LaCie Databank User Manual

LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
How To Use This Manual  
1
How To Use This Manual  
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LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
Foreword  
page 3  
Copyrights  
Copyright © 2003 LaCie. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or  
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior  
written consent of LaCie.  
Trademarks  
Apple, Mac, and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Microsoft, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE,  
Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition and Windows XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other  
trademarks mentioned in this manual are the property of their respective owners.  
Changes  
The material in this document is for information only and subject to change without notice. While reasonable efforts have  
been made in the preparation of this document to assure its accuracy, LaCie assumes no liability resulting from errors or  
omissions in this document, or from the use of the information contained herein. LaCie reserves the right to make changes or  
revisions in the product design or the product manual without reservation and without obligation to notify any person of such  
revisions and changes.  
FCC Statement:  
Caution! Modifications not authorized by the manufacturer may void the user’s authority to operate this device.  
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a  
LaCie Data Bank  
Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are  
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the  
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses,  
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance  
with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio  
Tested To Comply  
With FCC standards  
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE  
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause  
harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.  
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of  
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential  
installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in  
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee  
that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or  
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try and correct  
the interference by one or more of the following measures:  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
Foreword  
page 4  
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.  
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.  
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.  
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.  
Canada Compliance Statement  
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.  
Manufacturers Declaration for CE Certification  
We, LaCie, solemnly declare that this product conforms to the following European standards:  
Class B EN60950, EN55022, EN50082-1, EN61000-3-2  
With reference to the following conditions:  
73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive  
89/336/EEC EMC Directive  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
Precautions  
page 5  
Health And Safety Precautions  
Only qualified persons are authorized to carry out maintenance on this device.  
• Read this User's Guide carefully, and follow the correct procedure when setting up the device.  
• Do not open your hard drive or attempt to disassemble or modify it. Never insert any metallic object into the drive to avoid  
any risk of electrical shock, fire, short-circuiting or dangerous emissions. Your hard drive contains no user-serviceable parts. If  
it appears to be malfunctioning, have it inspected by a qualified LaCie Technical Support representative.  
• Never expose your device to rain, or use it near water, or in damp or wet conditions. Never place objects containing  
liquids on the drive, as they may spill into its openings. Doing so increases the risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting, fire or  
personal injury.  
General Use Precautions:  
• Do not expose the hard drive to temperatures outside the range of 5° C to 45° C (41° F to 104° F). Doing so may damage  
the drive or disfigure its casing. Avoid placing your drive near a source of heat or exposing it to sunlight (even through a  
window). Inversely, placing your drive in an environment that is too cold or humid may damage the unit.  
• Always unplug the hard drive from the electrical outlet if there is a risk of lightning or if it will be unused for an extended  
period of time. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting or fire.  
• Do not use the hard drive near other electrical appliances such as televisions, radios or speakers. Doing so may cause  
interference which will adversely affect the operation of the other products.  
• Do not place the drive near sources of magnetic interference, such as computer displays, televisions or speakers. Magnetic  
interference can affect the operation and stability of your hard drive.  
• Do not place heavy objects on top of the drive or use excessive force on it.  
• Never use excessive force on your drive. If you detect a problem, consult the "Troubleshooting" section in this manual.  
• Protect your hard drive from excessive exposure to dust during use or storage. Dust can build up inside the device,  
increasing the risk of damage or malfunction.  
• Never use benzene, paint thinners, detergent or other chemical products to clean the outside of the drive. Such products will  
disfigure and discolor the casing. Instead, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe the device.  
Caution! The drive's warranty may be void as a result of the failure to respect the precautions listed above.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
1. Introduction  
page 6  
1. Introduction  
Since our inception over fifteen years ago, LaCies engineers have  
followed a design philosophy of merging superior performance,  
technological perfection and style. The LaCie Data Bank represents  
the synthesis of this effort.  
A new interpretation of personal and work luxury for portable  
computing, no longer will you be forced to carry multiple cables,  
power supplies or heavy devices. The LaCie Data Bank is powered  
by your computer* — simply attach the drive to your computers  
available USB port and begin computing immediately.  
The LaCie Data Bank offers you unparalleled compactness and unheralded portability. Handsomely crafted out of molded  
magnesium, the LaCie Data Bank offers plug and play connectivity and a generous storage capacity in a drive that fits easily  
in a small pocket.  
We are confident that you will find the LaCie Data Bank Hard Drive to be a well-appointed drive, capable of meeting all of  
your personal and business computing needs.  
Tech Note:*The LaCie Data Bank does not require a power supply for computers equipped with a standard bus-  
powered USB port. Some USB hubs or boards are not powered; please contact your reseller or LaCie Technical  
Support for more information.  
