Appendix; Frequently Asked Questions - Acomdata Ondago User Manual

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PPENDIX

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use my Drive on two computers at the same time?
A: No. If you connect the Drive to two computers at the same time,
you may damage the Drive and the computers.
Q: Do I have to format my AcomData Drive prior to using it?
A: No. All AcomData Drives are formatted at the factory with the
FAT32 file system, making them compatible with all supported
platforms right out of the box. You can re-format the Drive if you
wish to use a file system other than FAT32.
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 only
on Windows 2000 or XP, consider re-formatting the Drive using
NTFS. If you plan to use the Drive on a Mac OS only, consider re-
formatting the Drive using the Mac OS Extended file system.
Q: Does the Drive work on Windows XP Media Center Edition?
A: At this time, it is not supported.
Q; Where are the drivers for XP, 2000 and Me?
A: They are built into the operating system. However, you may
need to upgrade your Windows OS.
Q: Can I use the Drive's USB 2.0 and FireWire connections at the
same time?
A: While you cannot use both interfaces at the same for data trans-
fers, you can use the USB interface as a power connection if using
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the FireWire interface with a 6-pin to 4-pin FireWire cable.
Q: Can I connect the Drive to a USB or FireWire expansion card?
A: Yes, but you may need to update the software/firmware for the
card. We recommend you check with the card's manufacturer for
the latest updates.
Q: Is the Drive compatible with Windows 95, 98 (First Edition) or
Windows NT?
A: No.
Q: What is the Drive's cache size?
A: 2 Megabytes.
Q: Can you make the Drive bootable?
A: It is possible to use an AcomData 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: Why doesn't the Drive have a fan?
A: All hard drives generate some heat during normal operation,
which is why hard drives often have big, noisy fans. The Ondago
was engineered to be more efficient and to generate so little heat
that it does not need a fan, allowing us to make the drive as com-
pact and lightweight––and quiet––as possible.
Q: Why is the capacity of my drive as shown in Windows or Mac
OS lower than the Drive's actual stated capacity?
A: The difference is mostly due to the different way Windows and
Mac operating systems measure hard drive capacity, as compared
to the method used by hard drive manufacturers. Hard drive man-
ufacturers have always used the decimal (base 10) method, where
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
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