I have a WD external drive that's not working (model WD800B05-RNN). Paid a pretty penny for it almost 3 yrs ago, runs on AC power and USB 2.0 connection. Someone at C. City told me it probably is fried because they are 'notoriously touchy and a surge can toast them'. I plug it in, lights come on (steady lights on Desktop, Blinking on Notebook). No spinning is heard. On my desktop (XP Pro, SP2) it's not recognized as a USB device plugged in or as a drive. On my notebook (XP Home SP2), it is recognized as a usb device (when I plug it in I get the message it will run slow as it's plugged into a non 2.0 USB port). But the drive is still not recognized under My Computer on the notebook either.

I don't need to get data off of it, it's strictly for backup and all data is also currently stored on internal drives.

I do however, need an external for backup because I don't trust my aging mobo much these days and a rebuild will be in order soon (drat!)

Two questions if you please:
1) Do you think the WD external is toast?
2) Any recommendations for a good external to purchase? I'm willing to spend up to $150. I have 160GB internal (5 partitions) and have used only a little over 25% of that space. So 150GB or so for external would be more than ample for backup storage, but I always try to 'buy ahead' (allowing room for future growth I've read reviews at newegg and C. City. Very conflicting. What newegg users rave about CCity reviewers despise (WDs are not getting great reviews).

TIA
~Kat