Topic: External Hard Drive Compatibility List!

Legend! thanks it worked!!

Hello just joined the forum so first post.
I have tested many hard drives both 3.5 and 2.5 inch. For laptop drives I found them to be very reliable when using a powered USB hub plugged into the back of the Wii U then plugging the drive into that without the hub some drives would click and some didn't work at all but using a powered hub they all worked.
I've been using mine that way since launch day.
I hope that helps.

Warning for the Toshiba Canvio(TB: HDWC120XK3J1, TB: HDWC110XK3J1) ext. HDD models in the OP:
The 3.0 usb cables supplied with the HDD are most likely defective.
I bought it at Best Buy for $89 after tax, which is a killer deal on a 2TB ext. HDD. The only downside is the 3.0 USB cable supplied to connect the HDD to devices via USB.
So anyone thinking of getting the Toshiba Canvio ext. HDD will need to have a different 3.0 USB cable supplied besides the one that comes in the box. The cable supplied will not give ALL the power the HDD needs, although it does still function. Just not perfect.
Otherwise, great product. I thought I had broken it, because it was making weird sounds when loading, but I did some research and it is indeed the USB cable supplied. Hope this helps.

EDIT: These ext. HDD devices ARE recommended by Nintendo on their site, and USB 3.0 cables are usually the cause to ALOT of reported ext. HDD noise.

I had a hard time finding the right cable in Norway to make my 1TB Verbatim Store 'n' Go working on the Wii U.

I got this cable and it worked great !

http://dx.com/p/usb-3-0-mate-to-micro-b-micro-usb-3-0-w-usb-c...

• $4.20 with free shipping (From china to norway)
• It took almost a month before it was delivered
• The build quality seems fine.

I finally got enough space to get more games!

I think after I download the free Wii Fit U I may finally need to spring for an HDD, and while most of these suggestions are good, few talk about price. I don't download a ton and so I don't really want to spend that much. What is a good one for pretty cheap? The officially recommended Seagate Expansion one is $69 for 1TB or $90 for 2 TB at Amazon which is the best I've seen so far. Is that probably the best way to go?

@Xyphon22 I don't know if you checked out the first page of this thread but I have been using one since launch and all my games are downloaded and I haven't had any issues

Yeah, other than the "super speed" part (which I typed into the search bar on Amazon and nothing came up) it sounds like the one I am looking at. I went ahead and put it on my wish list so maybe I can get it for Christmas or something.

It's written on the box

So when will the prices of these HDD's go down? Or have they already? I'll need some space soon.

Anyone knows if this one is compatible?
Buffalo DriveStation (HD-LB1.0TU2-EU)

I came across that one when I was searching for the hard drive that is on nintendo.com
(Buffalo 1 TB: HD-LB1.0TU3-US)

I notice a little difference in numbers. The first one has a 2 and the other a 3. I'm guessing that indicates the type of usb? But since the Wii u doesn't support usb 3, it doesn't matter?

I would love to get one soon, so I would appreciate the help!

Okay so I have a question not knowing much about these things. I got a Seagate Backup Plus for my Wii U which is on Nintendo's compatible list, but it only has one USB plug from the drive to the Wii U, no second USB or external power plug which the guide on this site says is necessary. Is there something I can do? Will it be as simple as buying a Y cable somewhere, or will I need to send this back (I got it on Amazon, so I don't know if I can do that)? Thanks for any help.

Basically, notebook drives won't have an external power cable, and desktop drives will.

I have the Seagate Backup Plus 2 tb (STCA2000100) from Nintendo's list as well, and I can confirm that it does indeed have an external power source. Did you check the model number? I brought a list with me when I shopped for mine.

It sounds like you got shafted the cable.

I'm not sure what the model number is. There is one on the label like the one you gave: it is STBU1000100 (it's only a 1 TB). Like I said, I don't know much about these things. I thought a Seagate Backup Plus was a Seagate Backup Plus and it would work. So I guess it is supposed to be for a laptop (it says for Mac and PC, but so does the one on Nintendo's website). So should I try to return it, or do you think it will still work if I can find a Y cable (and if so, does anyone know where I can get one. Neither WalMart nor Best Buy have them)?

@Xyphon22 Here is Nintendo's list, You can see my model number, along with the one you meant to get...
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wiiu/en_na/external_...
Here's the one you bought...
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Backup-Portable-External-STBU10...
Here's the one you meant to buy...
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Backup-Desktop-External-STCA100...

You can see how similar the model numbers are. If it was me, I'd send it back. I bought mine from Best Buy, and I do remember that they didn't carry the 1tb model because it didn't sell well, I was told. I couldn't be happier with mine. I'd stick with Nintendo's suggestions, or at least get one with an external power source.

I use this setup:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J7YBRW/ref=twister_B00AA9Q94C

http://www.amazon.com/eForCity-dual-Micro-B-Cable-Black/dp/B0...

@SCAR392 That's the same Y cable I was looking at getting, and since your hard drive is not on Nintendo's list, either, I think mine will probably work. I think I will chance it and hope I don't get stuck with a hard drive I don't need.

This is the consequence you will suffer from not buying the MadAussie Top Pick

I know! That was the one I was going to get, but then this one was on sale for like $25 cheaper, so I went with it.

From what I've heard, those Buffalo hard drives have a high failure rate. I'd stay away from them.

Also, in the past I've had not one, not two, but THREE Seagate hard drives fail and corrupt data. I lost 360 out of 500 movies on one of them. Never again.

I've had the most luck with Western Digital. They're not perfect (no hard drive is) but they've got the lowest fail rates in the market. I just ordered an external hard drive for my Wii U- WD My Passport Ultra, but I'm waiting on the Y-cable before trying it out (if the hard drive isn't externally powered, it will most likely not work properly unless using a Y-cable, I've heard countless stories of hard drives not working on Wii U, only to find out they didn't have a Y-cable for it). I'll post back after the Y-cable arrives and let you guys know if it works (I'm pretty sure it will- almost any hard drive will work if you have a Y-cable)

@JaxonH If my Seagate fails (which even the most expensive top of the range will too) I can just get another one and download my games again anyway... Serves you right for illegally downloading movies