Can WD USB 3.0 drive be opened to install into Mac Mini?

[dmk1974]

I have a USB 3.0 Western Digital 2.0 GB hard drive connected. Too often, I am getting interference with the Apple BT keyboard and trackpad as well as a Linksys USB wireless keyboard and mouse. Per searches, it sounds like the connection of a USB 3.0 drive causes interference.

I was thinking of getting a OWC Data Doubler kit to install the drive inside the Mac Mini (I already replaced the stock drive with a SSD drive). Can I crack open the casing of the WD external drive I have and then simply install it into the Mac Mini? Curious if anyone has done this. Thanks!

 

[TechpumpkinWD]

Hello,
You haven't mentioned the model of your external HDD, but I presume you are asking about a WD My Passport. If that is the case it won't be possible to connect it to your Mac Mini as an internal drive. To connect it as an internal you need HDD with a SATA port. WD My Passport drives do not have a SATA port inside the enclosure, because they are to small, instead they have the USB port soldered directly to the PCB inside.

If you need information about a different model drive just give me a shout and I'll be able to check.

 

[jg321]

Hello,
You haven't mentioned the model of your external HDD, but I presume you are asking about a WD My Passport. If that is the case it won't be possible to connect it to your Mac Mini as an internal drive. To connect it as an internal you need HDD with a SATA port. WD My Passport drives do not have a SATA port inside the enclosure, because they are to small, instead they have the USB port soldered directly to the PCB inside.

If you need information about a different model drive just give me a shout and I'll be able to check.

I can confirm this. I have 1TB My Passport and had the same idea. I had the same idea as you, took it apart only to find USB port soldered directly onto PCB.

 

[dmk1974]

Yes, it is a Passport drive. Oh well, just wanted to find a way around this annoying USB 3.0 interference issue. Thanks.

 

[TechpumpkinWD]

I hope you will find a different way around it. There could be a way to isolate the source or just simply increase the distance between the devices. Do you find it to be related only to the My Passport drive or is it with any other USB 3.0 device? Usually it should not cause interference.

 

[dmk1974]

I hope you will find a different way around it. There could be a way to isolate the source or just simply increase the distance between the devices. Do you find it to be related only to the My Passport drive or is it with any other USB 3.0 device? Usually it should not cause interference.

I tried 3 different USB 3.0 drives that I had and still got the stuttering keyboard and mouse for all combos (both the bluetooth set and usb wifi set).

 

[TechpumpkinWD]

This is unusual. Does it happen only when connecting external HDDs? I'm wondering if this happens because there is something plugged into the USB port, or because of the HDDs themselves. If it's just with external HDDs and not the USB port itself, I would try moving them away from the keyboard. A powered USB hub might help here. Usually it's not recommended to connect externals trough USB hubs, mostly because it's important for the HDDs to receive enough power. But if you can test with a power fed good quality unit it shouldn't cause issues. I haven't faced such a problem myself, but when dealing with interference increasing the distance usually helps.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote above:
[[ I tried 3 different USB 3.0 drives that I had and still got the stuttering keyboard and mouse for all combos (both the bluetooth set and usb wifi set). ]]

If nothing else you try helps, I have a suggestion.

You could get something like this:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=103&cp_id=10303&cs_id=1030309&p_id=6506&seq=1&format=2
(A USB3 "extension" cable, cheap)

And then look for a USB3 bluetooth adapter, a "generic" one.

Put the bluetooth adapter on the end of the USB3 extension cable, and plug the extension cable into the back of the Mini.
Turn the Mini's "internal bluetooth" OFF, and use the external bluetooth adapter instead.

Put the end of the extension cable "away from" the Mini.

Now -- you'll still have bluetooth connectivity/transmission, but it will be a few feet away from the back of the Mini.

Hopefully, this (small) separation will reduce or eliminate the interference you may be experiencing.

No promises that this will work for you, but again -- something to try if nothing else helps...

 

[dmk1974]

OP wrote above:
[[ I tried 3 different USB 3.0 drives that I had and still got the stuttering keyboard and mouse for all combos (both the bluetooth set and usb wifi set). ]]

If nothing else you try helps, I have a suggestion.

You could get something like this:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=103&cp_id=10303&cs_id=1030309&p_id=6506&seq=1&format=2
(A USB3 "extension" cable, cheap)

And then look for a USB3 bluetooth adapter, a "generic" one.

Put the bluetooth adapter on the end of the USB3 extension cable, and plug the extension cable into the back of the Mini.
Turn the Mini's "internal bluetooth" OFF, and use the external bluetooth adapter instead.

Put the end of the extension cable "away from" the Mini.

Now -- you'll still have bluetooth connectivity/transmission, but it will be a few feet away from the back of the Mini.

Hopefully, this (small) separation will reduce or eliminate the interference you may be experiencing.

No promises that this will work for you, but again -- something to try if nothing else helps...

I actually have that blue cable and tried it by plugging in my Unifying receiver to it. Have it a couple of feet from the Mini at the moment and seems to be working ok. Didn't help the bluetooth peripherals since I don't have a dongle for that. Just frustrating...I don't want to downgrade to a USB 2.0 drive. Apple should provide a shielding fix for this.

 

[elolaugesen]

I use the Seagate Mini Portable Drive with USB3 connector supplied. No trouble at all. I even pulled out the drive from the connector and replaced it with a Crucial M500 512 SSD and ran it off the connector and cable(18 Inches long) for several weeks. No problems.

cheers elo

 

[hallux]

I have a USB 3.0 drive enclosure plugged into my Mini also and I'm also not seeing any Bluetooth issues during the time that I'm sitting in front of the machine.