USB trouble with external hard disk

[Ralf Mardorf]

>> Probably the disk is SMART enabled but SMART may not work with the 
>> USB enclosure. I have seen that in the past with a disk that sent 
>> SMART data while it was connected to the SATA port inside the
>> computer. When I later moved it to a USB enclosure it no longer sent
>> SMART data.

>> I'm wondering if it is always like this for USB enclosures. I'm about
>> to buy another external hard disk to replace the suspicious one...

Unfortunately not all mails of the list are delivered to me, just now i
read 2 things in the archive,

1. the SATA to USB controller firmware is super tricky, always expect it
to be worse than you can imagine. Apart from that the smartctl database
is a disaster, but I still agree with Liam that it should be a first
step to take a look at the SMART data, if possible by using software of
the company.

2. I sometimes use WD drives in my Fantec enclosures and I have exactly
one WD drive in a WD enclosure, which are two different things. I'll cut
a long story short, WD enclosure-drive packages have always been a
problem, but since everything has gone well for you so far and you don't
hear any click-click, we can rule out the known WD problems as the
course for your IO error issue.

Anyway, better not buy a bundle, but enclosure and drive separately and
assemble it yourself. You can't even open the f...ine WD bundles without
negative consequences. At least my WD thing doesn't have any screws or
openings that you could lever around.