Acomdata M-2163-V1E User Manual
Hard Drive
For 3.5" IDE hard drives
Contents
Important ............................................................................ 1
AcomData Contact Information ........................................ 4
Welcome! ............................................................................. 5
Product Registration for Warranty Coverage ................... 6
Precautions ......................................................................... 7
Package Contents ............................................................... 8
System Requirements for PC ............................................. 9
System Requirements for Mac ......................................... 10
AcomData 2163 Drive Enclosure at a Glance ................. 11
AcomData 2163 Drive Enclosure Features Explored ..... 12
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 .......................................................................................... 12
FireWire 400 (FireWire-equipped Drives only) .................................... 13
Hot-Pluggable ................................................................................................15
Fanless Design ................................................................................................15
Technical Specifications ................................................... 16
Installing a 3.5” IDE Hard Drive ....................................... 17
1. Configure Your IDE Hard Drive as a Master ......................................17
2. Disassemble the Drive Enclosure ........................................................18
4. Re-assemble the Drive Enclosure ........................................................20
Setting up the Drive ......................................................... 21
Choosing an Orientation (Vertical or Horizontal) ..............................21
Vertical Placement ........................................................................................21
Horizontal Placement ..................................................................................23
Removing the stand .....................................................................................23
Affixing the rubber feet to the Drive case ............................................23
Connecting the Drive to Your Computer ......................... 24
Mounting the Drive ..........................................................26
Mounting a FireWire-Connected Drive .................................................26
Mounting a USB-Connected Drive ..........................................................27
Naming Your Drive ............................................................ 28
Mac Users: ........................................................................................................28
PC Users: ...........................................................................................................28
Formatting the Drive ........................................................ 29
Formatting the Drive in Windows 2000 or XP .....................................30
Formatting the Drive in Windows 98SE or Me .................................... 31
Formatting the Drive in Mac OS X ...........................................................32
Formatting the Drive in Mac OS 9 ...........................................................33
Using Your Drive for Routine Tasks ................................. 34
How to Safely Dismount & Turn Off the Drive ................ 35
PC Users ............................................................................................................35
Mac Users .........................................................................................................35
Maintaining Your Drive & Safeguarding Your Data ....... 36
Backing Up Your Data ..................................................................................36
Defragmenting and Optimizing a Hard Drive .....................................36
Examining and Repairing a Hard Drive .................................................37
Protect Your Data from Viruses .................................................................37
Cleaning the Drive Case ..............................................................................37
Frequently Asked Questions ........................................... 38
Troubleshooting ............................................................... 41
Troubleshooting for PC Users ...................................................................41
Troubleshooting for Mac users ................................................................. 44
Glossary ............................................................................. 46
One Year Limited Warranty .............................................. 48
Obtaining Service for Your AcomData Product .............. 50
How to Purchase Accessories ........................................... 51
Notices ............................................................................... 52
AcomData
Contact Information
Address:
3410 Pomona Blvd.
Pomona, CA 91768
Telephone:
(909) 348-0680
Fax:
(909) 598-8663
Web Site:
www.acomdata.com
Customer Service:
customerservice@acomdata.com
Technical Support:
techsupport@acomdata.com
Pre-Sales Questions:
sales@acomdata.com
Welcome!
Welcome, and thank you for purchasing an AcomData 2163 External Hard
Drive Enclosure. Your AcomData product features high-quality construction,
advanced engineering, and state-ofthe-art technology, designed to provide years of reliable performance.
The information in this guide pertains
to models HDEXXU2E3 (USB 2.0 Drive Enclosures) and
HDEXXU2FE3 (USB 2.0 & FireWire Drive Enclosures).
The model number of your Drive is printed on the UPC label
affixed to the box, and on the label affixed to the Drive
Enclosure.
This guide contains important information for the proper
installation, use, and care of your AcomData product. Please
read this guide carefully and retain it for future reference.
Symbols used in this guide:
THIS SYMBOL ALERTS THE READER TO
A WARNING OR TO SOME VERY IMPOR-
TANT INFORMATION.
THIS SYMBOL ALERTS THE READER TO
HELPFUL TIPS AND OTHER INFORMATION
THAT MAY BE USEFUL.
THE WINDOWS LOGO ALERTS THE
READER TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION
SPECIFIC TO WINDOWS USERS.
– 5 –
THE APPLE LOGO ALERTS THE READER
TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION SPECIFIC
TO MAC USERS.
THE USB 2.0 LOGO ALERTS THE
READER TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION
SPECIFIC TO USB 2.0 USERS.
THE FIREWIRE LOGO ALERTS THE
READER TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION
SPECIFIC TO FIREWIRE USERS.
Product Registration for Warranty Coverage
Registration is required in the event that your product needs
servicing. (See “Obtaining Service for Your AcomData Product”
for details.)
Online Registration
You can register online at www.acomdata.com. Once you
enter the site, click on the Product Registration button and
follow the instructions on screen.
