Acomdata External HARD DRIVE USB 2.0 User manual

Hi-Speed USB 2.0
EXTERNAL
USER’S GUIDE

2
6 Contact AcomData
Introduction
8 Welcome
10 Precautions
11 Package Contents
12 Product Warranty Registration
13 System Requirements for Windows
14 System Requirements for Mac
Getting to Know Your AcomData HybridDrive
18 E5 HybridDrive at a Glance
19 E5 HybridDrive In-Depth
19 VirtualCD + SecureHD
20 Password Security
21 Nomad Mobile Desktop (Windows only)
24 PushButton™ Backup
25 Synchronization (Sync)
25 About Hi-Speed USB 2.0
27 Mac & PC Ready
28 Hot-Pluggable
Contents

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28 Fanless Design
28 On-Off Switch
29 Technical Specifications
Installing Your HybridDrive
32 Placing the Drive on Your Desktop
32 Choosing an Orientation (Vertical or Horizontal)
32 Vertical Placement
34 Horizontal Placement
36 Installing the USB 2.0 Driver
37 Connecting the Drive to Your Computer
Setting Up & Using HybridDrive on Windows
42 Setting Up the Drive
42 Step 1: Confirm the Drive has been recognized by your
PC
43 Step 2: Deactivate the Welcome Screen?
44 Step 3: Change the pre-set password or disable
Password Security
46 Step 4: Activate Nomad Mobile Desktop?
48 How to Safely Turn Off & Disconnect the Drive
50 Using Nomad
54 Using Password Security
54 Changing the Password

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56 Disabling Password Security
57 Enabling Password Security
59 What if You Forget Your Password?
59 Resetting the Password
61 Re-Naming the HD Partition
62 Performing Basic Tasks
Setting Up & Using HybridDrive on a Mac
64 Using Password Security
64 Installing SecureHD Login
65 Logging in
66 Changing the Password
67 Disabling Password Security
68 Enabling Password Security
70 What if You Forget Your Password?
70 Resetting the Password
72 How to Safely Turn Off & Disconnect the Drive
74 Performing Basic Tasks
75 Renaming the HD Partition
Re-Formatting Your HybridDrive
78 About Formatting & File Systems
78 About Formatting

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79 About the Most Common File Systems:
81 Formatting the HD Partition
81 Formatting the HD Partition in Windows XP or 2000
82 Formatting the HD Partition in Windows Me or 98SE
83 Formatting the HD Partition on a Mac
Help & Other Information
86 Maintaining Your Drive
86 Defragmenting and Optimizing a Hard Drive
87 Examining and Repairing a Hard Drive
88 Protecting Your Data from Malware
89 Cleaning the Drive Case
90 Stacking Drives
91 Troubleshooting
92 Troubleshooting for Windows Users
96 Troubleshooting for Mac Users
98 Obtaining Service
99 Frequently Asked Questions
104 Glossary
106 One Year Limited Warranty
108 Notices

6
Address: 3410 Pomona Blvd.,
Pomona, CA 91710
Telephone: [phone]
Fax:[phone]
Web Site: www.acomdata.com
Customer
Service: [e-mail]
Technical
Support: [email protected]
Pre-Sales
Questions: [email protected]
Contact AcomData

Introduction

8
Welcome, and thank you for choosing
an AcomData E5 HybridDrive.
Your HybridDrive features high-quality
construction, advanced engineering,
and state-of-the-art data storage tech-
nology, designed to provide years of
reliable, user-friendly performance.
Your HybridDrive is furnished with two guides:
1) this Hard Drive User's Guide, and;
2) a PDF* PushButton Backup User's Guide, located on the
Drive's CD partition (more on the CD partition later).
* Viewing PDF Documents requires ADobe AcrobAt/reADer V. 5 or lAter. You cAn Down-
loAD ADobe reADer For Free At: www.ADobe.com/ProDucts/AcrobAt/reADsteP2.html
Please read this guide carefully and retain it for future refer-
ence. It contains very important information to help you
properly set up your HybridDrive and customize its many
advanced features.
If you want to use PushButton™ Backup or Sync, please follow the
instructions in this guide first to set up your HybridDrive; then refer to the
PushButton™ Backup User’s Guide .
Welcome

9
Symbols used in this guide:
Alerts the reAder to A
wArning or importAnt
informAtion.
indicAtes Ahelpful tip or
other useful informAtion.
Alerts the reAder to
importAnt informAtion About
usb-relAted issues.
indicAtes informAtion
specific to mAc users.
indicAtes informAtion
specific to windows users.

10
Please follow the precautions listed below. Not doing so may
result in damage to the device, loss of data, and voiding of
the warranty.
• If using this device for general-purpose storage, we strongly
recommend 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.
• Do not attempt to open, disassemble, or modify the device.
• Do not expose the device to 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.
• Do not expose this device to temperatures outside the
range of 5°C to 35°C when the device is in operation, and
-20ºC to 60ºC when not in operation.
• Do not use a third-party AC adapter or power cord.
• Do not bump, jar or drop the device.
• Do not stand the device in a way not described in this
guide.
• Do not disconnect any cables, while the device is powered
on, without first unmounting the device.
Precautions

11
If you are missing any item shown above, please contact
Customer Service at [email protected]om,
or call 800-470-4495.
AcomdAtA
e5 hybriddrive & stAnd
Ac AdApter &
power cord
hybriddrive
user’sguide
mAil-in
registrAtion cArd rubber feet
usb cAble
cd
Package Contents

