LaCie External Drive Quirky Noisy Fan

Problem with LaCie 1TB Neil Poulton hard disk (model 301315U with FW 400 & eSATA connectors): I wrote to the Mikey Mouse LaCie Support & asked twice about how to control the fan and twice they replied there was NO FAN in this model! This video proves otherwise.

The casing is made of plastic so not good for heat dissipation and in a cool 20c (68F) room it overheats at 46c (115F) in it's normal horizontal position. Overheating shortens the hard disk life. The internal fan never ran on USB or Firewire connections. Putting it in vertical position for better airflow dropped the temperature 9c (16F).

I then connected the drive using eSata & curiously it unlocked the noisy fan somehow, now it's on ALL THE TIME even on Firewire & modulates fan speed even if the drive runs only at 29c (84F) and never turns off. WTF?

I strongly suggest you download a utility to monitor your external hard disk temperature if you do not want to lose all your data from an overheating drive, the #1 cause of failing drives.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• LaCie
• External Drive
• Noisy Fan
• overheating
• hard disk
• neil poulton
• support
• fan
• 1tb
• 301315U
• hot
• overheats

[ejayarts]

maybe you shouldnt turn it that way., theres this thing called "gravity" that pulls things down you know.

its designed to lay flat like a coffin.

remember, its designed by a designer, not a technician. art goes first for him

[youbidoubidou]

Please read "more info", in the horizontal position it overheats. I still use this drive but it's noisier than my old Dell 4600!

[cookiesfanforever]

The User Manual included with this LaCie 1TB External Drive clearly mentions the fan! In the troubleshooting section, it says the system fan "does not run continuously; it is activated at certain temperatures." Obviously the LaCie Support person you spoke with didn't read the manual! I guess, given the choice, I'd rather have the fan be always on rather than always off -- to prevent overheating. Right?

[youbidoubidou]

Yes it's in the troubleshooting section, probably pasted-up from an other manual but the fan is not mentioned in the product data itself. "does not run continuously" is a lie, no way to turn it off & it rus even if the temperature is under 39F.

[scuzzo7]

You're lucky, mine never started at all, didn't know it was a problem until the drive was fried. Go lacie go!

[Questionsful]

OK. this is what i got so far: There seems to be 2 models of the same 1tb on the market. I just got the same black 1tb without a fan, it makes no sound at all, but it has only a usb connection. so i guess thats the difference. Why the difference and the mystery around it.. i have nooo idea...

[xwolve]

I have the same hard drive model and experienced the exact same problem. Today I managed to open the case and removed the noisy fan. I just hope it won't get too hot and burn, but sure it's so good to "hear" the silence...

[ejayarts]

i just turn it on whenever i use so overheat isnt a problem right now, and the noise.lol do you use dell 4600 right now?

[shawner69]

I've had this model for a week and it apparently just died, likely from overheating. I never noticed any significant noise coming from it. Not impressed.