Disassembling Buffalo Ministation External Hard Drive Thunderbolt Usb 3 Repair Guide

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

                          45 minutes

Sections

External Hard Drive (Thunderbolt & USB 3)
5 steps

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Introduction

I have to say, this was an easy job to begin with (they all are right), taking the Buffalo MiniStation apart is not that difficult a task but getting it back together was a lessons learned, hopefully this guide will prevent you from making a similar mistake.

What you need

Step 1

              External Hard Drive (Thunderbolt & USB 3)

Run one of the heavy duty spudger’s between the plastic top and the aluminium case. Begin from the USB connector end and slide to one of the sides; leave this in place.
There are no clips (in mine anyway) holding that case to the base, it’s just a double sided sponge sticker.

Run one of the heavy duty spudger’s between the plastic top and the aluminium case. Begin from the USB connector end and slide to one of the sides; leave this in place.

There are no clips (in mine anyway) holding that case to the base, it’s just a double sided sponge sticker.

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Step 2

Granted it takes some force, but if you can get at least the left and the right side to pull away equally it will eventually give and come loose.
The result is a plastic case, housing the hard drive and electronics but thats easy to disassemble one you have removed the outer aluminum cover, as thats all it is. There is no other connection, even the holes for connectivity are just flush, they play no part in holding in the hard drive chassis.
In fact, if you like you can push the rubber feet through the aluminum case, as thats also part of the inner assembly. Just remember not to squeeze the aluminum case too tightly or malformed it as this in effect will just grip the internals even more making it even more difficult to remove.

Granted it takes some force, but if you can get at least the left and the right side to pull away equally it will eventually give and come loose.

The result is a plastic case, housing the hard drive and electronics but thats easy to disassemble one you have removed the outer aluminum cover, as thats all it is. There is no other connection, even the holes for connectivity are just flush, they play no part in holding in the hard drive chassis.

In fact, if you like you can push the rubber feet through the aluminum case, as thats also part of the inner assembly. Just remember not to squeeze the aluminum case too tightly or malformed it as this in effect will just grip the internals even more making it even more difficult to remove.

Step 3

Once the outer aluminium case it away your left with 4 small philips screws holding the actual drive in place, twi either side.
Take a small philips screw driver and remove these four screws.

Once the outer aluminium case it away your left with 4 small philips screws holding the actual drive in place, twi either side.

Take a small philips screw driver and remove these four screws.

Step 4

Here comes the fiddly bit and if you ask me; overkill engineering.
In total, there are 12 plastic clips retaining a cage holding the hard drive in place. 4 on the long sides and 2 on the short. Using a spudger, run the plastic in from the connectivity side.
These clips are remarkably bendy, but they will break, mine did. The point to remember is if they do, it’s honestly no hardship as the screws are really the guys that keep the drive in place anyway.
Once the assembly comes away from the white plastic top there is a black plastic piece that separates too. You are left with a thin steel enclosure protecting both the drive and logic board electronics.

Here comes the fiddly bit and if you ask me; overkill engineering.

In total, there are 12 plastic clips retaining a cage holding the hard drive in place. 4 on the long sides and 2 on the short. Using a spudger, run the plastic in from the connectivity side.

These clips are remarkably bendy, but they will break, mine did. The point to remember is if they do, it’s honestly no hardship as the screws are really the guys that keep the drive in place anyway.

Once the assembly comes away from the white plastic top there is a black plastic piece that separates too. You are left with a thin steel enclosure protecting both the drive and logic board electronics.

Step 5

IF you fold back the steel enclosure you reveal the logic board attached to the hard drive by two small philips screws.
Thats it, your at the logic board. Reassembly is the reverse of these instructions.
A key point and lesson learnt for me here. When placing the enclosure back inside the white plastic case, start with the steel enclosure but leave off the black plastic retainer until the drive is nested in the white case with the connectivity ports realigned. If not and you try to place it back as it came out, the retainer will crease the steel.

IF you fold back the steel enclosure you reveal the logic board attached to the hard drive by two small philips screws.

Thats it, your at the logic board. Reassembly is the reverse of these instructions.

A key point and lesson learnt for me here. When placing the enclosure back inside the white plastic case, start with the steel enclosure but leave off the black plastic retainer until the drive is nested in the white case with the connectivity ports realigned. If not and you try to place it back as it came out, the retainer will crease the steel.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    spaceshipdev

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Philip Lambe - Jun 3, 2014

I followed this guide but to prevent the breaking of the white plastic clips in step 4, I carefully slid pieces of cardboard, which I had cut up from a shop rewards card. After fitting the cardboard slips I was able to prise out the hard drive from the plastic case without breaking any.

Javier Vidal Moreno - Nov 21, 2016

Can hold 15mm 2.5" hdd?

spaceshipdev - Nov 22, 2016

Yes, there is room due to the excellent anti shock gap/space and foam.

Pay attention though, a larger tighter fit will reduce shock mitigation. There would be less space to take up room for movement when dropped.

Alan Cai - Jan 26, 2017

do you need to modify anything to fit in a 15mm drive please?

spaceshipdev - Feb 12, 2019

15mm height would not fit, no.

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Member-Contributed Guide

Introduction

What you need