DriveStation 1TB External CE1.0TIU2-EU Combo Turbo USB (2) + Firewire. CAN I UPGRADE TO A LARGER DISK?

SOURCE: LaCie F. A. Porsche Hard Drive

Try this...

use a long bladed kitchen knife to get carefully spread apart the sides from the bottom plate. there are 4 small tabs along each side of the case going int 4 slots on the bottom plate. The long sharp blade inserts easily between the side and bottom plate.
Carefully pry the side away from the bottom plate starting from the front working towards the back. You gently twist the blade to get the tabs out of the slots. the first one is the hardest. After that they pop out easy.
to remove the hard drive mechanism, once you have the bottom plate off, remove the four silver screws--two along each side--then use the knife to separate the sides of the hard drive from the case, so that the front of the drive is angled up (you'll also have to pull the activity LED loose from its hotmelt glue), then slide the drive out of its metal mounting bracket--you won't be able to pull the drive out along with this bracket.

SOURCE: Trying to open the enclosure. How do I do this?

Yeah, it's not apparent how they're put together.  Here's how you do it:
On the back next to the power connector and fan, gently put a flathead screwdriver under the side panel and just unsnap it from the back corner - don't try to pry it all the way off yet, as it's fragile and will break in two easily (I messed it up the first time i tried).  
Then gently slide the  screwdriver under the loosened side panel and unhook it from the three pairs of connectors along the side until you can unsnap it from the front side and remove it.
Repeat for the  other side.
Now the front panel will just pop off.
And then the top and bottom halves of the enclosure will simply separate and you can lift the top right off.
-pv

SOURCE: slow WD World Edition HD

I understand your pain. Mine was always slow, but it's by design. I am sure the limitation is the amount of RAM it has, because everytime it needs to access data, the RAM is so small that it will have to go back to the drive just to re-read an index. When mine died after 1.5 yrs, I took it apart and found a WD5000AAKS SATA 7200rpm drive. Performance of the drive should be excellent, but in that little plastic box that is acting like a stand-alone NT server, performance is s-l-o-w. As a MyBook, it's best used as a backup unit, but be sure you have a backup of that, since it is highly unlikely it will live much more than 12 months, if that, because it has no forced cooling. See other issues on this site with regard to other MyBooks.

ChinthakaJ

• 943 Answers
• Posted on Feb 02, 2009

SOURCE: Can't open hard drive enclosure

A Details Guide too remove the Disk.

http://www.gearhack.com/myink/ViewPage.php?file=docs/AcomData%20E5%20HybridDrive%20External%20Hard%20Drive%20Disassembly

SOURCE: A new hard disk drive, Hitachi part

Hello there DLBurkhart.

Here's your geek-steer ...

"...is emitting strange whining sounds every now and then ... Is this strange noise a sign of an impending problem?" == EVERY strange HDD noise is ALWAYS a sign of impending failure.

Peform a "Check Disk" on it ...

chkdsk DRIVE_LETTER /X /R

• There should be NO surface errors if it's new(er).
• Regardless, if it's new, then immediately insist upon a replacement.

• to let me (and interested others) know how things worked out,
• to provide clarification or feedback,
• if you have ANY further questions.

Testimonial: "Straightforward advice, actually reads the problem pays attention to what you say rather than skimming and throwing out half-hearted recommendations."