12
Register online at www.acomdata.com. Once you enter the
site, click on Product Registration and follow the instructions.
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.
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 are printed on the product label affixed to the box,
andonthelabelaffixedto theDrive'sstand.
Product Warranty Registration

13
What you need for the Drive itself:
• Minimum 233 MHz processor (Pentium, Celeron, AMD, etc.)
• Windows XP (Home, Professional, x64, MCE), 2000, Me or 98SE
• Available USB 2.0 or USB 1.1* port
* iFusing Ausb 1.1 connection, DAtA trAnsFers will be At usb 1.1 sPeeDs (uP to 12 mbPs).
Password Security has no additional requirements.
PushButton™ Backup and Sync use the supplied
Redemption backup software, which gets installed on your
HybridDrive when you activate the Nomad Mobile Desktop.
Nomad Mobile Desktop has no additional requirements.
However, not all of the bundled applications may be com-
patible with all supported Windows operating systems.
Attention Windows 98SE and 2000 (pre-SP4) Users:
You will need to install the USB 2.0 driver from the supplied
CD before you connect the Drive to your computer. Instruc-
tions are provided in "Installing the USB 2.0 Driver."
System Requirements for Windows

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What you need for the Drive itself:
• Mac with a G3 (or later) or Intel processor
• Mac OS 10.2 or later
• Available USB 2.0 or USB 1.1* port
* iFusing Ausb 1.1 connection, DAtA trAnsFers will be At usb 1.1 sPeeDs (uP to 12 mbPs).
Password Security requires 5 MB of free computer hard disk
space for the SecureHD Login software.
PushButton™ Backup and Sync use the supplied
Redemption backup software, which requires:
• Mac OS 10.3 or later
• 20 MB of free computer hard disk space
Attention Mac OS 10.2 users:
Your AcomData Drive was formatted at the factory with the
FAT32 file system. However, Mac OS 10.2 does not recognize
FAT32/MS-DOS formatted volumes larger than 128 GB.
If these conditions pertain to your situation, there are several
ways to deal with this issue:
System Requirements for Mac

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1. If you don’t need Windows compatibility, you can re-format the Drive using one of
the Mac OS Extended file systems. See "Re-Formatting the Drive" for instructions;
2. If you want to maintain Windows compatibility, you can partition the Drive such
that no partition is larger than 128 GB. Partitioning a hard disk will erase any data
stored on the disk. Go to http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107483
for instructions;
3. Before you connect the Drive, upgrade to Mac OS 10.3 or later. This option will
allow you to maintain Windows compatibility and no partitioning or re-format-
ting is required.
For more information about this issue, go to:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107483 on
the Apple web site.

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Getting to Know
Your AcomData
HybridDrive

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PushButton
lights uP blue when the DriVe is PowereD on.
FlAshes reD when reADing or writing DAtA.
Press to run AbAckuP oPerAtion. (requires
instAllAtion oF the suPPlieD soFtwAre.)
RemovaBle stand
cAn be remoVeD For horizontAl PlAcement or
stAcking oF DriVes.
PoweR switch
turn the DriVe on AnD oFF As neeDeD while Your
comPuter is running. see “how to ProPerlY turn
oFF AnD Disconnect the DriVe” For DetAils.
usB 2.0/1.1 PoRt
the suPPlieD usb cAble Plugs in here. the DriVe
hAs AtYPe b Port, AnD Your comPuter hAs AtYPe
A Port, which corresPonD to the connectors oF
the usb cAble.
PoweR PoRt
the Ac ADAPter Plugs in here. when connecting
the DriVe, tAke cAre to orient the connector
ProPerlY, As it will onlY go in one wAY.
ActuAl lAyout of
bAck pAnel mAy not be
exActly As shown.
E5 HybridDrive at a Glance

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This chapter describes, in detail, the innovative features
available with your AcomData HybridDrive. We recommend
you take a few moments to read it through and discover
what makes your HybridDrive so much more than a high-
performance data storage device.
VirtualCD + SecureHD
Your HybridDrive uses an advanced partition scheme called
VirtualCD + SecureHD. The Drive was formatted at the fac-
tory with two partitions. As the name implies, one is the CD
partition; the other is the HD (Hard Disk) partition. When
you connect the Drive to your computer, the two partitions
will mount as separate, distinct volumes, as if they were two
discrete devices.
The CD partition is recognized by your computer as a CD-
ROM volume with the label "CD PART." On Windows PCs it
will appear in My Computer under Devices with Removable
Storage. On the Mac OS it will appear on the Desktop and in
the Finder.
The CD partition stores the software and documentation
bundled with your Drive. This is what makes the portabil-
E5 HybridDrive In-Depth

20
ity of Password Security and the Nomad Mobile Desktop
applications possible, enabling you to use these features on
any compatible computer. (More on Password Security and
Nomad Mobile Desktop below.) The CD partition is read-only;
you cannot delete it or modify it.
The HD partition is a standard hard disk partition that
mounts to your system just like any other hard disk volume,
except you have the option to secure it using Password
Security. The HD partition is where the data you save to the
Drive is stored. If you activate the Nomad Mobile Desktop,
the included applications are installed on, and run from, the
HD partition.
Password Security
The Password Security feature is a simple yet powerful tool
that you can use to restrict access to the HD partition of
your Drive. If Password Security is enabled, before the HD
partition will mount you must enter your password on the
SecureHD Login window. (The CD partition mounts automati-
cally, whether you login or not.)
Password Security employs SHA-256 encryption, which uses
a type of algorithm (known as a hash function) to encrypt
your password. The encrypted password is stored as a hash