1.1. What Your LaCie Drive Can Do  
• Connects to all of the USB standard interfaces.  
Travel with important files and presentations.  
• Store and exchange data between several computers.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
2. Your LaCie Drive  
page 7  
2. Your LaCie Drive  
2.1. Minimum System Requirements  
Windows Users  
Mac Users  
Hardware Requirements:  
Hardware Requirements:  
• Pentium II or higher -compatible processor, with a USB  
powered port  
• G3 or greater, with a USB powered port  
System Requirements:  
• 32MB RAM or greater  
• OS 9.x (Apple USB support 1.3.5 and greater) and 10.x  
System Requirements:  
• Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000, and  
Windows XP  
2.2. Package Contents And Views Of The Drive  
2.2.1. Package Contents  
2
1
1
2
3
4
LaCie Data Bank  
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable (about 60cm)  
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable (about 12cm)  
LaCie Storage Utilities CD-ROM  
4
3
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
2. Your LaCie Drive  
page 8  
2.2.2. Views Of The Drive  
Activity LED – This light shows you that the drive is powered on and also shows  
when the disk is being accessed for read-write operations.  
1
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Port – This is where you plug in the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable  
shipped with your drive. Please see section 3.1. Connecting The Drive To Your  
Computer for more information.  
2
Optional Power Supply Port – This is where you plug in the optional USB Power  
Sharing Cable. Please see section 3.2. Connecting The Optional Power Sharing  
Cable for more information. (This cable is sold separately)  
3
1
3
2
2.3. Cables and Connectors  
USB  
USB is a serial input/output technology for connecting peripheral devices to a computer or to each other. Hi-Speed USB 2.0 is  
the latest implementation of this standard, and it provides the necessary bandwidth and data transfer rates to support high-  
speed devices such as hard drives, CD/DVD drives and digital cameras.  
Benefits of the USB standard include:  
• Backwards compatibility: Hi-Speed USB 2.0 works with the original USB specifications.  
• Hot-swappable: no need to shut down or restart your computer when adding or removing devices.  
Please see USB Questions And Answers for a more detailed discussion of USBs uses and capabilities.  
USB Icons  
These icons will help you easily identify the USB interfaces. They appear on USB cables and next to the USB port connectors  
on certain computers.  
USB 1.1 icon  
USB 2.0 icon  
USB Cables  
Your LaCie drive is shipped with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable, to ensure maximum data transfer performance when connected  
to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. The cable will also work when connected to a USB port, but drive performance will be limited to  
USB 1.1 transfer rates.  
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable: Connects USB devices to USB ports.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
3. Installing Your LaCie Drive  
page 9  
3. Installing Your LaCie Drive  
Follow these steps to quickly get your LaCie Drive powered on and connected to your computer. Click on a step to get started!  
3.1. Connecting The LaCie Drive To Your Computer  
Once you’ve gotten the drive connected to your computer, move on to section 4. Using Your LaCie Drive for important  
information on how to format and utilize your drive.  
Tech Note: *The LaCie Data Bank does not require a power supply for computers equipped with a standard bus-  
powered USB port. Some USB hubs or boards are not powered; if your computer’s USB hub or bus does not  
provide the necessary power to operate your drive, use an optional power sharing cable to turn on your drive.  
See section 3.2 Connecting the Optional Power Sharing Cable for instructions. (This cable is sold separately)  
Windows 98 SE and Windows Me Users!  
Mac OS 9.x Users!  
Before following the rest of the installation steps, first install this important software to help you configure and manage your  
LaCie drive.  
• Windows 98 SE and Windows Me Users, click here  
• Mac OS 9.x Users, click here  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
3. Installing Your LaCie Drive  
page 10  
Windows 98 SE and Windows Me Users  
To use your new LaCie Hard Drive, first install the necessary driver software and then Silverlining 98. Follow the steps below  
to install the necessary drivers and software to configure your drive. Then move on to 3.1. Connecting Your LaCie Drive To  
Your Computer.  
Silverlining 98 and USB 2.0 Driver Installation  
Step 1  
Insert the LaCie Storage Utilities CD-ROM in your computers  
internal CD/DVD drive and open the disc.  
Step 2)  
A) Double-click the USB 2.0 Drivers Install folder.  
Step 1)  
B) Double-click on the LaCie_USB_Driver_Install.exe icon. The  
LaCie USB2 Storage Driver screen will appear. Click on Next.  
C) Installation will finish automatically.  
Step 2  
Re-open the LaCie Storage Utilities CD-ROM.  
A) Double-click the Silverlining 98 folder.  
B) Double-click the Silverlining98_Install.EXE icon.  
