FAQs

Q: What type of computer do I need to use the AcomData Hard Drive?
A: For Windows PCs you will need a computer with a 233 MHz Pentium or faster processor (or equivalent) , running Windows98SE, ME, 2000, or XP. For Macintosh you will need a Power Macintosh running MacOS 9.x or OS 10.x.

Q: Can I use my AcomData Drive on two computers at the same time?
A: No. The Drive can only 'talk' to one computer at a time. If you connect the Drive to two computers, you may damage the Drive and/or your computers.

Q: Do I have to format my Drive prior to using it?
A: No. All AcomData Drives are pre-formatted at the factory with the FAT32 file system, making them truly plug and play for all supported platforms

Q: Can I format the Drive for use on multiple operating systems?
A: AcomData External Hard Drives come pre-formatted from the factory with the FAT 32 file system. This allows you to use the Drive on all supported Windows and Mac operating systems. For full instructions on how to re-format your Drive, including for use on multiple operating systems, refer to your User's Guide.

Q: What is the difference between FAT32 and NTFS?
A: FAT32 is an older and more compatible file system but it has certain limitations, such as file size (maximum 4 GB). NTFS is more secure and has fewer limitations. The NTFS file system can only be used on Windows 2000 and XP. If you plan to use your Drive on Windows 2000 and/or XP only, you may want to consider re-formatting the Drive using the NTFS files system. If you plan to use the Drive on a Mac OS only, and you do not need Windows compatibility, you may want to consider re-formatting the Drive using a Mac OS Extended file system. Refer to your User's Guide for instructions.

Q: Do you have “DOS Driver” for the Drive?
A: No.

Q: Is the Drive compatible with Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0?
A: No.

Q: Does the Drive work on Windows XP Media Center Edition?
A: At this time, they are not supported.

Q; Where are the drivers for 2000/XP?
A: None are needed.

Q: What is the data transfer rate of USB 2.0?
A: Up to 480 Mbps (= 60 MB/sec).

Q: Can I use a USB 2.0 device on my Windows 98 computer?
A: You can use the Drive on Windows 98SE(Second Edition), ME, 2000 and XP.

Q: What is the data transfer rate of FireWire?
A: Up to 400 Mbps (= 50 MB/sec).

Q: Can I use the USB 2.0 and FireWire connections at the same time?
A: No. You can only use one connection at a time.

Q: If I have both USB 2.0 and FireWire on my computer, which one should I use?
A: USB 2.0 and FireWire are very similar in many respects, but there are definite differences.

At first glance it would appear that USB 2.0 is faster than FireWire (480 Mbps vs. 400 Mbps). However, this is only true under ideal conditions. While 480 Mbps is the maximum speed achievable, USB 2.0 cannot guarantee a specified data transfer rate. This is mainly because USB 2.0 is a master-slave, host-dependent technology, meaning it relies on your computer's CPU to facilitate and manage data transfers.

FireWire (IEEE 1394), on the other hand, is a peer-to-peer technology that does not require CPU resources to facilitate data transfers. This allows FireWire devices to guarantee real-time delivery of data at a specific rate. Real time data delivery is necessary for certain applications, such as digital video streaming where dropped or delayed data packets is unacceptable. This is why devices like digital camcorders have 1394 interfaces, and why FireWire is the interface of choice for digital video editing applications.

For day-to-day hard drive use, USB 2.0 and FireWire will have comparable performance though FireWire will probably have a slight performance edge. So, if you have both USB 2.0 and FireWire available with your computer system, you will probably want to use the FireWire interface of your Drive, especially if you plan to do digital video editing.

Q.: The Drive has two FireWire ports. Why is this so, and which one should I use?
A: There are two FireWire ports so that you can connect another FireWire device to the Drive in a FireWire daisy-chain. Daisy-chaining is a way of connecting devices directly to each other in series, one after the other, rather than to a hub (as with USB). If you will not be connecting another FireWire device to your AcomData Drive, one FireWire port on the Drive will remain unused, which is perfectly fine. It does not matter which port you use to connect the Drive to your computer. Furthermore, if you connect another FireWire device to your AcomData Drive, it does not matter which FireWire cable is plugged into which port.

