LaCie Big Disk User guide
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
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LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Foreword
page 1
Copyrights
Copyright © 2003 LaCie. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
written consent of LaCie.
Trademarks
Apple, Mac, Macintosh and FireWire are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Microsoft, Windows 98, Windows
98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition and Windows XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Sony and iLink are registered trademarks of Sony Electronics. Other trademarks mentioned in this manual are the property of
their respective owners.
Changes
The material in this document is for information only and subject to change without notice. While reasonable efforts have
been made in the preparation of this document to assure its accuracy, LaCie assumes no liability resulting from errors or omissions in this document, or from the use of the information contained herein. LaCie reserves the right to make changes or revisions in the product design or the product manual without reservation and without obligation to notify any person of such
revisions and changes.
FCC Statement:
Warning! Modifications not authorized by the manufacturer may void the user’s authority to operate this device.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try and correct the interference
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Canada Compliance Statement
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Manufacturer’s Declaration for CE Certification
We, LaCie, solemnly declare that this product conforms to the following European standards:
Class B EN60950, EN55022, EN50082-1, EN61000-3-2
With reference to the following conditions:
73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive
89/336/EEC EMC Directive
Foreword
page 2
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Health and Safety Precautions
page 3
Health And Safety Precautions
Only qualified persons are authorized to carry out maintenance on this device.
• Read this User's Guide carefully, and follow the correct procedure when setting up the device.
• Do not open your hard drive or attempt to disassemble or modify it. Never insert any metallic object into the drive to avoid
any risk of electrical shock, fire, short-circuiting or dangerous emissions. Your hard drive contains no user-serviceable parts. If
it appears to be malfunctioning, have it inspected by a qualified LaCie Technical Support representative.
• Never expose your device to rain, or use it near water, or in damp or wet conditions. Never place objects containing liquids on the drive, as they may spill into its openings. Doing so increases the risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting, fire or
personal injury.
General Use Precautions:
• Do not expose the hard drive to temperatures outside the range of 5° C to 45° C (41° F to 104° F). Doing so may damage
the drive or disfigure its casing. Avoid placing your drive near a source of heat or exposing it to sunlight (even through a window). Inversely, placing your drive in an environment that is too cold or humid may damage the unit.
• Always unplug the hard drive from the electrical outlet if there is a risk of lightning or if it will be unused for an extended
period of time. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting or fire.
• Use only the power supply shipped with the device.
• Do not use the hard drive near other electrical appliances such as televisions, radios or speakers. Doing so may cause interference which will adversely affect the operation of the other products.
• Do not place the drive near sources of magnetic interference, such as computer displays, televisions or speakers. Magnetic
interference can affect the operation and stability of your hard drive.
• Do not place heavy objects on top of the drive or use excessive force on it.
• Never use excessive force on your drive. If you detect a problem, consult the "Troubleshooting" section in this manual.
• Protect your hard drive from excessive exposure to dust during use or storage. Dust can build up inside the device, increasing the risk of damage or malfunction.
• Never use benzene, paint thinners, detergent or other chemical products to clean the outside of the drive. Such products will
disfigure and discolor the casing. Instead, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe the device.
Warning! The drive's warranty may be void as a result of the failure to respect the precautions listed above.
