How to Open a WD Hard Drive

Western Digital (WD) makes a variety of hard drives for desktop and laptop computers. Its most popular line is the MyBook series external hard disk drives. The Mybook hard drive's outer case can be fully removed when the user wants to use the hard drive elsewhere, for example, putting it into a home-built desktop computer case. Other reasons may be to fit the WD Mybook hard drive enclosure with a higher capacity disk. Before removing the WD hard drive, the outer protective casing must first be opened.

Things You'll Need

• Flathead screwdriver
• 2 Razor blades
• Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

1. Slide the two rubber pads out from their seat at the bottom of the hard drive enclosure. Push in the two tabs underneath where the rubber pads were with a flathead screwdriver.

2. Pry the top plastic cover (the one that has the drilled Morse code) away from the rounded side cover. Start prying the mesh in the middle of the hard drive from one side. You should see two plastic tabs lift up.

3. Place a razor blade between the tabs to prevent them from locking the top cover again. Do not lift the top cover up at this point. Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 for the other side so you have exposed tabs on both sides of the rounded cover.

4. Pry open, in small amounts, the binding area between the top cover and the rounded side cover. You will be able to easily slide the top cover off from the rounded side cover with your palms when there is enough of a gap.

5. Slide the top cover away from the side cover. Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the metal pieces holding the L.E.D. panel to the hard drive case.

6. Lay the hard drive case on its side. Unscrew the hard drive from its metal case using the Phillips screwdriver. Lift the hard drive out of the enclosure.