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FAQs
Q: What type of computer do I need to use a mini Pal?
A: Although mini Pal was designed specifically for Mac mini, you can use mini Pal with other Macs and Windows PCs:
• Mac with G3 or later processor, running Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.
• PC with a minimum 233 MHz Pentium (or equivalent processor, such as Celeron, AMD etc.), running Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, or XP.
PushButton™ Backup is compatible with Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98SE and Mac OS X v.10.2 and later.
FireWire:
In order to use mini Pal's hard drive you will need a 6-pin FireWire port. You can connect mini Pal to a 9-in or 4-pin port (common on laptops), however you will need a 9-pin to 6-in or a 4-pin to 6-pin cable (sold separately).
USB Hub:
In order to use mini Pal's USB hub you will need either an available USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 port. If using a USB 1.1 port, the USB hub will operate at USB 1.1 speeds (up to 12 Mbps).
Q: Can I use mini Pal on two computers at the same time?
A: Actually, yes. It is possible to connect mini Pal’s FireWire interface to one computer and the USB 2.0 interface to another computer. mini Pal’s hard drive and any FireWire devices attached to mini Pal will be available to the computer using the FireWire connection. Any USB devices attached to mini Pal will be available to the computer using the USB connection. One computer can even be a Mac and the other a PC.
Q: Do I have to format my mini Pal prior to using it?
A: All mini Pals are formatted at the factory with the FAT32 file system, making them compatible with all supported operating systems right out of the box. You can re-format mini Pal if you wish to use a file system other than FAT32.
Q: Can I format the mini Pal for use on multiple operating systems?
A: mini Pals are compatible with all supported operating systems right out of the box. If you ever need to re-format mini Pal and you need both Mac and PC compatibility, you can format mini Pal using the FAT32 or MS-DOS file system. Refer to the User's Guide for instructions.
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 mini Pal on Windows 2000 and/or XP only, consider re-formatting the mini Pal using the NTFS file system. If you plan to use the mini Pal on a Mac OS only, consider re-formatting it using the Mac OS Extended file system.
Q: Does mini Pal work on Windows XP Media Center Edition?
A: Not at this time.
Q: Is the mini Pal compatible with Windows 95, 98 (First Edition) or NT 4.0?
A: No.
Q: Can I use both the USB 2.0 and FireWire interfaces of my mini Pal at the same time?
A: Definitely yes. If your computer is equipped with USB as well as FireWire, you can use both interfaces. One FireWire connection is needed to run mini Pal’s internal hard drive. The remaining two FireWire connections can be used to attach FireWire peripherals. The USB 2.0 connection is used for the USB 2.0 hub.
Q: Can I connect a mini Pal to a USB or FireWire expansion card?
A: Yes, but you may need to update the software/firmware for the card. We recommend you check with the card’s manufacturer for the latest updates.
Q: Why doesn’t the FireWire cable fit my FireWire port?
A: The supplied FireWire cable uses 6-pin connectors at both ends, but many laptops have a 4-pin FireWire port. In order to connect the mini Pal to your laptop via FireWire, you will need to purchase a 6-pin to 4-pin cable.
Q: What is the cache (buffer) size of my mini Pal?
A: mini Pals under 250 GB have 2MB buffers; mini Pals that are 250 GB or larger have 8MB buffers.
Q: Can you use mini Pal as a startup disk?
A: mini Pal cannot be used as a startup disk. However, if you use your mini Pal as a backup device, and you use the Backup operation in Retrospect Express, it is possible to backup the entire contents of your computer’s startup disk, including the operating system and all associated files. If your computer’s startup disk becomes unresponsive, you can restore the entire disk from your mini Pal. See the Help menu in Retrospect Express for more information.
Q: Why doesn’t the mini Pal need a fan?
A: All hard drives generate some heat during normal operation. Heat generation can be an issue with some hard drives, which is why they often have big, noisy fans. The mini Pal was engineered to be more efficient and to generate so little heat that it does not need a fan, allowing us to make the mini Pal as quiet as possible.
Q: Why is the capacity of my mini Pal as shown in Windows or Mac OS lower than the its actual stated capacity?
A: The difference is mostly due to the different way which Windows and Mac operating systems measure storage capacity, as compared to the method used by hard drive manufacturers. Hard drive manufacturers have always used the decimal (base 10) method, where 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 will show up on Windows and Mac with a capacity of, say, 111.8 GB. The actual number of available bytes might be 120,044,335,923, which is just over 120 GB (decimal).
Hard drive manufacturers use the decimal method because it is simpler and less confusing to consumers who may not be familiar with the base 2 number system. Manufacturers of operating systems do not need to concern themselves with this issue, so they use the more traditional binary method. As long as the drive displays the correct number of bytes (approximately), you are getting the drive’s full capacity. The reason we say that the number of bytes will be approximate is because operating systems reserve a small amount of disk space for their own purposes. The actual amount may vary depending on the operating system.
Q: Can I use my mini Pal to copy an operating system from one computer to another?