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Health And Safety Precautions 3
1. Introduction 6
1.1. Icons Used in This Manual 6
1.2. What Is FireWire? 7
1.3. What Is USB 2.0? 7
1.4. LaCie Storage Utilities Software 8
2. Getting To Know Your LaCie Big Disk 9
2.1. Minimum System Requirements 9
2.2. LaCie Big Disk – Views 10
2.3. FireWire Cables And Connectors 11
2.4. USB 2.0 Cables And Connectors 11
3. Setting Up Your LaCie Big Disk 12
3.1. Connecting The Power Supply 12
3.2. Installing Your LaCie Big Disk 12
3.2.1. FireWire 800/IEEE 1394b 12
3.2.1.1. Mac OS 10.2.4 And higher 12
3.2.1.2. Windows 2000 And Windows XP 13
3.2.2. FireWire 400/IEEE 1394 13
3.2.2.1. Mac OS 10.x 13
3.2.2.2. Mac OS 9.x 14
3.2.2.3. Windows 98SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 and Windows XP 15
3.2.3. USB 2.0 15
3.2.3.1. Mac OS 10.x 15
3.2.3.2. Mac OS 9.x 16
3.2.3.3. Windows Me, Windows 2000 and Windows XP 17
3.3. Installing Multiple FireWire Peripherals 17
3.4. Installing Multiple USB Peripherals 17
3.5. Disconnecting Your LaCie Big Disk 18
3.6. Switching Between USB 2.0 & FireWire 18
3.7. Attaching The Drive Stand 19
4. Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie Big Disk 20
4.1. Mac Users 20
4.1.1. Formatting And Partitioning Using Mac OS 10.x 20
4.2. Windows Users 21
4.2.1. Formatting And Partitioning Using Windows 2000 And Windows XP 21
4.2.2. Formatting And Partitioning Using Windows 98SE And Windows Me 23
Table of Contents
page 4
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
5. Technical Information 24
5.1. User Advice When Using FireWire 24
5.2. User Advice When Using USB 2.0 24
5.3. Data Transfers 25
5.4. Available Storage Capacity 26
5.5. FAT 32 vs. NTFS 26
5.6. Mac OS Standard vs. Mac OS Extended 27
5.7. USB 2.0 vs. FireWire 400 vs. FireWire 800 27
6. Troubleshooting 29
7. Contacting Customer Service 34
7.1. Warranty 36
8. Appendix 1 – FireWire Questions And Answers 37
9. Appendix 2 – USB Questions And Answers 40
10. Glossary 42
Table of Contents
page 5
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Introduction
page 6
1. Introduction
Congratulations on the purchase of your new LaCie Big Disk. This hard drive system will give you a unique combination of
compatibility and convenience, as well as generous storage capacity. LaCie’s Big Disk is ideally suited for a wide range of
high-end, high-traffic environments, including: servers, workstations, video/audio editing and database management. For
even greater flexibility, your LaCie external U&I (one USB 2.0 port and two FireWire 800/IEEE 1394b ports) hard drive system is also cross-platform, which enables you to use it on both Macs and PCs.
The LaCie Big Disk was designed to allow you to use your desk-space efficiently – included with your LaCie Big Disk is a drive
stand, so you can stand the drive vertically, freeing up even more valuable space. Engineered to be rack mountable, you can
quickly and easily integrate the LaCie drive into your standard 19-inch computer equipment racks using the LaCie rackmount
kit (sold separately).
With all it can do for you, we’re confident that your LaCie Big Disk will quickly become an important tool in your day-to-day
business and personal computing.
This manual will help you to:
• Install your new device properly
• Get your drive up and running
• Quickly learn how to operate it
1.1. Icons Used In This Manual
Italicized paragraphs feature an icon describing the type of information being given.
Important Note Technical Information or News
Warning! (This icon indicates potential hazard).
Precautions
Always follow the basic precautions to use your LaCie Big Disk safely and correctly. Respecting these guidelines will help to
avoid the possibility of personal injury to yourself or others, as well as to prevent damage to your device and other computer
equipment. For a complete list of precautions, please see Health And Safety Pr
Warranty
LaCie accepts no liability for any loss of data during the use of this device, or for any of the problems caused as a result.
Under no circumstances does LaCie guarantee the reliability of the hard drive.
ecautions.
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Introduction
page 7
Manual Updates
LaCie is constantly striving to give you the most up-to-date, comprehensive User’s Manuals available on the market. It is our
goal to provide you with a friendly, easy-to-use format that will help you quickly install and utilize the many functions of your
new device.
If your manual does not reflect the configurations of the product that you purchased, please check our Web site
.lacie.com) for the most current version available, on the page of the product you purchased.
(www
1.2. What Is FireWire?
FireWire, also known as IEEE 1394, is a high-speed serial input/output technology for connecting peripheral devices to a
computer or to each other, and FireWire 800 is the implementation of the new IEEE 1394b standard. Pushing the speed barrier to new limits, FireWire 800 offers increased bandwidth and extended cabling distance between devices. FireWire 800 is
ideal for bandwidth-intensive applications, such as audio, video and graphics. Benefits of FireWire 800 include:
• Resourceful architecture: FireWire 800 reduces delays in arbitration and signal distortion, and increases throughput.
