G-Technology G-DRIVE mini User manual

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G-DRIVE mini Product Guide
G-DRIVE mini™
Installation Guide
G-Technology Inc.
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
P/N GDM120606 REV 120307
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
3. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
4. WHAT’S IN THE BOX
5. G-DRIVE mini OVERVIEW
6. INSTALLING G-DRIVE mini
6.1 Attaching the Interface Cable to G-DRIVE mini
6.2 Connecting the Optional Power Adapter
6.3 Connecting G-DRIVE mini to your Computer
7. INITIALIZING G-DRIVE mini
7.1 Mac OSX
7.2 Windows 2000/XP
7.3 Cross Platform use
8. UNMOUNTING/DISCONNECTING G-DRIVE mini
8.1 Mac OS X (10.3.x)
8.2 Windows 200/XP
9. OPTIMIZING DATA TRANSFER RATES
10. TECHNICAL SUPPORT
11. LIMITED WARRANTY

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1. INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing G-DRIVE™ mini from G-Technology,
Inc. (G-Tech)! G-DRIVE mini hard drives from G-Tech are the
ideal storage solutions for people on the go. Weighing in at
less than 9 oz., G-DRIVE mini is the ultra-portable and stylish
way to travel with up to 250 GB of storage space for your
important documents, MP3s, digital video and digital photo
files. G-DRIVE mini is the only portable drive to feature a
silent, “fan-less” design and an integrated cooling system to
ensure reliable operation and long life.
NOTE: G-DRIVE mini is formatted for the MAC OS and
will mount on the desktop right out of the box. See
section 7.2 for details on using the G-DRIVE mini on
Windows, or both Windows and MAC.
2. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
The disk drive contained in your G-DRIVE mini is a delicate
electronic instrument and is susceptible to damage due to
excessive physical shock. Place the unit in a vented area away
from moisture or liquids. Please handle the unit with care. Do
not open the case. Doing so will void the warranty. If the
product is returned with damage caused by improper
handling, the warranty will be void and liability will rest with
the user.
3. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
FireWire 800 / USB 2.0 operation
•Mac OS X 10.2.4 or higher
•Windows 2000 or Windows XP
FireWire 400 operation
•Mac OS 9.x or OS X
•Windows 2000 or Windows XP
4. WHAT’S IN THE BOX
Take a moment to ensure that the following items are
included in the box. If anything is missing, please call G-Tech
at [phone]. Please keep the shipping container and
packing materials. In the unlikely event that you need to
return G-DRIVE mini to us for any reason, you must use the
G-Tech shipping container. If the product is returned
damaged caused by improper packaging, the warranty will be
void and liability will rest with the user.
G-DRIVE mini Combo:
• G-DRIVE mini drive (FW400/FW800/USB 2.0)
• Installation CD-ROM
• FireWire 400 (6-pin to 6-pin) cable
• USB 2.0 cable
• Leather carrying case
G-DRIVE mini Triple:
• G-DRIVE mini drive (FW400/USB 2.0)
• Installation CD-ROM
• FireWire 400 (6-pin to 6-pin) cable
• FireWire 800 (9-pin to 9-pin) cable
• USB 2.0 cable
• Leather carrying case

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5. G-DRIVE mini OVERVIEW
Heat Sink
G-DRIVE mini Triple (FW400/800+USB2.0
G-DRIVE Combo (FW400+USB2.0)
Attention Mac OS X Users
G-DRIVE mini is set up at the factory for use with
Mac OS X systems. If you are running Mac OS X,
G-DRIVE mini will mount on the OS X desktop right
out of the box. If it becomes necessary to re-format
G-DRIVE mini for Mac OS X, see section 7.1.
Attention Windows Users
G-DRIVE mini must be formatted for the Windows
Operating System before use on a PC. Please see
section 7.2 for more information.
Attention Cross Platform Users
G-DRIVE mini can be used on both MAC and
PC systems by formatting the drive “FAT32.”
There are some limitations when using FAT
32, see section 7.3 for details. Alternatively you can install
software on the Windows machine such as “MacDrive” which
will allow you to mount MAC formatted drives on your PC.
Power and Activity LED
(behind grill)
FireWire
800 Port
FireWire
400 Port
Optional Power
Connector
USB 2.0
Port
FireWire
400 Port
USB 2.0
Port

