External drive has died. Which new one should I get?

[alfke]

After 10+ years, my external BD drive no longer powers up. Here is what I need:

Must be external
Hopefully fast
Available in Canada
UHD not required
Prefer if it works out of the box

Thanks in advance all!

Here are my dead drive specs:
Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-12D1S-U
Revision: E401
Serial number: ...
Firmware date: 2013-09-10
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 57

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8600
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E401/ID44
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[zittrig]

First I would get the drive out of the enclosure and test it directly. Is the drive dead or the enclosure?

[dcoke22]

If the testing zittrig suggests proves that the drive is indeed dead, perhaps talk with Bluntman, a seller on this forum helping out his fellow Canadians. https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=21354

[alfke]

I discovered if I hit the drive repeatedly, it sometimes powers on and works for about an hour before it powers off again, resulting in another beating. Its getting worse and worse so I'd rather buy a new one.

Just curious, why would I have to buy a drive privately? Are the new drives disabled for ripping and need to be flashed?

[dcoke22]

I discovered if I hit the drive repeatedly, it sometimes powers on and works for about an hour before it powers off again, resulting in another beating. Its getting worse and worse so I'd rather buy a new one.

Just curious, why would I have to buy a drive privately? Are the new drives disabled for ripping and need to be flashed?

Since you do not require UHD, then you don't have to buy from Bluntman, or any seller here. If you buy the right drive, even if it doesn't support UHD now, it could in the future. The Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide has a list of drives that can be flashed to support LibreDrive. If you buy from a seller you'll end up with a drive that can support UHD and will be properly flashed, tested, and ready to go. The sellers are pretty knowledgeable about the drives they sell and can help you figure out which would be best for you.
If you want a Pioneer drive, which are held in high regard, and you want it to support LibreDrive, then you pretty much have to buy from a seller. Pioneer drives from you local electronics retailer will have a firmware from Pioneer that specifically disables LibreDrive and that can not be downgraded.

[zittrig]

You have to hit the drive directly or the enclosure with the drive in it?

With the drive in it, perhaps a loose contact is the causer and the drive itself is ok?