• Hot-pluggable: devices can be added and removed while the bus is active.
• Backwards compatibility: adapter cables allow FireWire 400 devices to operate under the FireWire 800 port.
• Isochronous data delivery: no dropped frames – FireWire 800 supports real-time data delivery.
• Flexible: up to 63 devices can be connected on a single bus.
Please see Appendix 1 – Fir
FireWire Icons
Theses icons will help you easily identify the FireWire interface. They appear on FireWire cables, and next to the FireWire
port connectors on certain computers.
FireWire icon iLink icon
DV icon
eWire Questions And Answers for a more detailed discussion of FireWire’s uses and capabilities.
1.3. What Is USB 2.0?
The new USB 2.0 standard provides higher bandwidth for high-speed peripherals such as external hard drives, high-speed
scanners, CD-RW and DVD drives. USB 2.0 delivers transfer rates of 480Mb/s, while conveniently maintaining backward
compatibility with USB 1.1 devices.
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Introduction
page 8
USB 2.0 can still be used to connect lower-speed USB 1.1 ports and devices like digital cameras, scanners, modems, keyboards, mice, joysticks and printers. In the USB 2.0 system, existing USB peripherals do not have to be upgraded, and lowerspeed devices will not require additional performance, instead operating as USB 1.1 devices.
Please see Appendix 2 – USB Questions And Answers
USB Icons
These icons will help you easily identify the USB interfaces. They appear on USB cables and next to the USB port connectors
on certain computers.
USB 1.1 icon USB 2.0 icon
for a more detailed discussion of USB’s uses and capabilities.
1.4. LaCie Storage Utilities Software
The LaCie Storage Utilities CD is a hybrid CD-ROM that has the Mac version, Silverlining Pro and SilverKeeper, and the PC
version, Silverlining 98, on the same CD. Mac users will be able to only view and use the Mac portion, and PC users will be
able to only view and use the PC version.
Mac Users Using Mac OS 9.x
Please see the Silverlining and SilverKeeper manuals for instructions on how to use this software. The manuals are located on
your LaCie Storage Utilities CD in PDF format.
Mac Users Using Mac OS 10.x
Use the formatting and partitioning capabilities in the Apple Disk Utility. Please refer to 4.1.1. For
Using Mac OS 10.x for more information.
matting And Partitioning
Please see the SilverKeeper manual for instructions on how to use this software. The manual is located on your LaCie Storage
Utilities CD in PDF format.
PC Users Using Windows 2000 and Windows XP
Use the formatting and partitioning capabilities that are included with your operating system. Please see 4.2.1. For
And Partitioning Using Windows 2000 And Windows XP for more details.
PC Users Using Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) and Windows Me
You have the option of using Silverlining 98, included with your drive, or using the formatting and partitioning capabilities in
your operating system. Please see 4.2.2. For
details.
matting And Partitioning Using Windows 98SE And Windows Me for more
matting
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
2. Getting To Know Your LaCie Big Disk
What can your external hard drive system do?
• Store and exchange data between several computers.
• Back up your computers’ internal hard drive.
• Store files created by your various applications.
2.1. Minimum System Requirements
FireWire 800
Hardware Requirements for FireWire 800:
• Mac: G4 with a FireWire 800/IEEE 1394b interface card
• PC: Pentium III or higher compatible processor,
with a FireWire 800/IEEE 1394b interface card
• 128MB RAM or higher
FireWire 400
Hardware Requirements for FireWire 400:
• Mac: G3 or greater, with FireWire 400/IEEE 1394a interface card
• PC: Pentium II or higher -compatible processor, with a FireWire/IEEE
1394/iLink interface card (SBP-2 compatible) that supports mass storage devices.
• 64MB RAM or greater
Getting To Know Your LaCie Big Disk
page 9
System Requirements for FireWire 800:
• Mac OS 10.2.4 or higher
• Windows 2000 and Windows XP
System Requirements for FireWire 400:
• Mac OS 9.x (Apple FireWire support 2.3.3 and greater) and 10.x
• Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 and Windows XP
Important Note: If you only have a 4-pin connector on your
FireWire 400 interface card, you will need to purchase a 4-to6 pin FireWire cable.