C) Silverlining 98 will then initialize the install screen.  
D) The “Welcome” screen will appear. Click Next.  
E) The “Destination Location” screen will appear. To alter the location where the software is installed on your system, click the  
Browse button. If you do not want to change the location, do not click on the Browse button, and allow the software to be  
installed in its default location. Click Next to continue.  
F) Next is the “Start Installation” screen. Click Next.  
G The software installation will begin, and you will see the installation screens.  
H) Finally, you will see the “Silverlining 98 has been installed correctly” screen. Click Finish to complete the installation.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
3. Installing Your LaCie Drive  
page 11  
Mac OS 9.x Users  
Before connecting the power supply and USB cable to your drive, you will need to install Silverlining Pro, which will help you  
manage your drive. Follow the steps below to install the necessary drivers and software to configure your drive. Then move  
on to 3.1. Connecting Your LaCie Drive To Your Computer.  
Silverlining Pro Installation  
1) Insert the LaCie Storage Utilities CD-ROM in your computers internal  
CD/DVD drive.  
2) Open the CD icon and double-click on the Silverlining Software folder.  
3) Click on the Silverlining Installer icon.  
4) The Silverlining Utilities screen appears. Click on Continue.  
5) The “Silverlining Read Me” screen appears. Read the following information  
and click on Continue.  
6) The “License Agreement” screen appears. Click on Agree.  
7) The “Installation” screen appears. Choose either Easy Install, Custom Install or  
Uninstall from the pull-down menu in the upper left-hand side of the  
“Installation” screen. Once you’ve made your choice, click on Install.  
8) A message appears to confirm that the installation was successful. Now move  
on to 3.1. Connecting Your LaCie Drive To Your Computer.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
3. Installing Your LaCie Drive  
page 12  
3.1. Connecting The LaCie Drive To Your Computer  
Tech Note: *The LaCie Data Bank does not require a power supply for computers equipped with a standard bus-  
powered USB port. Some USB hubs or boards are not powered; if your computer’s USB hub or bus does not  
provide the necessary power to operate your drive, use the optional power sharing cable to turn on your drive.  
See section 3.2 Connecting the Optional Power Sharing Cable for instructions.  
Connect the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable into the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port on the back of the  
LaCie Data Bank.  
1
Tech Note: For more information about USB, please see sections:  
2.3.1. USB  
5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers  
6. USB Questions & Answers  
Connect the other end of the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable into an available USB port* on your  
computer. The LaCie Data Banks Activity LED should now light on; if it does not, use the  
optional USB Power Sharing Cable.  
2
Tech Note: To achieve Hi-Speed USB 2.0 transfer rates, you  
have to be connected to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port on your  
computer. Otherwise, you will be limited to USB 1.1 data  
transfer rates.  
Windows Users  
Go to My Computer and look for your drive. It may take a few  
3
seconds for your computer to recognize the drive and assign it a  
letter.  
Mac Users  
An icon for your drive should appear on your computers  
desktop. It may take a few seconds for your computer to  
recognize the drive.  
Your LaCie Drive will now be ready for use. Now you will be  
able to format and partition the drive to suit your needs. Please  
see 4.1. Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie Drive for more  
information.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
3. Installing Your LaCie Drive  
page 13  
3.2. Connecting an optional Power Sharing Cable (sold separately)  
In the event that the USB bus on your computer does not provide the necessary power to operate your drive, a power  
supply adapter cable (sold separately) will derive the necessary power to operate the drive.  
The USB power supply adapter cable connects to an available USB port on your computer.  
In case neither of these options work with your specific computer configuration, LaCie offers an optional power supply, sold  
separately. Please contact your LaCie reseller or LaCie Customer Service for more information.  
USB Power Sharing Cable  
The USB ports (either USB 2.0 or USB 1.1) on your computer will help provide power to your LaCie  
drive in the instance that your bus does not supply the necessary power to operate your drive.  
Attach the small end of the USB Power Sharing Cable to the back of your LaCie drive.  
1
2
Attach the USB end of the USB Power Sharing Cable to an available USB port on your  
computer.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
3. Installing Your LaCie Drive  
page 14  
3.3. Connecting Multiple Devices  
Technically, you can connect up to 127 individual USB peripherals at one time. However, you probably will not use more than  
6 to 8 peripherals on your USB system. Most computers only have two USB ports, so you would need a hub to connect more  
than two peripheral drives. The hub regenerates the signals, generally providing between 4 to 7 connections. To add even  
more drives, connect a new hub to a connector of the original hub, creating a new series of peripherals, etc. But the hub  
slows down the transfer rate by lengthening the path of the signal. To optimize performance, connect your drive directly to  
one of the built-in ports in your computer.  