Q: Do AcomData Drives have an Oxford 911 chipset?
A: AcomData Drives use a comparable chipset from Initio.

Q: What is the cache size on my external hard drive in MB?
A: All Drives under 250 GB have 2MB buffers; Drives larger than 250 GB have 8MB buffers.

Q: Why is the capacity of my drive as shown in Windows or Mac lower than the actual stated capacity?
A: The capacity of a hard drive will appear slightly less in Windows and Mac than the capacity stated by the hard drive's manufacturer. This is not only the case for AcomData drives but is typical in the data storage industry. The difference is mostly due to the way Windows and Mac operating systems typically measure data storage, as compared to the method used by hard drive manufacturers.

Hard drive manufacturers have always used the decimal (base 10) number system to measure the storage capacities of hard drives. In the decimal system 1GB = 1,000 MB = 1,000,000 KB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. Windows and Mac operating systems use the binary (base 2) method, where 1GB = 1,024 MB = 1,048,576 KB = 1,073,741,824 bytes. Example: A hard drive with a capacity of 120 GB (decimal) will show up on Windows and Mac with a capacity of say 111.8 GB (binary). The actual number of bytes is 120,044,335,923, which is just over 120 GB (decimal).

Hard drive manufacturers use the decimal method because it is the number system we are all familiar with in our daily lives. Using the decimal method is simpler and less confusing to the average consumer than the binary method for converting kilobytes to megabytes to gigabytes and so on. Manufacturers of operating systems do not need to concern themselves with this issue, so they typically use the more traditional binary method. But as long as the drive displays the correct number of bytes (approximately), you are getting the drive’s full stated capacity. The reason the actual number is approximate is because operating systems reserve a small amount of disk space for their own purposes; the actual amount can vary from operating system to operating system.

Q: Does the Drive work with Norton Ghost?
A: Yes, but only with Norton Ghost 2003.

Q: Does AcomData provide data recovery services?
A: AcomData does not provide data recovery services. You will need to send the drive to an authorized data recovery company. We recommend Ontrack at 800.872.2599. Once you have recovered your data, email or call Tech Support to obtain warranty service.

Troubleshooting for PC Users

The power will not go on when I turn on the drive.
A: Make sure your power adapter is correctly plugged into the back of the Drive. Refer to the User's Guide for details.

The Drive gives me a "Device cannot start. Code (10)?
A: This is a power issue. Check to make sure you are using the correct power adapter supplied with your Drive. The other possibility is that the interface board on the Drive has malfunctioned and would need to be sent in for warranty service.

My computer does not recognize the Drive.
A: Make sure all of your connections are secure. If you have an add-on card, make sure it is working properly and/or update the driver. Also, make sure you have all the latest updates for your Windows operating system.

I do not see my Drive listed in the My Computer window, but it does appear in the Device Manager list.
A: Solution: Right-click on My Computer. Select Manage in the pop-up menu. In the Computer Management window, select Storage, then select Disk Management. In the Disk Management window, you should see a list of available storage devices. Look for the Disk that has a capacity closest to your AcomData External Hard Drive. Right-click on the right-hand box; in the pop-up menu select Delete Partition. Once you do this, it will say “Online" & "Unallocated”. Right-click on the box and select Create New Partition in the pop-up menu. When the Partition Wizard appears, select Primary Partition and click on Next. You will see a default value for the Drive; click Next. You will then see a drive letter (you can change this drive letter if you wish); click Next. You will then be asked to format the Drive.

When I try to format my Drive on Windows 2000/XP I get the message: “Could not complete format."
A: This problem can occur if you are using a USB 2.0 or FireWire card to connect the Drive. Plug the Drive into a USB or FireWire port on your computer and try the format again. You may also come across this error if you are using Windows 2000 or XP and you try to format the Drive using the FAT 32 file system. If reformatting the Drive and you do not need Mac compatibility, Windows 2000/XP users should use the NTFS files system.

