Acomdata HD500FPMM User Manual page 45

Q: What is the cache (buffer) size of my mini Pal?
A: mini Pals under 250 GB have 2MB buffers; mini Pals that are 250 GB or
larger have 8MB buffers.
Q: Can you use mini Pal as a startup disk?
A: mini Pal cannot be used as a startup disk. However, if you use your mini Pal
as a backup device, and you use the Backup operation in Retrospect Express,
it is possible to backup the entire contents of your computer's startup disk,
including the operating system and all associated files. If your computer's
startup disk becomes unresponsive, you can restore the entire disk from your
mini Pal. See the Help menu in Retrospect Express for more information.
Q: Why doesn't the mini Pal need a fan?
A: All hard drives generate some heat during normal operation. Heat genera-
tion can be an issue with some hard drives, which is why they often have big,
noisy fans. The mini Pal was engineered to be more efficient and to generate
so little heat that it does not need a fan, allowing us to make the mini Pal as
quiet as possible.
Q: Why is the capacity of my mini Pal as shown in Windows or Mac OS
lower than the its actual stated capacity?
A: The difference is mostly due to the different way which Windows and Mac
operating systems measure storage capacity, as compared to the method
used by hard drive manufacturers. Hard drive manufacturers 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 1GB = 1,024 MB = 1,048,576 KB = 1,073,741,824 bytes.
Example: A hard drive with a capacity of 120 GB will show up on Windows
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and Mac with a capacity of, say, 111.8 GB. The actual number of available
bytes might be 120,044,335,923, which is just over 120 GB (decimal).
Hard drive manufacturers use the decimal method because it is simpler and
less confusing to consumers who may not be familiar with the base 2 num-
ber system. Manufacturers of operating systems do not need to concern
themselves with this issue, so they use the more traditional binary method.
As long as the drive displays the correct number of bytes (approximately),
you are getting the drive's full capacity. The reason we say that the number
of bytes will be approximate is because operating systems reserve a small
amount of disk space for their own purposes. The actual amount may vary
depending on the operating system.
Q: Can I use my AcomData mini Pal to copy an operating system from one
computer to another?
A: You cannot transfer an installed operating system to another computer
simply by copying the operating system's files. You will need to install the
operating system on the target computer according the manufacturer's
instructions. You can then use your mini Pal to transfer files (except the oper-
ating system) from one computer to the other.
If you use your mini Pal as a backup device, and you use the Backup opera-
tion in Retrospect Express, it is possible to backup the entire contents of your
computer's startup disk, including the operating system and all associated
files. If your computer's startup disk becomes unresponsive, you can restore
the entire disk from your mini Pal. See the Help menu in Retrospect Express
for more information.
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