3.4. Disconnecting Your LaCie Drive  
USB external devices feature “plug & play” connectivity, which means that your drive can be connected and disconnected  
while the computer is running. To prevent failures, it is important you follow these steps when disconnecting your USB periph-  
eral device.  
Caution! Do not disconnect the USB cable when the drive is reading or writing. Disconnecting while the drive is  
operating could cause the loss of data. Make sure that your drive is not reading or writing and that the activity  
LED is off before disconnecting the USB cable.  
3.4.1. Windows Users  
1) From the System Tray (located in the lower right-hand side of your screen), click on the Eject icon (a small green arrow  
over a hardware image).  
2) A message will appear, detailing the devices that the Eject icon controls, i.e. “Safely remove…” Click on this prompt.  
3) You will then be given the following message: “Safe to Remove Hardware” (or similar). It is now safe to disconnect the  
device.  
3.4.2. Mac Users  
You must unmount the hard drive system before disconnecting it or powering it down.  
Either:  
• Drag the hard drive icon to the trash.  
• Launch Silverlining Pro, highlight the hard drive and select “Unmount.”  
The drive can now be disconnected.  
Mac OS 9.x  
Mac OS 10.x  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
4. Using Your LaCie Drive  
page 15  
4. Using Your LaCie Drive  
Once you’ve connected your drive and it is recognized by your operating system (i.e. Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, XP or Mac  
OS 9.x or 10.x), you are ready to format and partition the drive. In order to store information on a hard drive, it must have a  
file system and be divided into sections that will contain the data that you wish to store. This process is called formatting.  
In order to utilize a hard disk drive, it has to be formatted first. Formatting a disk consists of the following: the operating  
system erases all of the bookkeeping information on the disk, tests the disk to make sure that all of the sectors are reliable,  
marks bad sectors (i.e., those that are scratched) and creates internal address tables that it later uses to locate information.  
Once formatted, the actual available storage capacity varies, depending on operating environment, and is generally about  
10% less than the non-formatted capacity.  
Tech Note: In order to ensure maximum compatibility, all LaCie Hard Drives are originally formatted in FAT 32. If  
you want to use another file system, you will need to re-format the hard drive.  
After you’ve formatted the drive, you will the opportunity to divide the hard drive into sections, called Partitioning. A partition  
is a section of the hard drives storage capacity that is created to contain files and data. For instance, you could create three  
partitions on your drive: one partition for your word documents, one for your spreadsheets and one for your multi-media files.  
File System Formats  
There are essentially three different file system formats: FAT 32, NTFS, and Mac OS Extended (HFS+).  
Use FAT 32 if:  
• you will be using your drive between both Windows and Mac OS 9.x or 10.x; or sharing the drive between Windows 98  
SE, Me, 2000 or XP  
Use NTFS if:  
• you will be using the drive only under Windows 2000 or Windows XP; performance will be generally greater when  
compared to FAT 32  
Use HFS+ if:  
• you will be using the drive on Macs only; performance will be generally greater when compared to FAT 32  
For more information, please refer to section 5.1 File System Formats.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
4. Using Your LaCie Drive  
page 16  
4.1. Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie Hard Drive  
Once you have set-up your LaCie Hard Drive, you can reformat or partition it to suit your needs.  
4.1.1. Windows Users  
• Windows 98 SE and Me – Install and use LaCie Silverlining 98, which is included with your drive.  
• Windows 2000 and XP – Use the Disk Management Utility, which is native to the operating system.  
For instructions on installing and using Silverlining 98, please refer to the Silverlining 98 manual, located on your LaCie  
Storage Utilities CD, in PDF format.  
Formatting And Partitioning Using Windows 2000 And Windows XP  
The process of formatting and partitioning a drive on a computer running Windows 2000 or Windows XP consists of two  
steps: (1) installing a signature on the drive, and (2) partitioning/formatting the drive. These steps will erase anything that is  
on the disk.  
1) Connect the drive to the computer via the USB interface port.  
2) Right-click My Computer and click Manage.  
3) From the Computer Management window, select Disk Management (located below the Storage group).  
4) If this is the first time the drive is being  
formatted, Windows 2000 will launch the  
Write Signature Wizard (Write Initialize  
Wizard in Windows XP). Click Next.  
5) Windows will list the new drive(s)  
attached. If you are formatting a single drive,  
only one drive should be visible. Select the  
checkbox next to the drive and click Next.  
6) Click Finish to exit the Wizard.  
7) Now, with the disk management window  
open, a new drive will be visible. Right-click  
on the available space and select Create Partition...  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
4. Using Your LaCie Drive  
page 17  
8) This will bring up the Create Partition Wizard. Click Next.  