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6. INSTALLING G-DRIVE mini
G-DRIVE mini attaches to your computer via a USB 2.0 or
FireWire 400 or FireWire 800 port.
6.2 Connecting the Optional Power Adapter
1. If your computer system does not supply adequate bus
power, plug the optional power adapter in to G-DRIVE mini.
Attach the other end to a surge protector or wall outlet.
Visit G-Tech at www.g-technology.com for more information or to purchase
the optional power adapter for G-DRIVE mini.
7. INITIALIZING G-DRIVE mini
G-DRIVE mini is set up at the factory for use with Mac OS X
systems. If you are running Mac OS X, G-DRIVE mini will
mount on the OS X desktop right out of the box. If it becomes
necessary to re-format G-DRIVE mini, follow the instructions
below.
•For Mac OS X installations, proceed to Section 7.1
•For Windows 2000/XP installations, proceed to Section 7.2
•For Cross-Platform use see section 7.3
7.1 Mac OS X (10.4)
1. Open the Apple Disk Utility. The Apple Disk Utility is in
the Utilities Folder located in the Applications Folder on
the Macintosh HD. A window like the following will appear.
G-DRIVE mini will be displayed in the left-hand column.
2. Select G-DRIVE mini by clicking on the entry in the
left-hand column as shown below. Information about
G-DRIVE mini will be displayed at the bottom.

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3. Select the Partition tab to view the partition options as
shown below.
4. Set the Volume Scheme: to 1 Partition. Enter a Volume
Name: under Volume Information (in this example,
G-DRIVE mini) and set format to Mac OS Extended as
shown below.
Note: Alternatively, G-DRIVE mini can be set up in multiple volumes by
selecting the desired number of partitions from the Volume Scheme pull-
down menu.
5. Click on the <Partition> button. The dialog box shown
below will appear. Click on the <Partition> button to
continue.
6. When partitioning is complete, G-DRIVE mini will be
displayed in the left-hand panel as shown below.
7. Exit the Apple Disk Utility.

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8. G-DRIVE mini will be displayed on the desktop as shown
below.
G-DRIVE mini is now set up for use!!
NOTE: You can find the custom G-DRIVE mini
icon on the Product CD or online at
www.g-technology.com/support/
7.2 Windows 2000/XP
1. Power on G-DRIVE mini, wait 10 seconds, then power on
your computer.
2. Open the Disk Management utility by right-clicking on
the My Computer icon on the desktop and selecting
“Manage” from the drop down menu as shown below.
3. The Computer Management console will appear as shown
below. Click on “Disk Management” in the left-hand panel.
G-DRIVE mini is identified as Disk 1 in this example.
Right click on Disk 1 and select Initialize Disk from the
pull-down menu as shown. The window shown on the next
page will appear.
4. Click on the <OK> button to continue.

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5. The following window will appear. G-DRIVE mini (Disk 1)
is now identified as Basic and Online.
6. Right-click on the Disk 1 “Unallocated” bar entry and
select New Partition… from the pull-down menu as
shown below.
7. The window shown below will appear. Click on the
<Next> button to continue.
8. The following window will appear. Click on the <Next>
button to continue.

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9. The window shown below will appear. Click on the
<Next> button to continue. This will create one large
volume using all of the available space on G-DRIVE mini.
Note: Multiple partitions can be created on G-DRIVE mini. Consult your
Windows documentation for instructions on setting up multiple partitions.
10. Windows will automatically assign a drive letter (in
this example E:). Accept this assignment and click on the
<Next> button to continue.
11. Enter a Volume Label: (in this example, G-DRIVE
mini), check the Perform a quick format box and click on
the <Next> button to continue.
12. The following window will appear. Click on the <Finish>
button to continue.

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13. Windows will format the volume and then display the
following window. Disk 1 is now identified as G-DRIVE mini
(E:). Exit the Computer Management console.
14. G-DRIVE mini will now be displayed as an available
hard disk drive under My Computer as shown below.
G-DRIVE mini is now set up for use!!
7.3. Cross Platform Use
To setup your G-DRIVE mini for use on both Windows and
Macintosh systems, use the Apple Disk utility and format
G-DRIVE mini FAT32.
1. Open the Apple Disk Utility. (The Apple Disk Utility is in
the Utilities Folder located in the Applications Folder
on your system drive). A window like the one below will
appear.
2. Select the G-DRIVE mini from the left-hand column,
then select the “Erase” button at the top as shown.
Select MS-DOS File System from the drop down menu
and Enter “G-DRIVE mini” in the Name field.
3. Click on the erase button and the screen on the next
page will appear.

