Q: What type of computer do I need to use the AcomData Hard Drive?
A: AcomData External Hard Drives work on most Windows PCs and Macintosh computers. For Windows PCs you will need a computer with a minimum 233 MHz Pentium (or equivalent processor, such as Celeron, AMD etc.), running Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, or XP. For Macintosh you will need a Power Macintosh running Mac OS 9.x or OS 10.x.

You will also need either an available USB 1.x* or USB 2.0 port. The port can be built-in to the computer, located on an expansion card, or on a USB hub.
* You can connect the Drive to a USB 1.x port, but the drive will operate at USB 1.x speeds (up to 12 Mbps).

Q: Can I use my Drive on two computers at the same time?
A: No. The Drive can only 'talk' to one computer at a time. If you connect the Drive to two computers, you may damage the Drive and/or your computers.

Q: Do I have to format my Drive prior to using it?
A: No. All AcomData Drives are pre-formatted at the factory with the FAT32 file system, making them truly plug and play for most supported platforms.

Q: Can I format the Drive for use on multiple operating systems?
A: AcomData External Hard Drives come pre-formatted from the factory with the FAT 32 file system. This allows you to use the Drive on all supported Windows and Mac operating systems. For full instructions on how to re-format your Drive, including for use on multiple operating systems, refer to your User's Guide.

Q: Can I make my Drive bootable?
A: It is possible to use an AcomData External Hard Drive as a boot volume on Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. Follow the instructions in your Mac OS manual for the proper installation of the Mac OS. If you wish to use your AcomData Drive as a boot volume, make sure you install the Mac OS on the Drive before saving any data to the Drive. On Windows operating systems it is not possible to use an external hard drive as a boot volume.

Q: Can I use my AcomData Drive as an intermediary to copy an operating system from one computer to another?
A: You cannot transfer an installed operating system to another computer or hard drive simply by copying the operating system files. In order to install an operating system, you'll need to follow the manufacturer's installation procedure. If you wish to transfer the contents of one boot volume (drive) to another, you will first need to properly install the operating system on the target drive. You can then use your AcomData Drive to copy over your files (except the operating system).

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 Drive on Windows 2000 and/or XP only, you may want to consider re-formatting the Drive using the NTFS files system. If you plan to use the Drive on a Mac OS only, and you do not need Windows compatibility, you may want to consider re-formatting the Drive using a Mac OS Extended file system. Refer to the User's Guide for instructions.

Q; Do I need drivers for my AcomData External Hard Drive?
A: For USB 2.0 on Windows 98SE, you will need to install the USB 2.0 driver found on the supplied USB 2.0 Installation CD. All other supported operating systems have the necessary USB 2.0 driver built in, with the exception of Mac OS 9, which supports USB 1.x but not USB 2.0. You can connect the Drive to a USB 1.x port, but it will operate at USB 1.x speeds (up to 12 Mbps). Depending on your operating system, you may need to download an update from the OS manufacturer. Refer to the User's Guide for details.

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 the data transfer rate of USB 2.0?
A: Up to 480 Mbps (60 MB/s).

Q: Does USB supply power via the USB cable?
A: Yes. USB can supply up to 2.5W of power, making it suitable for a whole host of low-power-consumption devices.

Q: What is the maximum allowable length of a USB cable?
A: 5m (16.4 ft.).

Q: How many USB devices can I attach to my computer?
A: USB supports up to 127 USB devices on a single USB bus.

Q: Can I attach a USB 2.0 hard drive to a USB 1.x port?
A: Yes. USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.x, however data transfers will be much slower if using a USB 1.x connection.

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 a lot of data transfers. If you plan to do digital video editing (for home movies, say) then you will definitely want to go with a FireWire connection.

Q: What is the cache size on my external hard drive in MB?
A: All Drives under 250 GB have 2MB buffers; Drives with 250 GB or more have 8MB buffers.

Q: I've heard that the usable storage capacity of hard drives is actually lower than the capacity stated by the manufacturer. For example, a hard drive with a stated capacity of 120 GB actually shows up as about 111 GB on Windows or Mac. Is this true? And if so, why?
A: The capacity of a hard drive will appear slightly less in Windows and Mac operating systems than the capacity stated by the hard drive's manufacturer. This is not only the case for AcomData drives but is typical in the data storage industry. The difference is mostly due to the way Windows and Mac operating systems typically measure data storage, as compared to the method used by hard drive manufacturers.

Hard drive manufacturers have always used the decimal (base 10) number system to measure the storage capacities of hard drives. In the decimal system 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 (decimal) will show up on Windows and Mac with a capacity of say 111.8 GB (binary). The actual number of bytes is 120,044,335,923, which is just over 120 GB (decimal).

Hard drive manufacturers use the decimal method because it is the number system we are all familiar with in our daily lives. Using the decimal method is simpler and less confusing to the average consumer than the binary method for converting kilobytes to megabytes to gigabytes and so on. Manufacturers of operating systems do not need to concern themselves with this issue, so they typically use the more traditional binary method. But as long as the drive displays the correct number of bytes (approximately), you are getting the drive’s full stated capacity. The reason the actual number is approximate is because operating systems reserve a small amount of disk space for their own purposes; the actual amount can vary from operating system to operating system.

Q: Does the Drive work with Norton Ghost?
A: Yes, but only with Norton Ghost 2003.