Advantages of Online Registration:
1. It’s fast, free, and your product is registered immediately;
2. Free unlimited online technical support;
3. You get your own personalized support page:
• download software updates
• access all online support services
• view all of your registered AcomData products
• manage your personal profile;
4. If you need warranty service, arranging product returns is
faster and easier if you registered online.
Mail-in Registration
You may also register via mail by filling out and returning
the Registration Card included in the package.
When registering your AcomData product you will need the
Model number and Serial number. Both of these are printed on
the UPC label affixed to the bottom of the box, and on the label
affixed to the Drive Enclosure.
– 6 –
Precautions
Failure to follow the precautions below may result in damage to
the device, loss of data, and voiding of the warranty.
• If using your AcomData product as a general-purpose
storage device (as opposed to a backup device) AcomData
strongly recommends that you backup the files stored on
the device. AcomData is not responsible for data loss or
corruption; nor will AcomData perform recovery of lost
data or files.
• If the device is malfunctioning, contact AcomData
Technical Support via the online Customer Support page
at www.acomdata.com or call (909) 348-0680 (Pacific Time)
during regular business hours.
• Do not expose the device to rain or use it in damp or wet
conditions.
• Never place containers of liquids on the device. This can
damage the device and increase the risk of electric shock,
short-circuiting, fire, or personal injury.
• If the device has a three-prong plug, never plug the device
into a two-prong outlet.
• Do not expose the device to temperatures outside the
range of 5° C to 55° C (41° F to 131° F).
• Do not use a third-party AC adapter/power cord.
• Do not bump, jar or drop the device.
• Do not try to stand the device in a way not described in
this guide.
• Do not disconnect any cables, while the device is powered
on, without first dismounting the device.
– 7 –
Package Contents
AcomData 2163
Drive Enclosure
USB cable
6-pin to 6-pin
FireWire cable
(FireWire-equipped
models only)
AC Adapter &
Power Cord
User’s Guide
USB 2.0 Driver
Software CD
Mail-In
Registration Card
Rubber Feet
Drive Mounting
Screws
If you are missing any item listed above, please contact
Customer Service at customerservice@acomdata.com, or call
800-470-4495.
– 8 –
System Requirements for PC
• Minimum 233 MHz processor
• Windows XP, 2000, Me or 98SE
• Available data port:
- USB 2.0 users: USB port
- FireWire 400 users: 6-pin FireWire port
Windows XP/USB 2.0 users:
You must have Windows XP Service Pack 1 or later or the
Drive will operate at USB 1.x speeds. Go to www.microsoft.
com and click on the Windows Update link.
Windows 2000 users:
In order to use the USB 2.0 or the FireWire connection, you
must have Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 or later. Go to
www.microsoft.com and click on the Windows Update link.
Windows Me/USB 2.0 users:
We strongly recommend getting the latest updates: go to
www.microsoft.com and click on the Windows Update link.
Windows 98SE users:
• In order to use the USB 2.0 connection you must install
the USB 2.0 driver included on the supplied CD. (See
“Mounting a USB-Connected Drive” for instructions.)
• In order to use the FireWire connection, you will need
Windows 98 Second Edition 1394 Storage Supplement.
You can download it at http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/default.asp.
(Pentium, Celeron, AMD, etc.)
– 9 –
System Requirements for Mac
• Power Macintosh (G5, G4, G3, iBook, PowerBook or iMac)
• Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X
• Available data port:
- USB 2.0 users: USB port
- FireWire 400 users: 6-pin FireWire port
Mac OS 9 Users:
• Mac OS 9 does not support USB 2.0. If using the USB 2.0
interface on OS 9, the Drive will operate at USB 1.x speeds.
• For FireWire connectivity, Mac OS 9 requires FireWire
software version 2.7 or later. If you have Mac OS 9.1 or
later you already have FireWire 2.7 or later. Mac OS 9
updates are available at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.
html?artnum=75288.
USB 1.x compatibility:
This device is backward compatible with USB 1.x. However, if
you connect this device to a USB 1.x port, it will operate at
USB 1.x speeds (up to 12 Mbps).
FireWire users with laptops:
If your laptop has a 4-pin FireWire port, you will need a 6-pin
to 4-pin FireWire cable. See “How to Purchase Accessories.”
– 10 –
AcomData 2163 Drive Enclosure at a Glance
FRONT VIEW
Power-Data Light
Lights up blue when powered on. Flashes
red when reading or writing data.
Zinc Alloy Stand
Can be removed for horizontal placement.
BACK PANEL
Actual layout may not be exactly as shown.
USB 2.0 Enclosures
Power Switch
USB 2.0 Port
Power Port
USB 2.0 & FireWire
Enclosures
Power Switch
USB 2.0 Port
FireWire 400 Ports
Power Port
– 11 –
AcomData 2163 Drive Enclosure Features Explored
Hi-Speed USB 2.0
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an interface technology for the
serial transmission of digital data. The original standard
(USB 1.x) had an interface transfer rate of up to 12 Mbps.
USB 2.0 has a maximum interface transfer rate of 480 Mbps
(60 Megabytes/s) –– that’s up to 40 times faster than USB 1.