9) Select Primary Partition. Click Next.  
10). Here you must specify partition size. It is recommended that you leave  
the partition set to the maximum available size, unless you want multiple  
partitions on the same drive. Click Next.  
11) Select Assign drive letter and select the desired letter for the drive. Click  
Next.  
12) Select Format this partition… and then select a file system:  
FAT32  
FAT32 is a file system that is compatible with Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 and Windows XP; however, it  
has limitations. In Windows 2000 and Windows XP, you will not be able to create a partition greater than 32GB.  
NTFS  
NTFS is a newer file system that is compatible only with Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. It has fewer  
limitations than FAT 32 and will enable a partition to be created that is larger than 32GB.  
Tech Note: Please refer to section 5.1.1. File System Formats – Windows Users, for a more detailed discussion  
on the differences between the two systems.  
13) Click Next.  
14) Click Finish.  
15) Disk Management will create the partition and begin formatting the drive. Once completed, close Disk Management and  
your new drive will be ready to use.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
4. Using Your LaCie Drive  
page 18  
4.2. Mac Users  
• Mac OS 9.x – Install and use LaCie Silverlining Pro, which is included with your drive.  
• Mac OS 10.x – Use the Apple Disk Utility application, which is native to the operating system.  
For instructions on installing and using Silverlining Pro, please refer to the Silverlining manual, located on your LaCie Storage  
Utilities CD, in PDF format.  
For instructions on using the Mac OS 10.x Apple Disk Utility application, please refer to the section below.  
Formatting And Partitioning Using Mac OS 10.x  
Caution! Following these steps will erase anything that is on the hard drive. Therefore, if you have information  
that you want to protect or continue to use, backup this information before performing these steps.  
1) Connect the drive to the computer via the USB interface port.  
2) Once the drive mounts onto the desktop, go to the Menu Bar, and open Go.  
3) From the Go menu, click on Applications.  
4) In the Applications menu, open the Utilities folder, and then double-click Disc Utility from the Utilities folder.  
5) The Disc Utility window will open. In the left side of the window will be a list of the available hard disk drives. You should  
see a volume that represents your internal hard  
drive, and one that reads LaCie.  
6) Select the LaCie drive, and then click on the  
Partition tab.  
7) From the Volume Scheme: button, choose the  
number of partitions you want to divide the drive  
into by clicking on the pull down menu starting  
with Current (Mac OS 10.x gives you the option  
of dividing the drive into at most 8 partitions).  
You can customize the size of the partitions by  
using the slide bar between the partitions in the  
Volume Scheme: area.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
4. Using Your LaCie Drive  
page 19  
8) In the Volume Information section, create a name for each partition, choose the volume format (Mac OS Extended, Mac  
OS Standard or UNIX File System) and the volume size.  
Tech Note: Please refer to section 5.1.2. File System Formats – Mac Users, for a more detailed discussion on the  
differences between the two systems.  
Tech Note: Apple recommends that unless you have a specific reason to use the UNIX File System (UFS), you  
should use the Mac OS Extended format since it provides a more familiar experience to Macintosh users.  
9) In the Options section, click the Install Mac OS 9 Disk Drivers box if you plan on sharing the drive between the Mac OS  
9.x and Mac OS 10.x.  
10) Once you have finalized the volume format, number of partitions, size and options, click OK. The following message will  
appear: “Warning! Saving the new volume will erase all existing volumes. This can NOT be undone. Are you sure you  
want to do that?” Click Partition to continue.  
11) Mac OS 10.x will automatically setup the disk with the partitions and volume format you selected, and your new drive  
will be available for use.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
5. Tech Tips  
page 20  
5. Tech Tips  
5.1 File System Formats  
5.1.1. Windows Users  
There are basically two file system formats for Windows: FAT 32 and NTFS. The following information will hopefully make  
choosing one or the other a little easier.  
FAT 32  
FAT is an acronym for File Allocation Table, which dates back to the beginnings of DOS programming. Originally, FAT was  
only 16 bits, but after the second release of Windows 95 it was upgraded to 32 bits, hence the name FAT 32. In theory, FAT  
32 volume sizes can range from less than 1MB all the way to 2TB. It is the native file system of Windows 98 and Windows  
Me, and is supported by Windows 2000 and XP. When FAT 32 is used with Windows 2000 and XP, though, volume size is  
limited to 32GB (by the Windows partition utility, i.e. Disk Manager), and the individual file size is limited to 4GB.  
