Newer Technology miniStack MAX User manual

Owner’s Guide &
Assembly Manual

Table of ContentsNewer Technology miniStack MAX
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
1.1.1 Mac Requirements
1.1.2 PC Requirements
1.2 PACKAGE CONTENTS
1.3 USING THE NEWER TECHNOLOGY MINISTACK MAX
1.3.1 Optical Drive
1.3.2 Media Card Reader
1.3.3 Powering on the Newer Technology miniStack MAX
1.3.4 LED Indicator
2 ASSEMBLY
6 TECHNICAL SUPPORT
6.1 BEFORE CONTACTING TECHNICAL SUPPORT
6.2 TECHNICAL SUPPORT HOURS OF OPERATION
4 TROUBLESHOOTING & TIPS
3.1 MACINTOSH FORMATTING
3.2 REMOVING AN EXISTING GUID PARTITION
3.3 WINDOWS FORMATTING
5 APPENDIX
4.1 TROUBLESHOOTING
4.2 USAGE TIPS
5.1 FAQ
5.2 ABOUT DATA PROTECTION
3 FORMATTING
2.1 3.5” DRIVE INSTALLATION
2.2 2.5” DRIVE INSTALLATION
2.3 9.5MM OPTICAL DRIVE INSTALLATION
2.4 12.7MM OPTICAL DRIVE INSTALLATION
2.5 TOP COVER ATTACHMENT

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 1 - Introduction
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 System Requirements
1.1.1 Mac Requirements
• Minimum PowerPC G4 CPU, 128MB RAM
• eSATA interface, Mac OS X 10.3 or later
• FireWire interface, Mac OS X 10.2 or later
• USB 3.0 interface - see your interface card manufacturer for specications
1.1.2 PC Requirements
• Minimum 500MHz Intel Pentium III CPU, 128MB RAM
• eSATA interface, Windows XP or later
• FireWire interface, Windows XP or later
• USB 3.0 interface, Windows XP or later
1.2 Package Contents
Firmware, images, and descriptions may vary between this manual and
the unit shipped. Functions and features may change depending on
the rmware version. Visit the product webpage for the most recent
specications.
Item ______
Newer Technology miniStack MAX
➀ Power Cable
➁ DC Power Transformer
➂ Standard A to B USB 3.0 Cable
➃ FireWire 800 Cable
➄ Screw Packet
➅ Owner’s Manual
(not pictured - optical slot cover)
➀
➁
➂
➃
➄
Owner’s Guide &
Assembly Manual
➅

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 1 - Introduction
Cable Connections:
The Newer Technology miniStack MAX has multiple interfaces to work with
any computer system.
➀ USB Charging port - Connect your iPhone, iPad, or any device that
charges with USB power here. No connectivity, just recharging power!
➁ USB 3.0 Ports - Connect up to 2 additional USB devices here, using the
miniStack MAX as a hub.
➂ USB 3.0 Ports- Uplink Port - Connect this port to your computer to
both use the miniStack MAX as a hard drive, and as a USB hub.
➃ eSATA Port - Connect an eSATA cable here to connect the miniStack
MAX at SATA-II speeds.
➄ FireWire 800 Ports - Connect one FireWire 800 port to your computer
using the included cable and use the other FireWire 800 port to connect
additional peripherals. (NOTE: FireWire takes priority over both eSATA and
USB for drive use)
➅ DC IN port - Plug the included DC power transformer here.
➆ On/O Switch - Turn the Newer Technology miniStack on and o here.
➇ Security Slot - Attach a security tether here.
1.3.1 Connecting the Newer Technology miniStack MAX
1.3 Using the Newer Technology miniStack MAX
➀➁➃➄ ➂➅➆ ➇

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 1 - Introduction
1.3 Using the Newer Technology miniStack MAX
1.3.1 Optical Drive
The Newer Technology miniStack MAX is optionally equipped with a a
mounting position for a slot loading optical drive. If you have installed
an optical drive, you may insert optical media in the slot at the front of
the drive enclosure. (Active USB connection required for optical drive to
function.)
1.3.2 Media Card Reader
The Newer Technology miniStack MAX is equipped with a SD media card
reader. Insert your SD card, label side to the outside of the drive enclosure
here. The card reader will read all standard SD cards. (Active USB connection
required for optical drive to function.)
1.3.3 Powering on the Newer Technology miniStack MAX
To use the Newer Technology miniStack MAX, connect your preferred
interface cable (NOTE: You can have both the FireWire and USB cables
connected at the same time) to the drive and the computer. Turn the power
switch to the ON position, and verify the LED on the front of the drive is
illuminated. Your drive should mount on your computer’s desktop. If the
Firewire and USB cables are both plugged in, both drive and hub functions
will work properly. If you have the eSATA cable plugged in, it will only
function if the FireWire 800 cable is disconnected.
1.3.4 LED Indicator
The Newer Technology miniStack MAX has a single LED at the front of the
hard drive enclosure. It will illuminate when the enclosure is powered on.

