Maxtor BlackArmor User manual

i
Maxtor BlackArmor
Contents
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Configuring the BlackArmor Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Installing the Maxtor Manager Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Using the Maxtor System Tray Icon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Restoring the System Tray Icon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Managing Your Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Adjusting the Power Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Testing Your Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Updating Your Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Backing Up & Restoring Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Creating a Backup Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Using Simple Backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Creating a Custom Backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Managing Backup Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Editing Backup Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Deleting a Backup Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Using Scheduled Backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Turning Off Scheduled Backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Backing Up Manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Viewing the Backup Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Restoring Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Restoring an Historical Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Restoring the Most Recent Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Synchronizing Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Using Simple Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Using Custom Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Completing the Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

ii
Maxtor BlackArmor
Editing Sync Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Checking Sync Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Deleting Sync Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Using Automatic Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Using Automatic Overwrite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Using the Sync Preview Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Managing BlackArmor™ Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Unlocking the BlackArmor Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Changing your Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Using the Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Opening the Set Password Hint Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Setting a Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Changing a Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Deleting a Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Retrieving a Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Erasing a BlackArmor Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Configuring an Erased Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Using Administrative Tools to Format an Erased BlackArmor . . . . . .97
Installing the Maxtor Manager Software after Erasing the Drive . . . .99
Using BlackArmor™ Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Configuring the BlackArmor Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Unlocking the BlackArmor Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Using the BlackArmor Manager Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Changing your Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Using the Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Opening the Set Password Hint Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Setting a Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Changing a Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Deleting a Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Retrieving a Password Hint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Testing your Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use 1
Maxtor Black Armor
Getting Started
This User Guide is written for both Windows XP and Windows Vista users. The images reflect
the Windows XP environment, but all information is relevant for the Windows Vista
environment as well.
The Maxtor BlackArmor™ drive offers these features:
•BlackArmor security to provide the strongest hardware-based, full disk encryption
available for an external storage device*
•The BlackArmor Manager application to allow you to work with stored data on any
computer
•Backup & Restore to protect your data
•Sync to synchronize one or more folders between two or more computers
•Power management features to conserve energy when your BlackArmor drive isn’t
being used
*Government-grade AES encryption certified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use
Two applications provide the features offered by your BlackArmor drive, the BlackArmor
Manager software and the Maxtor Manager software. Before you install the Maxtor Manager
software for the BlackArmor, you must use the BlackArmor Manager application to configure
and unlock your drive.
Configuring the BlackArmor Drive
To configure a BlackArmor drive,
Step 1: Connect the drive to your computer.

Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use 2
Maxtor Black Armor
The Configure window opens:
T
Step 2: Select your BlackArmor drive from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Enter the 25-character identification code printed on the drive label.
Step 4: Enter and confirm a drive password.
The password must contain between 6 and 32 characters.
Step 5: Click Set.
A message confirms that a password has been set successfully and offers the
option of setting a password hint:
Step 6: Click Done to close the Black Armor Manager window or Set Password Hint to
create a password hint.
Note: For information on setting a password hint, see Setting a Password Hint.
Figure 1: Configure
Figure 2: Password Set Successfully

Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use 3
Maxtor Black Armor
The Unlock Drive window opens:
Step 7: Select your BlackArmor drive from the dropdown list, enter your password, and
click Unlock.
The Unlock Drive window closes and the BlackArmor autostart window opens:
Step 8: Select Install Maxtor Manager using the program provided on the device and
click OK.
Figure 3: Unlock Drive
Figure 4: BlackArmor Autostart Window

Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use 4
Maxtor Black Armor
The Maxtor Manager installation window opens:
You’re ready to install the Maxtor Manager software.
Installing the Maxtor Manager Software
To install the Maxtor Manager software,
Step 1: In the Maxtor Manager installation window, click Install Maxtor Manager.
Figure 5: Maxtor Manager Installation Window
Figure 6: Maxtor Manager Install Window

Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use 5
Maxtor Black Armor
The Welcome window opens:
Step 2: Click Next.
Figure 7: Welcome

Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use 6
Maxtor Black Armor
The License Agreement window opens:
Step 3: Click Yes to accept the terms of the License Agreement.
The Choose Destination Location window opens:
Step 4: Accept the default destination folder or click Browse to select a different folder.
Figure 8: License Agreement
Figure 9: Select a Destination

Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use 7
Maxtor Black Armor
Step 5: Click Next.
A Setup Status window keeps you informed as the installation proceeds:
When the installation is finished, the Register window opens:
Figure 10: Setup Status
Figure 11: Register

Preparing the BlackArmor Drive for Use 8
Maxtor Black Armor
Step 6: Decide whether to register now and click Next.
The InstallShield Wizard Complete window opens:
Step 7: Click Finish to restart your computer and complete the installation.
When your computer has restarted, a Maxtor Manager icon appears on your
desktop:
Figure 12: InstallShield Wizard Complete

Using the Maxtor System Tray Icon 9
Maxtor Black Armor
Step 8: Double-click the Maxtor Manager icon to open the BlackArmor application:
Using the Maxtor System Tray Icon
You can use the Maxtor Manager system tray icon to check the status of your BlackArmor drive
and to access the drive features.
Step 1: To check the status of your drive, roll your mouse over the system tray icon:
The information popup confirms the drive’s status and identifies the drive letter.
Figure 13: My Drives
Figure 1: System Tray Icons

Using the Maxtor System Tray Icon 10
Maxtor Black Armor
The color of the system tray icon conveys this information:
Note: When a backup or sync has failed, the red icon continues to display until the next
successful backup or sync.
Step 2: To display the Maxtor Manager menu, click the system tray icon:
Step 3: Select the feature you want to access or select Exit to close the menu (the
BlackArmor application remains open).
Restoring the System Tray Icon
If you select Exit from the System Tray menu, the Maxtor icon disappears from the System
Tray. To restore the Maxtor icon to the System Tray, go to
Start > Programs > Maxtor > Maxtor Status Icon
Figure 14: System Tray Icon Information
Figure 2: System Tray Menu
Table 1: Using your Mouse with the Maxtor System Tray Icon
Click the system tray icon to • Launch Maxtor Manager
• Back Up Now
• Sync Now
• Edit Backup Settings
• View Log
• Open Maxtor Encryption
• Exit
Run your mouse over the icon to show • Status Information
• Status for Multiple Events

Using the Maxtor System Tray Icon 11
Maxtor Black Armor
Figure 15: Restore Maxtor System Tray Icon

12
Maxtor Black Armor
Managing Your Drives
The My Drives window provides a central point from which to manage your Maxtor
BlackArmor™ drives:
The icons across the top of the Maxtor Manager window allow you to access your drive
features.
In the My Drives window,
Step 1: Select a drive.
Step 2: Click an option from the icons across the top of the Maxtor Manager window.
Note: External drives are automatically detected and listed in the My Drives window. It can take
a few seconds for the Maxtor Manager software to detect your drive. If your drive doesn’t
appear, make sure it’s properly connected and turned on.
Figure 3: My Drives

Adjusting the Power Setting 13
Maxtor Black Armor
Adjusting the Power Setting
You can choose how long your drive should remain inactive before it goes into power-saving
mode.
To adjust the power setting,
Step 1: In the My Drives window, click Settings.
The Settings window opens:
Step 2: Click Adjust Power Setting.
Figure 16: Settings

Adjusting the Power Setting 14
Maxtor Black Armor
The Adjust Power Setting window opens:
Step 3: Select an interval from the dropdown menu or click Default to return to the default
power setting.
Step 4: Click Apply to save the power setting.
Figure 17: Adjust Power Setting

Testing Your Drive 15
Maxtor Black Armor
The Adjust Power Setting window confirms that the power setting for your drive
has been changed:
Step 5: Click OK to return to the My Drives window.
Testing Your Drive
Test your drive to check the health of your BlackArmor drive. The diagnostic utility performs its
tests without affecting the data on your drive.
To test your drive,
Step 1: In the My Drives window, click Settings.
Figure 18: Power Setting Confirmation

Testing Your Drive 16
Maxtor Black Armor
The Settings window opens:
Step 2: Click Test My Drive.
Figure 19: Settings

Testing Your Drive 17
Maxtor Black Armor
The Test My Drive window opens:
Step 3: Click Test.
Figure 20: Test Drive