NTFS  
This acronym stands for New Technology Filing System, and it is the native file system for Windows NT, Windows 2000 and  
XP. NTFS offers several features that are not available with FAT 32; i.e. file compression, encryption, permissions, and  
auditing, as well as the ability to mirror drives and RAID 5 capabilities. The minimum supported volume size for NTFS is  
10MB, with a maximum of 2TB, with no limit to file size. Volumes created in NTFS can only be directly accessed (not through  
shares) by Windows NT, Windows 2000 and XP, without resorting to help from third-party products.  
Guidelines For Choosing FAT 32 Or NTFS  
Use FAT 32 if:  
You want to access your data on any Operating System - FAT 32 is compatible with Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, XP, NT,  
Mac OS 9.x and Mac OS 10.x.  
You will be dual booting with an Operating System other than Windows NT or Windows 2000.  
You may need the ability to dual boot down the line. Once you have converted a volume from FAT 32 to NTFS, there is no  
going back. You can convert from FAT 32 to NTFS, but not the other way around.  
Use NTFS if:  
You want to optimize drive performance under Windows 2000 or XP.  
You want to encrypt files, assign permissions to files, or want to audit files for access.  
You will be formatting partitions larger than 32GB.  
You need to store individual files that are larger than 4GB.  
You need a filing system that can be mirrored or structured like a RAID 5 configuration.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
5. Tech Tips  
page 21  
5.1.2. Mac Users  
Mac OS 9.x Users:  
You will be able to format the drive in one of two formats, using Silverlining Pro (for specific instructions, please refer to the  
Silverlining Users Manual, in the Silverlining folder): HFS (Mac OS Standard) or HFS+ (Mac OS Extended).  
Important Info: If you will be sharing the hard drive between Macs and Windows operating environments, you  
will want to leave the drive formatted in FAT 32.  
Mac OS 10.x Users:  
You have the option of formatting the drive in one of four formats: Mac OS Standard (HFS), Mac OS Extended (HFS+), MS-  
DOS File System and UNIX File System (UFS).  
HFS - Mac OS Standard  
Mac OS Standard refers to the file system used by Mac OS 8.0 and earlier. This is no longer a modern file sytem  
specification, and Mac OS Extended is more efficient. Only use this file system if you are creating a volume smaller than  
32MB, using a Mac with a 680X0 processor, or you are creating a file structure that will be need to be used by Macs using  
Mac OS 8.0 or earlier.  
HFS+ - Mac OS Extended  
Mac OS Extended refers to the file system used by Mac OS 8.1 and later. HFS+ represents an optimization of the older HFS  
file system by using hard disk space more efficiently. Building off of HFS, they increased the number of blocks from 65,536 to  
4.29 billion. With HFS+, you are no longer limited by block size.  
MS-DOS File System  
This is the Microsoft file system, more typically known as FAT 32. This is the file system to use if you are going to be using  
your LaCie hard drive between Macs and Windows operating systems.  
UNIX File System  
This is the file system based on UNIX, and is preferrable for users developing UNIX-based applications within Mac OS 10.x.  
Unless you have a specific reason to use the UNIX File System, you should instead format your drive using Mac OS Extended  
(HFS+), because it provides Mac users with a more familiar operating experience.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
5. Tech Tips  
page 22  
5.2. Available Storage Capacity  
A gigabyte (GB) means 1,000,000,000 bytes. In order to utilize a hard disk drive, it has to be formatted first. Formatting a  
disk consists of the following: the operating system erases all of the bookkeeping information on the disk, tests the disk to  
make sure that all of the sectors are reliable, marks bad sectors (i.e., those that are scratched) and creates internal address  
tables that it later uses to locate information. Once formatted, the actual available storage capacity varies, depending on  
operating environment, and is generally about 10% less than the non-formatted capacity.  
5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers  
Data transfers are the flow of data that accomplishes a task, usually related to moving data from storage to computer RAM,  
or between storage devices. With external drives, such as the LaCie Hard Drive, the data is transferred from the drive to the  
computer via the USB interface. The data is fed from the drive through the USB port on the  
Tech Note: For more  
information on the USB  
interface, please see  
USB Questions and  
Answers.  
drive, and passes to the computer through either the USB host-bus adapter interface.  
The USB interface specifies certain requirements, filed under the OHCI (Open Host  
Controller Interface) standards. All LaCie drives comply to OHCI standards and have been  
rigorously tested on computers that have host bus adapters that also comply to OHCI  
standards. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers respect these guidelines, and anomalies  
may arise with computers that have host bus adapters that do not conform to OHCI standards.  
For the best performance, connect your LaCie Hard Drive directly to a native USB port on  
your computer, and avoid using hubs*. During data transfers, its best to wait before  
launching other applications that will be using the same port.  
Tech Note: Please see  
3.3 Connecting  
Multiple Devices for  
more information.  