Interface transfer rates up to 480 Mbps
480 Mbps is equivalent to 60 Megabytes per second. 480
Mbps is the maximum speed; data transfer rates will 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
usually requires the use of one or more USB-equipped hubs;
a hub can typically accommodate several USB devices.
Master-slave architecture
The computer (the master) dictates data flow to, from, and
between attached USB devices (the slaves).
Cable length up to 5 m
On-bus power up to 2.5 W
USB can supply up to 2.5 W of electrical power, making it
possible to use many low-power-consumption devices without a dedicated electrical connection.
– 12 –
Plug & Play
You do not need to assign ID numbers, or connect terminators. On most operating system you do not need to install
drivers. Your AcomData 2163 Drive Enclosure comes with
USB 2.0 driver software for Windows 98SE users.
Hot-Pluggable
Devices can be added/removed while the computer is running. Always dismount a hard drive before turning if off/disconnecting it.
FireWire 400 (FireWire-equipped Drives only)
FireWire is a serial data input/output technology developed
by Apple Computer and Texas Instruments. The first FireWire
standard was approved by the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers (IEEE) in 1995.
400 Mbps Interface Transfer Rate
FireWire 400 can transmit data at up to 400 Mbps (50 MB/s).
FireWire supports both isochronous and asynchronous data
transfers. Isochronous mode provides guaranteed transmission of data at defined intervals; it’s used when delayed or
out-of-order data frames are unacceptable, such as for
capturing digital video. In asynchronous mode the intervals between transmissions can vary and data can be resent if
missed. Asynchronous mode is used for routine data transfers.
Supports up to 63 devices
FireWire devices can be linked in a daisy-chain, where the
devices are connected to each other in series. A hub is only
required when a very large number of devices will share
– 13 –
the same FireWire bus. With the use of FireWire hubs, up to
63 devices can be linked on a single FireWire bus. FireWireequipped 2163 Enclosures come with two FireWire ports:
one port is for connecting the device to your computer; the
other can be used for daisy-chaining other FireWire devices.
Peer-to-peer, host-independent architecture
Data transmissions between FireWire devices on the same
bus can take place without the need for input from the host
computer. This independence from the host is one of the
reasons FireWire devices are, on average, faster than USB 2.0
devices in routine day-to-day use, even though the rated
maximum data transfer is lower than that for USB 2.0.
Cable length up to 4.5 m
Standard FireWire 400 cables use 6-pin connectors at both
ends. Cables with 4-pin connectors are also available for
connecting FireWire devices to laptop/notebook computers
and other devices that have 4-pin ports.
On-bus electrical power up to 45 watts
FireWire can supply up to 45 W of power, making it possible
to use many low-power-consumption devices without a
dedicated electrical connection. When a device is powered
via FireWire, power is delivered only when actually needed.
Plug & Play
You do not need to install drivers, assign unique ID numbers,
or connect terminators.
Hot Pluggable
FireWire devices can be connected to or disconnected from
the computer while the computer is running. Always dismount a hard drive before turning off and disconnecting it.
– 14 –
Hot-Pluggable
You can connect or disconnect FireWire devices while your
computer is running. This makes portability much easier
and saves you the time and hassle of shutting down and
restarting your comp
off while your computer is running. Let’s say you use your
Drive solely for data backups–so the Drive only needs to run
a few minutes every day–but your computer is on all day. If
the Drive was not hot-pluggable, you would either have to
shut down your computer every time you wanted to turn
the Drive on or off, or you would have to leave the Drive
running all day unnecessarily.
turn off your computer before turning off and disconnecting the
Drive.
uter.
You can also turn a device on and
Always dismount the Drive or
Fanless Design
All hard drives generate some heat as a result of normal
operation, which is why hard drives often have big, noisy
fans. The 2163 was engineered to be more efficient and to
generate less heat, such that it does not need a fan, allowing us to make the drive as compact and lightweight––and
quiet––as possible.
– 15 –
Technical Specifications
Model #:
USB 2.0 ............................................................................HDEXXU2E3
FireWire & USB 2.0 ................................................... HDEXXU2FE3
Dimensions:
(inches) .................................................................... 5.3” X 1.5” X 8.8”
(mm) ................................................................134.6 X 38.1 X 223.5
Weight ...........................................................................780 g / 1.72 lbs.
Interface transfer rate (max. Mbps)
USB 2.0 .............................................................................................480
FireWire 400 ...................................................................................400
Chassis (approved/recognized) .................................... FCC/CE/UL
Power Requirement ..............+5VDC (+/- 5%) +12VDC (+/- 5%)
Startup current (max A) ........................................................2.0 (12V)
Idle (W) ................................................................................................... 4.9
External Power Supply ...................... 40W switching UL/CSA/CE
AC Input .................................................... 100-240V~, 50/60Hz 1.5A
DC output ........................................................12V@3.33A 40W max.
Ambient temperature (operating) ................................ 5ºC – 55ºC
Relative humidity (non-condensing) ............................ 8% – 90%
Maximum wet bulb (non-condensing) ............................... 29.4ºC
– 16 –
Loading...