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Remove the top cover from the miniStack MAX to expose the inner chassis.
Open the bag of screws and orient the chassis so that you are looking at the
chassis with the circuit board on the right and the hard drive bay facing you.
2.1 Assembling the Newer Technology miniStack MAX
There are 4 types of screws
included in the plastic bag.
From longest to shortest:
①Chassis to top housing
②3.5” Hard Drive
③2.5” Hard Drive
④Optical Drive
① ② ③ ④
2 ASSEMBLY
(not pictured, and not normally used - 2 screws to attach optical drive slot cover

Take your 3.5” SATA drive and insert it into the drive chassis as shown with
the ports facing towards you.
2.2 3.5” Drive Installation
Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Insert the SATA Power and SATA Data cable into your 3.5” SATA drive as
shown. The connectors are keyed to only insert in the correct orientation.
①
②

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Turn the bottom
housing so that you
can see the screw
holes.
Insert the second
longest screws (the
ones with the coarsest
thread) in through the
bottom chassis, into
the 3.5” drive holes
(circled) securing it
into the chassis.
Turn to section 12.4 - Top Cover Assembly to nish assembling your
Newer Technology miniStack MAX.
Take your 2.5” SATA drive and insert it into the drive chassis as shown with
the ports facing towards you.
2.3 2.5” Drive Installation
③
①

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Insert the SATA Power and SATA Data cable into your 2.5” SATA drive as
shown. The connectors are keyed to only insert in the correct orientation.
Turn the bottom
housing so that you
can see the screw
holes.
Insert the second
shortest screws (the
ones with ne threads)
in through the bottom
chassis, into the 2.5”
drive holes (circled)
securing it into the
chassis.
Turn to section 12.4 - Top Cover Assembly to nish assembling your
Newer Technology miniStack MAX.
②
③

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Turn the bottom chassis of the Newer Technology miniStack MAX so that
the unit is facing you as shown.
2.3 9.5mm Optical Drive Installation
Insert the 9.5mm optical drive into the top optical drive bay. Please note
that you will not be installing the drive ush into the metal drive carrier, but
rather the 9.5mm drive will be extending up above the bottom plate a little
bit.
①
②
NOTE: If you are not installing an optical drive, there is an included plastic
cover to attach to the inside top cover to close the optical drive slot.

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Using the smallest screws included, insert 2 screws into the optical drive,
lifting the drive up o of the metal carrier approximately 3.2mm to insert
the screws into the screw holes in the side of the optical drive, circled here.
Turn the bottom chassis 180º to see the opposite side. You will have to look
below the optical drive as shown to see the 2 screw holes on this side.
③
④

Insert 2 of the smallest screws into the optical drive through the drive
carrier bracket. Note that the holes that this side of the bracket uses are “U”
shaped and the drive will need to be aligned to the top of the bracket. This
is to accommodate the larger 12.7mm drive mechanisms that the Newer
Technology miniStack MAX is also compatible with.
Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Turn the Newer Technology miniStack MAX so that you are looking at the
rear ports as shown.
⑤
⑥

Insert the combination SATA and Power connector into the back of the
optical drive. It is keyed to only go in one direction.
Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Turn to section 12.4 - Top Cover Assembly to nish assembling your
Newer Technology miniStack MAX.
Turn the bottom chassis of the Newer Technology miniStack MAX so that
the unit is facing you as shown.
2.4 12.7mm Optical Drive Installation
⑦
①
NOTE: If you are not installing an optical drive, there is an included plastic
cover to attach to the inside top cover to close the optical drive slot.

Insert the 12.7mm optical drive into the top optical drive bay.
Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Using the smallest screws included, insert 2 screws into the optical drive,
through the screw holes in the side of the optical drive, circled here.
②
③

Turn the bottom chassis 180º to see the opposite side. You will have to look
below the optical drive as shown to see the 2 screw holes on this side.
Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Insert 2 of the smallest screws into the optical drive through the drive
carrier bracket. Note that the holes that this side of the bracket uses are U
shaped and the drive will need to be aligned to the bottom of the bracket.
This is to accommodate the smaller 9.5mm drive mechanisms that the
Newer Technology miniStack MAX is also compatible with.
④
⑤

Turn the Newer Technology miniStack MAX so that you are looking at the
rear ports as shown.
Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
Insert the combination SATA and Power connector into the back of the
optical drive. It is keyed to only go in one direction.
Turn to section 12.4 - Top Cover Assembly to nish assembling your
Newer Technology miniStack MAX.
⑥
⑦

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 2 - Assembly
2.5 Top Cover Attachment
Using the longest screws provided, attach the top cover to the bottom
chassis by securing the 4 corner Phillips screws circled.
Your Newer Technology miniStack MAX is now assembled.

Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 3 - Formatting
3 FORMATTING
3.1 Formatting your Newer Technology miniStack MAX on a
Macintosh with OS X (For a new drive, or to reformat an old
drive)
NOTE: Your drive solution comes preformatted and ready to
use with a Macintosh.
If you are not formatting a brand new hard drive, you will have to manually
Open Disk Utility, which is found in your /Applications/Utilities folder.
Select the device with no volumes attached to it; in this picture, that would
be the 1 TB miniStack MAX device. Click on the drive icon next to the text.
If your miniStack was previously formatted, there will be a volume already
attached to the device in the red circle above.
You will destroy all data on that drive by reformatting!
➀
If you have installed a new drive into your Newer Technology miniStack
MAX, the rst time you turn it on you will see the following dialog box ap-
pear. Click on “Initialize” to continue.

Once you’ve selected the miniStack MAX device, you will notice the above
change in the Disk Utility application. Click on the “Partition” tab in this
picture.
You then need to choose how many partitions you wish your Newer
Technology miniStack MAX to have. For ease of use we’re selecting one
partition here but of course you could select more if you wish to have
multiple volumes created.
Simply use the pulldown menu under Partition Layout to create more
partitions.
➂
Newer Technology miniStack MAX Chapter 3 - Formatting
➁