After I connected the Drive to my PC, I got the following alert message: HI-SPEED USB Device Plugged into non-HI-SPEED USB Hub.” What does this mean?
A: Windows 2000 and XP users will get this alert message if you plugged the Drive into a USB port that only support USB 1.x. This is fine, except your Drive will operate USB 1.x speeds (up to 12 Mbps).

When I leave my computer idle for a while and come back, my Drive won't work properly.
A: The most likely cause is that your computer is going into "Sleep” mode. The immediate solution is to restart your computer. To prevent this problem from reccurring, go into your Power Settings/Energy Saver and set it to never go into Sleep mode.

My USB 2.0 Drive seems to be operating slower than 480 Mbps.
A: First, In order to reach USB 2.0 speed, you must have a computer or host adapter card that suppports USB 2.0. If the connection only supports USB 1.x the Drive will operate at USB 1.x speeds (up to 12 Mbps). The Drive will auto-sense the speed of your USB port and adjust between USB 1.x and USB 2.0 speed.

Second, 480 Mbps is the maximum speed that USB 2.0 devices can reach. Since USB relies on your computer's CPU to facilitate data transfers, actual data transfer rates will vary depending on a number of factors, including available CPU resources.

I cannot read the Harddisk Speed Tools CD on my Windows based computer
A: The Hard Disk Speed Tools is a utility CD for the Macintosh 9.x and lower operating systems. It gives the Macintosh users the utilities not included in the operating system. Windows already has these utilities built into the OS.

The drive is not showing up on My Computer or Explorer.
A: For Windows 2000/XP
a. Right Click on My Computer
b. Go to Manage..
c. Go to storage – disk management
·  A wizard should appear if the drive has never been connected to your machine. Follow the direction, selecting the drive not checked.
·  If the wizard does not appear, Right click on Disk X (X being the drive that is unknown), select “Write Signature..” or “Initialize..”. Click OK.
d. Right click on the unallocated disk
e. Select Create Partion
1)      A wizard will appear
2)      Click next
3)      Select Primary Partion
4)      Select size of the partion (use the default value to use all of the drive)
5)      Specify drive letter (it is recommended to use the default)
6)      To format use:
·  NTFS – if for use on Windows 2000 only. This is the only option if the drive is larger than 32 GB. Windows FAQ
·  FAT32 – if for use on both Windows 98/ME and Windows 2000/XP if the drive is less than 32 GB. Windows FAQ
7)      Click finish
f. When finished formatting (100%) exit the utility

For Win 98/ME
Set the drive as removable

For Mac OS
a.      Cycle through the power-Need to turn the device on before connecting to or tuning on the computer. On IMAC-DVSE need to remove Firewire cable on shut down.
1)      Turn device off
2)      Disconnect the Firewire cable from the device
3)      Turn the device on
4)      Wait 5-15 seconds
5)      Plug Firewire cable into the device
b.      Need to have updated Firewire support. On OS 9.1 and higher this is already installed.
Mac OS 9.0 to 9.0.4-Firewire support 2.5
Download FireWire_2.5.smi.bin

I can't transfer files larger than 2 GB?
A: This is a limitation of the FAT 32 file system. If you are using an operating system other than Windows 98 or ME, you may want to consider re-formatting the Drive using the NTFS file system. Refer to the User's Guide for instructions.

Troubleshooting for Mac users

The power will not go on when I turn on the drive.
A: Make sure your power adapter is correctly plugged into the back of the Drive. Refer to the User's Guide for details.

My computer does not recognize the Drive.
A: First, check to make sure that all of your connections are secure. Then check if your External Hard Drive is listed in the Apple System Profiler. If the driver listed is “USB Authoring Support” or “Toast USB Support”, disable this Extension(s) in the Extensions Manager. These Extensions can cause a conflict with the Drive.