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4. Click “Erase” and your drive will be formatted to its full
capacity as FAT32. With this format, you will be able to
READ/WRITE on both windows (2000/XP) and MAC OS
machines. (NOTE: You could format your drive on a
Windows machine FAT32, however Windows currently
limits FAT32 partitions to 32GB in size)
WARNING:
THIS WILL ERASE ALL DATA ON YOUR DRIVE.
NOTE: The 'MS-DOS File System' cannot write
files over 4 GB. If you are working with files over
4 GB, you may want to choose a software option
like MacDrive. MacDrive is Windows software that
enables the Windows OS to mount MAC formatted
drives. (www.macdrive.com)
8. UNMOUNTING/DISCONNECTING G-DRIVE mini
A great feature of G-DRIVE mini is its ability to be connected
and disconnected while your computer is running. To prevent
failures and/or data loss it is important to follow the steps
below when unmounting/disconnecting G-DRIVE mini from
your computer.
8.1 Mac OS X Computers
1. Before powering down and disconnecting G-DRIVE mini,
you must unmount the system by simply dragging the G-
DRIVE mini icon to the trash located in the dock.
2. It is now safe to power off and remove G-DRIVE mini
from your system.
8.2 Windows Computers
1. Before powering down and disconnecting G-DRIVE mini,
left-click on the Eject icon shown below.
2. The following box will appear. Click on the entry.
3. A balloon like the following will appear.
4. It is now safe to power off and remove G-DRIVE mini
from your system.

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9. OPTIMIZING DATA TRANSFER RATES
G-DRIVE mini Triple
G-DRIVE mini Triple can be connected to any Mac or PC
equipped with a FireWire 400, FireWire 800 or USB2.0 port.
For best performance, G-DRIVE mini Triple should be
connected via FireWire 800.
G-DRIVE mini Combo
G-DRIVE mini Combo can be connected to any Mac or PC
equipped with a FireWire 400 or USB port. For best
performance, G-DRIVE mini Combo should be connected via
FireWire 400.
10. TECHNICAL SUPPORT
If you encounter any difficulties while installing G-DRIVE
mini, please contact G-Tech Technical Support via one of the
following ways:
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Internet: http://www.g-technology.com
When contacting Technical Support, make sure to be in front
of your computer and have the following information readily
available:
•Your G-DRIVE mini serial number (on bottom of unit)
•Operating system and version
•Computer brand and model
•Amount of memory installed
•Other devices attached to your computer
Thank you for purchasing G-DRIVE mini. If you have any
comments or questions about this manual or the product,
please call [phone], or send an email to
[e-mail].
11. LIMITED WARRANTY
G-Technology Inc. (G-Tech) warrants your product against any
defect in material and workmanship, under normal use, for
the designated warranty period. If the product should
become defective within the warranty period, G-Tech, will at
its discretion, repair or replace the product. Repair or
replacement parts or products will be furnished on an
exchange basis and will be either new or reconditioned. All
replaced parts or products shall become the property of G-
Tech. This warranty shall not apply if the product has been
damaged by accident, misuse, abuse or as a result of
unauthorized service or parts. Warranty service is available to
the purchaser by obtaining a Return Material Authorization
number (RMA) and by delivering the product during the
warranty period to an authorized G-Tech service facility or to
G-Tech. The purchaser shall bear all shipping, packing and
insurance costs and all other costs, excluding parts and labor,
necessary to effectuate repair, replacement or refund under
this warranty. All returned product must be shipped to
G-Tech in the original shipping container.
For more information on how to obtain warranty service, an
RMA number or to acquire shipping materials, contact G-Tech
at 1629 Stanford Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404, (310) 449-
4599 or [e-mail].
IN THE EVENT A PRODUCT BECOMES DEFECTIVE DURING
THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE PURCHASER’S EXCLUSIVE
REMEDY SHALL BE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED
ABOVE. INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTAL DAMAGES,
INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOSS OF DATA, ARISING
FROM BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ARE
NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF G-TECH AND, TO THE EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED BOTH FOR
PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND TO THE EXTENT NOT
UNCONSCIONABLE, FOR PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGE.