RocketFish RF-AHD35 User Manual

3.5" SATA Hard Drive Enclosure
Kit

RF-AHD35

User Guide

Rocketfish RF-AHD35

3.5" Hard Drive Enclosure
Kit

Contents

Introduction ................................................................. 2

Safety information ..................................................... 3

Features.........................................................................3

Using the hard drive enclosure.............................7

Appendix.....................................................................25

Troubleshooting.......................................................28

Specifications.............................................................30

Legal notices..............................................................31

One-year limited warranty....................................33

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the Rocketfish
RF-AHD35 SATA Hard Drive Enclosure Kit. You can install a
high-speed SATA hard drive into this enclosure and connect
it to a computer using either a USB 2.0 or eSATA port. This
enclosure also has a built-in USB 2.0 hub and memory card
reader.

2

Safety information

• Always read these safety instructions and this User Guide
carefully. Keep this User Guide for future reference.

• Take precautions to avoid static electricity discharge or
short circuits when connecting this enclosure to your
computer.

• Do not use this enclosure close to water, rain, or high
humidity.

• Do not use or store this enclosure in damp locations.
Liquid entering this enclosure may cause damage or lead
to fire or electric shock.

• Do not leave any metal objects inside the enclosure
when installing the hard drive.

• Do not place anything heavy on top of this enclosure.

• Do not drop or subject this enclosure to shock.

• Do not place this enclosure close to a source of strong
magnetic fields (such as a computer monitor, television,
radio, or speaker). Strong magnetic fields can affect the
reliability of data transfer to and from the enclosure’s
hard drive.

Features

• Multi-function storage solution for your computer.

• Supports SATA interface hard drive.

• Connects to a computer using either an eSATA or USB 2.0
host port.

• Supports Serial ATA II transfer rate of 3.0 Gb/s.

• Two-slot card reader that supports SD, MMC, MS, MS
PRO, xD, Compact Flash (Type I / II), and IBM Microdrive.

• Two external USB 2.0 downstream ports.

• One-button backup to easily backup, restore, and
synchronize data between your Windows PC and the
enclosure in USB mode.

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• Rapid heat dissipation.

• Can stand or lie down while operating.

• Supports Plug-and-Play and is hot swappable.

• Has one power on with backup active indicator and one
card reader active indicator.

Package contents

• 3.5" SATA hard drive enclosure

• A-B type USB cable

•eSATA cable

•Two utility CDs

• Quick Setup Guide

• Desktop dual-voltage power adapter with power cord

• An extra swappable cover plate

•Stand

• Accessories:

• Screwdriver

•4 screws

• 8 rubber feet

• 4 rubber pads

•2 metal braces

System requirements

• PC or Macintosh with an available USB 2.0 port or eSATA
port

• Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or
Windows 7 operating system or Mac OS X version 10.3.x
or higher operating system

•3.5" SATA hard drive

4

Identifying components

Front

BACKUP button

Card reader LED

CF/MD slot

SD/MMC/MS
/MS PRO/xD
slot

USB ports

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Back

Status indicators

LED indicators LED Description

Backup button Solid The hard drive is turned on.

Flashing Data is being transmitted bet ween your

computer and the hard drive.

Off The hard drive is turned off.

Card reader Solid A memory card is in the reader.

Flashing Data is being transmitted bet ween your

compute r and the card re ader.

Off The memory card reader slot is empty.

POWER ON/OFF
button

eSATA port

USB port

DC power jack

6

Using the hard drive enclosure

Installing your hard drive in the enclosure

Read these safety precautions before you install your hard
drive in the enclosure:

• Use only the accessories provided in the accessory
package.

• Always unplug the AC power adapter before installing
the hard drive.

• Do not use a power supply with a different voltage
rating.

• Make sure that you first touch an unpainted, grounded
metal object to discharge any static electricity stored on
your clothing or body before touching any electronic
components.

• Handle the printed circuit board (PCB) edges only. Avoid
touching the onboard electronic components.

To install your 3.5" SATA hard drive in the enclosure:

1 Remove the four screws from the back of enclosure, then

open the front cover plate.

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2 Secure one metal brace to each side of the drive using

two screws.

3 Place four rubber pads onto each of the two metal braces

on the hard drive as shown.

4 Slide the drive into the enclosure, firmly connect the

SATA connector, then secure the drive to the enclosure
by tightening the four screws through the rubber pads.

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5 Put the front cover plate back on the enclosure, then

secure it with the four screws you previously removed.

6 Place four rubber feet on the back of the case, then put

four rubber feet on the stand.

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Connecting the enclosure to your computer

Before connecting your external storage enclosure:

• Confirm that your system supports SATA. If your system
does not support SATA, please install an eSATA host card.

• Confirm that the eSATA port on your system is working
properly. If not, please refer to your computer
manufacturer for assistance in getting the eSATA port to
work properly.

• To enable auto mount for SATA, your system must
support Plug and Play.

To connect the enclosure to your computer:

1 Plug one end of the dual-voltage power adapter into the

enclosure, then plug the other end to an AC power
outlet.

2 Plug one end of a USB 2.0 cable or eSATA cable to the

enclosure, then plug the other end of the cable to your
computer.

3 Press the power button to turn on the enclosure. The

operating system automatically detects and sets up the
new drive.

Notes:
The enclosure provides USB and eSATA dual interface for

host connectivity. The high-speed eSATA port has priority
over the USB port when both are connected at the same
time.

The USB hub and memory card reader only operate through
the USB connection.

Important: For new hard drives, you need to initialize and
partition your hard drive before it will appear in Windows
Explorer or on your Mac desktop. Please refer to your hard
drive manufacturer’s documentation or read “ Creating A
New Partition” section of this manual on page 25.

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Note: Some motherboards do not support eSATA hot-plug
and play function. If your motherboard does not, follow
these steps to set up your RF-AHD35:

1. Shut down your computer.

2. Turn on your RF-AH D35, then connect it to you r computer.

3. Power on your computer.
Notes:
Windows XP/2000/Vista/7
No drivers are necessary when using Windows

XP/2000/Vista/7. If the hard drive does not appear in My
Computer, be sure to partition your hard drive.

Mac OS X 10.3.x or later
No drivers are necessary when using Mac OS X 10.3.x or

higher. If the hard drive does not appear on the desktop, be
sure to partition your hard drive.

Using your USB ports

The enclosure provides two USB ports. You can plug any of
the following low-powered USB devices into these ports:

• Keyboard

•Mouse

•Keypad

• Diskette drive

• Network adapter

•Webcam

• Speakers

•Microphone

• Card reader

•Pen drive

•DVD or CD drive

• Digital camera

• Low-capacity 2.5" external hard drive enclosure.

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