Yeah the 1TB drive wasn't in my budget, but this is really good to know. Do you happen to know which Samsung drive model it was? Also, which version of the PS3 did you use this for? PS3 or PS3 Slim?

[maxassasin911]

i got the same harddrive but 1tb for 90 100 with tax also in Canada and it works with the ps3