USB 2.0
Hardware Requirements for USB:
• Mac: G3 or greater, with USB 2.0 or 1.1 interface card
• PC: Pentium II or higher -compatible processor, with a USB 2.0 or 1.1 card
• 32MB RAM or greater
System Requirements for USB:
• Mac OS 9.x and 10.x (Apple USB support 1.3.5 and greater)
• Windows 2000, Windows Me and Windows XP
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Getting To Know Your LaCie Big Disk
page 10
2.2. LaCie Big Disk - Views
Front View
1 – On/Off Button / Power LED/Activity LED
Push the button to power the drive on. The LED remains lit to show
that the drive is on, and blinks to indicate drive activity.
1
Back View
1 – Power Supply Connector
This is where you plug in the AC adapter supplied with the
drive. See section 3.1. Connecting The Power Supply
information.
2 – FireWire and USB 2.0 Connectors
This is where you plug in the FireWire or USB cables furnished with the drive. See section 3.2. Installing Y
Big Disk for more information.
3 – Ventilation Outlet
Helps to keep your drive cool during operation. Be sure not to
block this opening when using your drive.
4 – Lock Slot
This slot is used to connect an anti-theft system, such as the
LaCie Security Lock, for maximum protection. Refer to your anti-theft system documentation for details on how to connect the
lock.
5 – Rackmount Grooves
Used for mounting the drive’s stand (see the 3.7. Attaching The Drive Stand
drive with the rackmount kit (sold separately).
6 – Serial Number Sticker
This is where you will find your LaCie drive's serial number. Write down the serial number and keep it in a safe place,
because you will need to provide the number in the event you have to call LaCie Technical Support for any reason in regards
to the drive’s performance. The serial number would also come in handy if your drive is lost or stolen.
for more
our LaCie
5
4
32
section for instructions), and for mounting your
21
5
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Side View
1
2.3. FireWire Cables And Connectors
There are three types of FireWire 800 cables on the market: 9to-9-pin, 9-to-6-pin, and 9-to-4-pin. FireWire 800 ports are 9pin, and FireWire 400 ports are 6-pin or 4-pin. The 9-to-9-pin
cable, which use beta connectors (and is also known as the
beta to beta cable), is used to connect a FireWire 800
equipped device to a FireWire 800 port. The 9-to-6-pin and 9to-4-pin cables, called bilingual connectors, are used to connect
FireWire 800 ports to FireWire 400 ports. Most FireWire-
9-pin to 9-pin Cable
equipped laptop computers feature 4-pin FireWire connectors,
so to connect your LaCie drive to a laptop, you will need to
purchase a 9-to-4-pin cable.
Getting To Know Your LaCie Big Disk
page 11
1 – Rackmount Grooves
Used for mounting the drive’s stand (see the 3.7. Attaching The Drive
Stand section for instructions), and for mounting your drive with the
rackmount kit (sold separately).
9-pin to 6-pin Cable
Important Note: If the cable supplied with the LaCie drive does not meet your requirements, please contact your
computer supply specialist.
2.4. USB Cables And Connectors
Your LaCie drive is shipped with a USB 2.0-certified USB cable, to ensure maximum data
transfer performance when connected to a USB 2.0 port. The cable will also work when connected to a USB 1.1 port, but drive performance will be limited to USB 1.1 transfer rates.
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Setting Up Your LaCie Big Disk
3. Setting Up Your LaCie Big Disk
3.1. Connecting The Power Supply
To operate the drive, you must use the AC adapter supplied with it.
Warning! Use only the AC adapter supplied with your LaCie drive. Using any other power cable may cause dam-
age to the device and void your warranty.
Important Note: You may use your LaCie drive when in a foreign country, thanks to its auto-switching 100-240 Volt
power supply. To be able to use this feature, you may need to purchase an appropriate adapter. Consult LaCie
Technical Support for assistance in choosing the right adapter. LaCie accepts no responsibility for any damage to the
drive resulting from the use of an inappropriate adapter. Using an adapter other than one authorized by LaCie will
void your warranty.
Connecting The AC Adapter To The Drive
1) Insert the round, four-pin metallic plug of the AC cable into the power input located at the rear of the drive.
page 12
2) Connect the wall-side plug to a power socket.
Disconnecting The AC Adapter From The Drive
1) Turn the drive off and wait for it to spin down (+/- 10 sec.).