A: You cannot transfer an installed operating system to another computer simply by copying the operating system’s files. You will need to install the operating system on the target computer according the manufacturer’s instructions. You can then use your mini Pal to transfer files (except the operating system) from one computer to the other.
If you use your mini Pal as a backup device, and you use the Backup operation in Retrospect Express, it is possible to backup the entire contents of your computer’s startup disk, including the operating system and all associated files. If your computer’s startup disk becomes unresponsive, you can restore the entire disk from your mini Pal. See the Help menu in Retrospect Express for more information.
Q: Does AcomData provide data recovery services?
A: AcomData does not provide data recovery services.
Q: If I have more than one mini Pal connected to the same computer, can I use the PushButton™ Backup function on each mini Pal?
A: While you can connect more than one mini Pal to a computer, you can only use the PushButton™ on the first mini Pal you installed. However, if the Button Backup Script is set to run Backups, and you need additional storage capacity for your backups, you can add mini Pals to the Backup Set and continue to run the backups by pressing the PushButton™ on the first mini Pal.
Q: What’s the difference between Retrospect Express and other versions of Retrospect?
A: The Retrospect Express software bundled with mini Pal offers the same powerful features as other versions of Retrospect, except its use is limited to one desktop or laptop computer. Furthermore, the Retrospect Express software bundled with your mini Pal was specially designed for AcomData PushButton™ Backup. The PushButton™ Backup function will not work with other versions of Retrospect.
Q: Do I have to install Retrospect Express or the AcomData PushButton™ Manager to use mini Pal?
A: You only need to install Retrospect Express and the AcomData PushButton™ Manager if you want to use PushButton™ Backup. You can also perform backups without using the PushButton™ by installing Retrospect Express but not the AcomData PushButton™ Manager. In this case, you would launch Retrospect Express from the Desktop and use the on-screen interface.
Q: I already had Retrospect installed on my computer before I purchased my mini Pal. Can I use this version rather than the version bundled with the mini Pal to perform backups?
A: PushButton™ Backup will only work with the Retrospect Express bundled with your mini Pal. This is because the software was specially configured to work specifically with PushButton™ Backup. However, you can use a previously installed version of Retrospect to backup data to your mini Pal using the Retrospect user interface rather than the PushButton™. If you plan to keep using your previous version of Retrospect, do not install the Retrospect Express or PushButton™ Backup software bundled with the mini Pal.
Q: Will the Retrospect Express bundled with mini Pal recognize Backup Sets that were created with an earlier version of Retrospect?
A: Typically, the Retrospect Express software bundled with your mini Pal will be able to utilize Backup Sets that were created with other versions of Retrospect. There may be some exceptions. For example: Retrospect Express 6.0 for Mac will be able to read Backup Sets created on Retrospect version 5.1 on the Mac but it will not be able to write to these Backup Sets.
Q: What is USB 2.0?
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an interface technology for the serial transmission of digital data. The original standard (USB 1) could transmit data at speeds of up to 12 Mbps (Megabits per second), which equals 1.5 MB/s (Megabytes per second). USB 2.0 has a maximum throughput of 480 Mbps (60 MB/s) – up to 40 times faster than USB 1. At that speed it is possible to transfer a full GB (Gigabyte) of data in less than 18 seconds.
USB is a master-slave, host-based technology, meaning USB devices need to be connected to a computer, either directly or indirectly via a USB hub in order to communicate with each other. The computer dictates data flow to, from, and between attached USB devices. While 480 Mbps is the maximum speed, data transfer rates will vary depending on a number of factors, including available CPU resources.
The USB standard 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, where each hub can accommodate several USB devices.
The maximum allowable length of a USB cable is 5 m (16.4 ft.). USB can supply on-bus power of up to 2.5 W. This means that many low-power-consumption devices, such as flash card readers do not need to be plugged into an electrical outlet because they can get sufficient power via the USB cable. More power-hungry devices, such as hard drives, still require a separate electrical connection for power.
USB is a plug-and-play and hot-swappable technology. You do not need to assign ID numbers, or connect terminators. On most operating system you do not need to install drivers because the necessary drivers are built into the operating system. 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.
Q: What is FireWire?
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.
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 typically used for routine data transfers.
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 the same FireWire bus. With the use of FireWire hubs, up to 63 devices can be linked on a single FireWire bus.
FireWire devices are host-independent, meaning data transmissions between FireWire devices on the same bus can take place without the need for input from the host computer. This lack of dependence on 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.
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.
FireWire can supply electrical power, making it possible to use many low-power-consumption devices without a dedicated electrical connection. (FireWire cables with 4-pin connectors cannot transmit electrical power.) When a device is powered via FireWire, power is delivered only when actually needed.
You do not need to install drivers, assign unique ID numbers, or connect terminators.
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.
Q: What's faster, USB 2.0 or FireWire?
A: As with so many questions about technology, the answer to that question is not a simple one. 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 (480 Mbps) is indeed faster than FireWire (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 1394x), on the other hand, is a peer-to-peer technology that does not require CPU resources to facilitate data transfers between FireWire devices. Moreover, FireWire devices can 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, which can make a difference if you are performing tasks that require large, frequent data transfers.
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