So I got a fat 2TB WD Elements Desktop external for Christmas.
Today the power supply died.
Apparently, the cheap as **** power supplies they were shipping them with have had so many problems, they are not longer even using that company any more. Their forums are filled with similar complaints - six months in, the power supplies go belly up.
I mean, the power supply even FEELS cheap. To test and make sure it wasn't the HDD itself dying, I borrowed a much older cord and supply from my husband's ancient 500 GB Seagate external (seriously, it's approaching it's 7th or 8th birthday and is still chugging along. That thing is a tank.) I got lights when I plugged it in with that supply. The supply on his external felt more like a laptop power supply than the flimsy un-grounded thing WD gave me in December. The plastic was smooth, supple, and faintly rubbery on his. Mine is stiff and feels more like a twist tie.
TL;DR: The value of a deal is only as great as the warranty on your power supply.
Time to RMA this ******.