I have been frustrated for quite a while about the loud noise coming from my Linkstation HD-H250LAN. I once tried to open it but without success. Today I was finally able to get it open and, after dealing with the fan noise, it is quiet as a sleeping baby without a stuffy nose. Here's what I did (it won't invalidate the now well out of date warranty):
To open the case (before you go through all this, see my last step at the end of this description -- it may be all you need to do).
- Remove the bottom by sliding it to the unlock position and remove it.
- Slide the top and bottom portions of the gray sleeve back (the front is likely to stay attached) so they can be lifted off. Then work the front portion off -- it make take some prying (it might not necessary to pull this off the front -- try the next two steps without doing so).
- Peel back the model name tag on the back to expose a Philips-head screw and remove the screw.
- On each of the exposed top and bottom will see two plastic catches that need to be pressed down and unhitched so that the sides come open. One side has nothing attached to it, although there is a gray plastic button that may come out; this is the button for the on-off switch. The back plate has the power connector and fan connected, so be careful not to break the wiring connectors.
Now you can clean the dust out with a compressed air can.
I carefully removed the fan from the back panel by prying up the two clips holding it in. When it was free of the panel I carefully plugged in a power cable and turned the unit on by pressing the red button the exposed front. The fan started and was incredibly quiet. I turned off the unit and unplugged it. Then I reinstalled the fan, making sure it was firmly seated inside the clips. I then put the unit sides and back back together -- it took a bit of manipulation-- making sure the gray button was properly placed over the red on-off button, replaced the screw, the gray surround sleeve and the bottom stand.
It still made a tiny bit of noise when all was reassembed. I was able to quiet it more by sliding the point of round toothpick in between the case back panel and front of the fan case. This seemed to set the fan body more firmly.
IT MAY BE THAT THIS LAST STEP WOULD WORK WITHOUT NEEDING TO OPEN THE CASE: TRY TO SEAT THE FAN MORE FIRMLY BY SLIPPING SOMETHING LIKE THE TIP OF A FLAT TOOTHPICK BETWEEN THE BACK PANEL AND THE BLACK FRONT OF THE FAN CASE IN A COUPLE OF PLACES.
Good luck.