Topic: Wii U external hard drive questions

So I'm looking into buying a External HDD before the Bayonetta 2 launch, and really just had some simple questions. I'm not all that clever when it comes to tech but based of my research I'm feeling that this is what I should buy: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006D9DBPS/sr=8-1/qid=1413...

So the obvious question is will this work, and is there anything else that I need to get for it to function properly? Also if I need anything else it would be ideal if you could link to Amazon UK, or a place that ships to the UK. Thank you to all who are able to help

Yes, the drive you link to would probably work, but the hardware encryption thing seems like an unnecessary overkill to me, making it cost more. It seems more suitable for secure office work.

Here's a 2TB drive for a lower price (without the hardware encryption), also with external power:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seagate-STBV2000200-Expansion-Desktop...

You should't need anything else to set up an external HD with the Wii U.

Okay, I finally got a new HD for my photos and videos, thus allowing me to use my older external HD with power to connect to my Wii U. I have everything hooked up correctly, I formatted the HD by following the on screen instructions on the Wii U, but for some reason I'm having problems with downloads. I'm currently trying to download the original Disney Infinity for my kids and I hope to follow this up with Bayonetta 2 but for some reason, it won't finish downloading in sleep mode because of the HD. It will download if I let the Wii U on, but as most know, the downloads take forever to fully download. I've had no problems in the past downloading DKC:TF, Wii Party U, Wario, and Windwaker over night with the Wii U in sleep mode. All of these titles have since been successfully moved to the HD.

Try to turn off automatic power-down in System Settings->Power Settings, prior to downloading the game.

Ideally I would like to download games at night while I sleep, rather then during the day when I would like to be playing games. I guess, if I can't figure this out then I will turn off the automatic power-down setting and download the games while I do something else.

If your looking for something like PS+ that DLs games every other night at 2AM you aren't going to find it. What I usually do when I want something large - I got the 10GB free Disney Infinity - is purchase it from the eShop then pause it in the DL management. When I'm done playing and ready for bed I resume the DL. And if your external isn't working in sleep mode just leave the Wii U overnight and turn it off in the morning I guess? (Not sure it has auto-off like PS3 either, maybe it does never tried it, but for me DL while sleeping is a nice substitute.)

Actually I'm just looking to down load my games I purchase on eshop, in sleep mode. I have done this in the past with large games like DKC:TF and had no problems. I downloaded them before bed and they're ready to rock and roll the next morning. Unfortunately 2-3 large Wii U games fill up the included HD, so I purchased an external, and it appears that my external turns off when the Wii U goes into sleep mode and corrupts the game. I got around this yesterday by letting my Wii U on and turning the automatic off feature off. My fear of letting it on while I sleep is overheating? I need to look into how long the system stays on for prior to turning off with the automatic off turn on.

@dkxcalibur
Make sure stadby functions are on, in the system settings. You can also check your download environment in the download management area. Do those tests. If everything on the Wii U is set correctly, the problem you're having has to do with your network and/or your external HDD.

If your internet isn't working properly, it might be hard for the console to connect while in standby, and if your external HDD isn't really all that great. it might be having a problem with reading/writing data while the Wii U itself is in standby. Your internet not being able to handle standby downloads is alot more likely than the HDD not being able to read/write whatever the internet is sending to it.

Like I stated before, my problem is not with downloading games. Prior to getting my HDD, I was able to download the following games while in sleep mode with absolutely no issues: DKC:TF, Wario, Wii Party U, and Windwaker. My internet is fine. It's something with my HDD and the Wii U in sleep mode. I think I'm going to adjust the "automatic off" time to 2-3 hours and let my Wii U on to download games.

I'm not sure, but I think that your hard drive may be going in sleep mode. I didn't have that problem with mine, but it would freeze when going to the home menu since the hard drive would go into sleep mode. If you tap on data management in the settings then hold +, - and down, you will be given the option to turn sleep mode off.

Ok. If things don't finish downloading within that 2-3 hour timespan, and your Wii U shuts off, wouldn't that corrupt your data, as well? Maybe you could link us to what HDD you have.

I'll check the exact model of the HDD tonight when I get home. It's a Seagate 1tb and it has it's own power supply. I was guessing that the window of 2-3 hours would be enough based off of how long the Disney Infinity took to download. It took less then 2 hours because I left for soccer practice and when I returned it was done.

This is not the end of the world. It works, it just doesn't work the way I hoped. Worst case scenario, I could unplug my HDD from my Wii U when I want to download something, and then move it to the HDD later.