Do I need to install the USB 2.0 Installation CD?
A: No, the Drive uses the built-in Mac USB Mass Storage Support software, which includes the necessary system extensions. However, to use the Drive you must have 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. Please note: Mac OS 9 does not support USB 2.0, so if using Mac OS 9, the Drive will operate at USB 1.x speeds.

My USB 2.0 Drive seems to be operating slower than 480 Mbps.
A: First, In order to reach USB 2.0 speed, you must have a computer or host adapter card that suppports USB 2.0. If the connection only supports USB 1.x the Drive will operate at USB 1.x speeds (up to 12 Mbps). The Drive will auto-sense the speed of your USB port and adjust between USB 1.x and USB 2.0 speed.

Second, 480 Mbps is the maximum speed that USB 2.0 devices can reach. Since USB relies on your computer's CPU to facilitate data transfers, actual data transfer rates will vary depending on a number of factors, including available CPU resources.

When I connected the Drive to my computer and turned it on, I got the following alert message: “Please insert disk ‘untitled’.”
A: If you get this alert message, your Mac is not recognizing your Drive, and the mouse cursor may actually freeze on screen. If this happens, hold down the Apple/Control key and press the Period “.” key. You should regain control of your mouse. Restart your computer and rebuild the Desktop. (Refer to the manual that came with your Mac for instructions on how to rebuild the Desktop. It is good practice to periodically rebuilt the Desktop anyway.) After your Mac reboots, the Drive should mount normally and you should not have this problem again.

When I leave my computer idle for a while and come back, my Drive won't work properly.
A: The most likely cause is that your computer is going into "Sleep” mode. The immediate solution is to restart your computer. To prevent this problem from reccurring, go into your Energy Saver preferences and set it to never go into Sleep mode.

I set up my Drive on Mac OS 9 and it was working fine. Then when I upgraded to Mac OS X my computer asked me to re-initialize the Drive.
A: If this message appears, you have no choice but to re-initialize the Drive in order to use it on Mac OS X. You will need to copy the data stored on your External Hard Drive to another hard drive or other storage device before upgrading to Mac OS X. After the upgrade is complete, re-initialize the Drive on Mac OS X, and then copy the data back to it.

Why does my Drive ask me to initialize it when I plug it into OS 9?
A: Sometimes on Mac OS 9 you may need to initialize the Drive the first time you connect it to your computer. Follow 24the instructions in this manual to format the Drive.

Why is my Drive asking me to format it? It was already formatted and it contains data.
A: The file system might have become corrupted, in which case it needs to be repaired. Use disk utility software, such as Norton Utilities, to repair the disk. Periodic testing of a hard drive is recommended to keep it in go

Mac OS 9.2: MS-DOS Disk Does Not Appear on Desktop
A: A local MS-DOS (FAT32) volume, whether a whole disk or a partition, will not appear in the Finder ("mount") if it is larger than 128 GB.

Symptom
The MS-DOS volume does not appear on the desktop or in a Finder window.
In the log file /var/log/system.log, there is a line containing "mountmsdosfs(): disk too big, sorry".

Products affected
Mac OS X 9.2 through 10.2.8
local MS-DOS format volumes

Note: "Local" volumes are those that are directly connected to your computer, including hard drives that connect via ATA, SCSI, USB, and FireWire. This issue does not affect remote volumes, such as "shares" on a Microsoft Windows server.

Solution
If your computer has a hard drive that is larger than 128 GB and that must be used locally in MS-DOS format, partition it so that no individual partition is larger than 128 GB. You could also share the disk from another computer and connect to it from your Macintosh.

I can't transfer files larger than 2 GB?
A: This is a limitation of the FAT 32 file system. If you plan to use the Drive on a Mac OS only, and you do not need Windows compatibility you may want to consider re-formatting the Drive using a Mac OS Extended file system. Refer to the User's Guide for instructions.