If you do not have a native USB port, LaCie offers USB host bust adapter cards, also known  
as PCI or PC/PCMCIA cards, that have been tested and comply with LaCie drives. Please contact your reseller or LaCie  
Customer Support for more information.  
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Host Bus Adapters And Performance  
To utilize the enhanced Hi-Speed USB 2.0 performance, your computer must be equipped with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 host bus  
adapter card, either sold separately, or integrated by your computers manufacturer) and the appropriate drivers. These host  
bus adapter cards, which include one or more USB ports, are shipped with special Hi-Speed USB 2.0 drivers that enable the  
computer to control the card. These drivers must be installed in order for USB 2.0 devices connected to the port to work at  
their correct speeds.  
Computers running Windows 2000 and Windows XP automatically manage Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices and drivers, while  
Windows 98 SE and Windows Me will require that drivers be installed before a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device is attached.  
Mac OS 9.x does not support Hi-Speed USB 2.0 functionality, and all Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices will only operate at the  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
5. Tech Tips  
page 23  
original USB specifications. Mac OS 10.x does support Hi-Speed USB 2.0, but you will have to purchase a third-party PCI or  
PC Card and appropriate drivers.  
Contact your LaCie reseller or LaCie Customer Support for information about Hi-Speed USB 2.0 PCI or PC Cards, or visit our  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
6. USB Questions & Answers  
page 24  
6. USB Questions & Answers  
What Are The Benefits Of The USB Interfaces?  
• Cross-platform: Use your USB peripherals on both Mac and Windows platforms.  
• “Hot Swappable”: No need to shut down or restart your computer when adding or removing a USB device. Plug it in and  
its ready.  
• Automatic configuration: Once your device is connected, your computer recognizes the device and automatically configures  
the necessary software.  
• Daisy-Chaining: with USB ports on your computer, you can connect up to 127 peripherals using hubs.  
• Easy Installation: One standardized port and plug combination makes it simple to connect.  
What Is The Difference Between USB And Hi-Speed USB 2.0?  
The main difference is speed. The original version of the interface is capable of throughput up to 12Mb/s. Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
supports data speeds up to 480 Mb/s, making it 40 times faster than its predecessor. This increased bandwidth translates into  
higher performance in demanding applications requiring high transfer rates.  
What Are The Ideal Uses For USB?  
USB is perfect for more traditional connections such as keyboards, mice, joysticks and scanners. These types of devices don’t  
require fast data transfer rates, and operate very successfully at the slower speeds.  
What Are The Ideal Applications For Hi-Speed USB 2.0?  
Digital cameras, CD/DVD drives, hard drives and scanners will all benefit from the added bandwidth and performance gains  
of the new implementation of the USB standard. Hi-Speed USB 2.0 provides the necessary fast data transfer rates that todays  
devices require, and combines the earlier specifications so older devices that operated under the original USB standards will  
still work with Hi-Speed USB 2.0.  
Will USB Devices Run Faster When Connected To A Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Bus?  
Unfortunately, no. The Hi-Speed USB 2.0 specification is specifically written to allow developers to design higher speed  
peripherals that can take advantage of the extra bandwidth. USB devices, though, will still operate at 12Mb/s at full-speed  
and 1.5Mb/s at low-speed on a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 bus. Even though USB devices won’t run any faster, they can work  
alongside Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices on the same bus. However, if you plug in a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device to a USB bus, the  
speed of the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device will decrease to 12Mb/s.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
6. USB Questions & Answers  
page 25  
What Is A USB Hub?  
Technically, you can connect up to 127 devices to a single USB bus. For more than two devices, though, you must make new  
connections using a peripheral called a "hub.” A hub, which you hook up directly to a USB connector on your computer,  
usually has 4 or 7 output connections enabling you to connect the same number of peripherals. One of the hub's main  
functions is to regenerate signals that lose part of their strength as they are transmitted via the USB cable. By connecting yet  
another hub to a connector on the existing hub, you can then plug in a new set of peripherals and so on, up to a maximum  
of 127.  
Some hubs have no power supply and others are self-powered. When you choose a hub, opt for the self-powered variety, as  
they have their own AC adapter. The most powerful hubs provide 0.5A of power to each port.  
If you buy a hub, make sure that it supports per-port switching. This function prevents the entire chain of peripherals from  
freezing up if one of them is not working properly or is down.  
Will Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Devices Work On USB Hubs And Vice Versa?  
You can use your Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices with USB hubs, but the peripherals will be limited to USB performance levels.  
There are Hi-Speed USB 2.0 hubs that are able to communicate in three modes: high-speed (480Mb/s), full-speed (12Mb/s),  
and low-speed (1.5Mb/s). Hi-Speed USB 2.0 is backwards compatible, so you will be able to connect USB devices to Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0 hubs; however, the USB devices will still maintain their normal performance levels (i.e. 12 Mb/s).  
