Acomdata HD User Manual
QuickStart
Installation Guide
For AcomData External Hard Drives:
• USB 2.0 Drives
• USB 2.0 & FireWire Combo Drives
• USB 2.0 & FireWire 800 Combo Drives
Windows & Mac
Please retain
this guide for
future reference.
Contents
Introduction ............................................................ 2
FireWire and USB 2.0 Compared ..............................
Parts & Accessories List ......................................... 4
System Requirements
Precautions ............................................................
AcomData External Hard Drive at a Glance ................
Connecting the Drive to Your Computer .....................
Installing the USB 2.0 CD (Windows 98SE/ME) ........
Formatting Your AcomData External Hard Drive .......
Formatting the Drive in Windows 98/ME .................
Formatting the Drive in Windows 2000/XP ...............
Formatting the Drive in Mac OS 9 ..........................
Formatting the Drive in Mac OS 10 .........................
How to safely dismount and turn off your
AcomData External Hard Drive ............................... 14
Performing Basic Tasks ......................................... 16
............................................. 5
10
11
12
12
13
3
6
7
8
9
Troubleshooting /
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ........................ 17
Glossary ...............................................................
One Year Limited Warranty
Contact Information .............................................. 25
.................................. 23
21
2 23
Introduction
Welcome, and thank you
for purchasing an AcomData
External Hard Drive. The infor
mation in this QuickStart Guide
pertains to the following models:
• USB 2.0 External Hard Drives
• USB 2.0 & FireWire Combo External Hard Drives;
• USB 2.0 & FireWire 800 Combo External Hard Drives.
In photos and illustrations in this guide, Combo Drives are
shown. (Except for the addition of FireWire ports and logos
on Combo Drives, AcomData USB 2.0 and Combo Drives
are visually identical.)
The following alert symbols are used in this guide:
-
This signifies important information for
ALL users.
USB 2.0 compatibility with USB 1.x
USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.x. However, if
you connect the Drive to a USB 1.x port, it will operate at
USB 1.x speeds.
Combo Drive Users
You have the choice of using either the USB 2.0 or a
FireWire connection. You cannot use the USB 2.0 and
FireWire connections at the same time. You must select
one interface or the other. If you have both USB 2.0 and
FireWire connections available with your computer system,
you may be wondering which interface to use. To help you
decide, see “FireWire and USB 2.0 Compared” on the next
page.
This signifies impor
tant information for
USB 2.0 users.
-
This signifies impor
tant information for
FireWire users.
-
FireWire & USB 2.0
Compared
Data transfer rate of 400 Mbps
(FireWire) and 800 Mbps (FireWire
800)
FireWire is suitable for applications
where delayed or out-of-order data
frames are unacceptable, such as digi
tal video editing.
Supports up to 63 devices
FireWire devices can be linked in a
daisy-chain configuration. With the use
of FireWire hubs, up to 63 devices can
be linked on a single FireWire bus.
Peer-to-peer architecture
FireWire devices are intelligent. Data
transmission can take place without the
need for input from the computer.
Cable length up to 4.5 m
On-bus power up to 45 W
FireWire can power larger, higher
power consumption devices than USB
2.0.
Plug & Play
You do not need to install drivers,
assign unique ID numbers, or connect
terminators.
-
Data transfer rates up to
480 Mbps
With USB, data transfer rates can
vary depending on a number of factors,
including available CPU resources.
Supports up to 127 devices
Connecting more than one or two USB
devices to a computer typically requires
the use of one or more hubs: each hub
can accommodate several USB devices.
Master-slave architecture
The computer dictates data flow to,
from, and between attached devices.
Cable length up to 5 m
On-bus power up to 2.5 W
Suitable for low-power-consumption
devices such as flash card readers.
Plug & Play
You do not need to assign unique ID
numbers, or connect terminators.
most operating system you do not need
to install driv
ers.
On
Hot-swappable
Devices can be added and removed
while the computer is running. Also,
you can turn off the device when not
needed, in order to conserve electricity.
Hot-swappable
Devices can be added and removed
while the computer is running. Also,
you can turn off the device when not
needed, in order to conserve electricity.
4 21
Parts &
Accessories List
The package should contain the following items:
• AcomData External Hard Drive
• USB cable
• FireWire cable
(supplied with Combo Drives only)
• AC adapter and power cord
• USB 2.0 Installation CD
(required for Windows 98SE and ME only)
• Quick Start Installation Guide
• Warranty Registration Card
• If you are missing any items listed above, please contact
Customer Service:
- E-mail: customerservice@acomdata.com
- Telephone: 800-470-4495.
• Please retain a copy of your receipt. You will need it if
warranty repair service is required in the future.
System Requirements
System Requirement for PC
• Pentium-based PC with 233 MHz or faster CPU
• Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, or XP
• 32 MB RAM
• Available USB port (for USB 2.0 Drives)
• Available USB port or FireWire port (for Combo Drives)
Windows 98 users:
• Windows 98 First Edition does not support USB 2.0.
The AcomData External Hard Drive will operate at USB 1.x
speeds on Windows First Edition.
• Windows 98 First Edition does not support FireWire. If
using Windows 98, you must have Windows 98SE.
Windows XP users:
In order to use the USB 2.0 connection, you must have at
least Service Pack 1 for Windows XP.
System Requirements for Mac
• Power Macintosh
(G5, G4, Blue & White G3, iBook or iMac)
• Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X
• Available USB port (for USB 2.0 Drives)
• Available USB port or FireWire port (for Combo Drives)
Mac OS 9 Users:
• We recommended using the latest version (OS 9.2.2).
You can download the updates you need at http://docs.
info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75288.
• Mac OS 9 does not support USB 2.0. The AcomData
External Hard Drive will operate at USB 1.x speeds on OS 9.
6 19
• Mac OS 9 requires USB Mass Storage Support version 1.3.5 or later. You can download the latest update at
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60394.
• Mac OS 9 requires FireWire Support and Enabler version
2.3.3 or higher. You can download the latest update at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86020.
Precautions
Failure to follow the precautions described below may
cause damage to your AcomData External Hard Drive and
void the warranty.
• DO NOT open the case. Doing so will void the warranty.
• Do not use a third-party AC adapter or power cord.
Doing so may damage the Drive and void the warranty.
• DO NOT bump, jar or drop the Drive as this may damage
it or result in loss of data.
• DO NOT try to set the Drive on its side; it is not designed
to be placed on its side. It may fall over and get damaged.
• DO NOT disconnect any cables while the Drive is powered
on without first properly dismounting the device via your
operating system; doing so can result in data loss and pos
sible damage.
• DO NOT set any liquids or beverages on the Drive as they
may damage the internal electronics.
• AcomData highly recommends that you regularly backup the files stored on your AcomData Ex
AcomData is not responsible for any data loss, nor will
AcomData perform any recovery on lost data or files.
ternal Hard Drive.
-
AcomData
External Hard Drive
at a Glance
Data/Power
indicator light
• Lights green when the
Drive is powered on
• Flashes red when the Drive
is reading or writing data
FireWire ports
(Combo Drives only)
• Two ports for daisy chaining
other FireWire devices
USB port
Power switch
AC adapter power port
Stackable Case
If you need more storage, you
can install additional External
Hard Drives without taking up
more desktop space.
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