1, Download a Linux live CD (for this how to I used ubuntu and will reference to it) and burn to cd/usb. 2, Ensure your server is set to boot from CD/Usb first via the bios. 3, Boot the linux image and select ‘Try Ubuntu’. 4, When the desktop is loaded launch Gparted. 5, Looking at the layout hypervisor is located on the first 250MB partition in my case /dev/sda5 make a note of this partition. 6, Open a terminal window. 7, Type the following commands sudo -s mount /dev/sda5 /mnt (replace /dev/sda5 with your own parition) cd /mnt ls 8, Copy state.tgz to tmp and extract cp state.tgz /tmp cd /tmp tar xzf state.tgz 9, Going an ‘ls’ shows a new file local.tgz extract this tar xzf local.tgz 10, Go to the /etc directory and edit the shadows file. cd /etc nano shadow Here you’ll find the root password hash surrounded by two colons ie root:$fgEFG5454DFG54t55445DFGDFGDxzfvxdgfrfdret54dfgfdgg45:13358:0:99999:7::: remove the text between the two colons so it shows root::13358:0:99999:7::: save and exit 11, Now we need to repack the files and copy the modified state.tgz back to the ESXi system. cd .. tar czf local.tgz etc tar czf state.tgz local.tgz cp state.tgz /mnt/ umount /mnt 12, type ‘reboot’ and remove the Live CD media and allow VMware to boot as normal. 13, Once booted press ‘F2’ and login with the name root and a blank passsword. 14, Set a new password via the ‘Configure Password’ option.

I picked up this USB drive from Argos (item number 248/9935) knowing that the internal drive could be removed and thus installed in a laptop or console ie the PS4. This differs from some others in the fact that it contains a true sata drive with standard sata connectors, other manufacturers use proprietary drive connectors to convert to USB thus removing the ability to use it outside of it’s enclosure.

Even though branded as seagate it acutally contains a Samsung M9T 2TB ST2000LM003 9.5mm SATA 2.5 inch Internal Hard Drive Now these sell in a standalone format at around £90 but the expansion combination is regularly on offer for around £55-60. You have to decide whether the £30-£35 saving is worth loosing your warranty. For me money was the biggest factor hence why I went with this.

The drive comes with some instructions and a hight speed USB 3.0 cable.

**** WARNING REMOVING THE DRIVE FROM IT’S CASE WILL INVALIDATE YOUR WARRANTY ****

Seagates Warranty And Replacement Policy

If your caeful enough you should be able to salvage the case and use it to put a spare drive in.

First thing I did was plug it into a windows machine to check it’s health status with crystaldiskmark

—————————————————————————-
(2) ST2000LM003 HN-M201RAD
—————————————————————————-
Enclosure : Seagate Expansion USB Device (V=0BC2, P=2312, sa1) – st
Model : ST2000LM003 HN-M201RAD
Firmware : 2BC10003
Serial Number : **************
Disk Size : 2000.3 GB (8.4/137.4/2000.3/2000.3)
Buffer Size : 32767 KB
Queue Depth : 32
# of Sectors : 3907029168
Rotation Rate : 5400 RPM
Interface : USB (Serial ATA)
Major Version : ATA8-ACS
Minor Version : ATA8-ACS version 6
Transfer Mode : SATA/300 | SATA/600
Power On Hours : 0 hours
Power On Count : 5 count
Temperature : 16 C (60 F)
Health Status : Good
Features : S.M.A.R.T., APM, AAM, 48bit LBA, NCQ
APM Level : 0080h [OFF]
AAM Level : FE00h [OFF]

Good enough for me so now time to crack it open. I used a small hobby knife/scalpel and started at the corner where the Seagate logo is.

Once I managed to pry open enough of a gap I used a plastic card to keep it open.

Next I slid the card along and used a small flat headed screwdriver to pry open the end.

Continuing on I managed to open up the case expsoing the clips.

Pulling off the top reveals the drive.

The drives lifts out of the bottom casing

One both sides of the drives are screw covered by black caps.

Next carefully peel away the silver foil.

The usb/sata connector is now exposed which simply pulls away from the drive.

Job done you now have a 2TB drive to put into you console or pc.