2) Hold the drive steady with one hand, then remove the plug from the connector.
Warning! Always remove the AC adapter before transporting your LaCie drive. Failure to remove the adapter may
result in damage to your drive and will void your warranty.
3.2. Installing Your LaCie Big Disk
There are three interface connectivity options when connecting your LaCie Big Disk to your computer: FireWire 800, FireWire
and USB 2.0. The installation steps below follow the connectivity options for each of the specific interfaces.
3.2.1. FireWire 800/IEEE 1394b
3.2.1.1. Mac OS 10.2.4 And Higher
1) After following the steps in 3.1. Connecting The Power Supply
, power on the drive by pressing the On/Off button on the
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
Setting Up Your LaCie Big Disk
page 13
front of the drive.
2) Connect the 9-pin end of the FireWire 800 cable into the FireWire 800 port on the back of the LaCie Big Disk.
3) Connect the other end of the 9-pin FireWire 800 cable into an available FireWire 800 port on your computer.
4) Your LaCie Big Disk will now be ready for use. You can then use the formatting and partitioning capabilities in the Apple
Disk Utility to configure your hard drive system. Please refer to 4.1.1. For
more information.
3.2.1.2. Windows 2000 And Windows XP
After the first connection of a FireWire 800-based peripheral, Windows detects the drive, and will install it automatically as a
new peripheral, even if you have previously installed it on another port on the same FireWire bus. Let Windows install the
FireWire 800 drivers of your LaCie drive.
matting And Partitioning Using Mac OS 10.x for
1) After following the steps in 3.1. Connecting The Power Supply
front of the drive.
2) Connect the 9-pin end of the FireWire 800 cable into the FireWire 800 port on the back of the LaCie Big Disk.
3) Connect the other end of the 9-pin FireWire 800 cable into an available FireWire 800 port on your computer.
4) Your LaCie Big Disk will now be ready for use. Now you will be able to format and partition the drive to suit your needs.
Please see 4.2.1. For
matting And Partitioning Using Windows 2000 And Windows XP for more information.
, power on the drive by pressing the On/Off button on the
3.2.2. FireWire 400/IEEE 1394
3.2.2.1. Mac OS 10.x
1) After following the steps in 3.1. Connecting The Power Supply
front of the drive.
2) Connect the 9-pin end of the FireWire bilingual cable into the FireWire 800 port on the back of the LaCie Big Disk.
3) Connect the 6-pin end of the FireWire bilingual cable into an available FireWire 400 port on your computer.
4) Your LaCie Big Disk will now be ready for use. You can then use the formatting and partitioning capabilities in the Apple
Disk Utility to configure your hard drive system. Please refer to 4.1.1. For
, power on the drive by pressing the On/Off button on the
matting And Partitioning Using Mac OS 10.x for
LaCie Big Disk User’s Manual
more information.
3.2.2.2. Mac OS 9.x
To use your new LaCie Big Disk, first install the necessary driver software.
Silverlining Pro Installation
1) Insert the LaCie Storage Utilities CD in your computer’s internal CD/DVD drive.
2) Open the CD icon and double-click on LaCie Installer.
3) The Silverlining Utilities screen appears. Click on Continue.
4) The About to Install screen appears. Read the following information and click on Continue.
5) The License Agreement screen appears. Click on Agree.
6) The Installation screen appears.
Setting Up Your LaCie Big Disk
page 14
7) Check the Silverlining Pro and FireWire Support boxes.
8) Click on Install.
9) A message appears to confirm that the installation was successful.
10) Click on Restart to use your FireWire peripheral immediately.
Hardware Installation
1) After following the steps in 3.1. Connecting The Power Supply
front of the drive.
2) Connect the 9-pin end of the FireWire bilingual cable into the FireWire 800 port on the back of the LaCie Big Disk.
3) Connect the 6-pin end of the FireWire bilingual cable into an available FireWire 400 port on your computer.
4) Your LaCie Big Disk will now be ready for use. You can then use the formatting and partitioning capabilities in Silverlining
Pro to configure your hard drive system. Please refer to the Silverlining Pro documentation on the LaCie Storage Utilities CD-
ROM for more information.
, power on the drive by pressing the On/Off button on the
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