In order to achieve the fast data transfer rates of Hi-Speed USB 2.0, you must connect your Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device directly  
to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port on either a computer or hub.  
Tech Note:  
• Avoid using USB connectors found on certain peripherals such as keyboards. These are passive (or pass-  
through) connectors that lead to power loss and unstable operation.  
• Only use USB cables shorter than 5 meters (approximately 15 feet). Using longer cables may cause the  
peripherals to malfunction due to excessive reduction in electrical signal strength.  
For more information about the USB interface, please visit:  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
7. Troubleshooting  
page 26  
7. Troubleshooting  
problem is coming from. If you have gone through all of the points on the checklist and your drive is still not working correct-  
ly, please have a look at the FAQs that are regularly published on our Web site – www.lacie.com. One of these FAQs  
may provide an answer to your specific question. You can also visit the drivers pages, where the most recent software updates  
will be available.  
If you need further assistance, please contact your LaCie reseller or LaCie Technical Support (see 8. Contacting Customer  
Service for details).  
Manual Updates  
LaCie is constantly striving to give you the most up-to-date, comprehensive Users Manuals available on the market. It is our  
goal to provide you with a friendly, easy-to-use format that will help you quickly install and utilize the many functions of your  
new device.  
If your manual does not reflect the configurations of the product that you purchased, please check our Web site for the most  
current version available.  
These Troubleshooting tips are divided up by operating system:  
Mac Users – click here  
Windows Users – click here  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
7. Troubleshooting  
page 27  
7.1. Windows Users  
Questions to Ask  
Is there an icon for the drive in  
My Computer?  
The Problem  
The drive is not  
recognized by the  
computer.  
Possible Solutions  
Go into My Computer and look for an icon and drive letter  
assigned to the LaCie drive. If the drive does not appear,  
follow the rest of the Troubleshooting tips to isolate the  
problem.  
Does your computers  
Check section 2.1. Minimum System Requirements – 2.1.1.  
Windows Users for more information.  
configuration meet the minimum  
system requirements for use with  
this drive?  
Did you follow the correct  
installation steps for the specific  
interface and operating system.  
Review the installation steps under 3.1. Connecting The  
Drive To Your Computer.  
Are both ends of the USB cables  
firmly attached?  
Check both ends of the USB cables and make sure that they  
are fully seated in their respective ports. Try disconnecting  
the cables, waiting 10 seconds, and then reconnecting them.  
If the drive is still not recognized, restart your computer and  
try again.  
Is the drives Activity LED lit?  
If both ends of the USB cable are firmly attached and the  
drives Activity LED (for the exact location of the LED, see  
section 2.2.2. Views Of The Drive) does not appear, try  
using the optional USB Power Sharing Cable (3.2.  
Connecting The Optional Power Sharing Cable).(sold separately)  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
7. Troubleshooting  
page 28  
Questions to Ask  
Have the USB drivers been  
installed correctly and enabled?  
The Problem  
The drive is not  
recognized by the  
computer.  
Possible Solutions  
Windows 98 SE and Windows Me Users: Go to Start >  
Settings > Control Panel > System > Device Manager >  
USB Controller. Click on the + sign next to the controller  
icon, and you should see your device listed.  
Windows 2000 Users: Go to Start > Settings > Control  
Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager button  
> USB Controller. Click on the + sign next to the controller  
icon, and you should see your device listed.  
Windows XP Users: Go to Start > Control Panel >  
Performance and Maintenance > System > Hardware tab >  
Device Manager button > USB Controller. Click on the +  
sign next to the controller icon, and you should see your  
device listed.  
If you still can’t see your device, recheck the cables and try  
the other troubleshooting tips listed here.  
Is there a conflict with other  
device drivers or extensions?  
Contact LaCie Technical Support for help.  
Has the drive been formatted?  
Make sure that the drive has been formatted properly. Please  
see sections 4.1. Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie  
Drive and 5.1. File System Formats for more information.  
The drive is not  
recognized by the  
computer.  
Does your computers operating  
system support the file system?  
Check your computers documentation and see sections 4.1.  
Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie Drive and 5.1. File  
System Formats for more information.  
Was the drive originally  
formatted as a removable disk?  
If the drive is configured as a removable disk drive under  
Windows 98 SE or Windows Me, the removable setting will  
need to be re-checked each time that the drive is taken to a  
new system. To do this, go the Device Manager (Start >  
Settings > Control Panel > System > Device Manager) and  
click on the Drives Settings tab.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
7. Troubleshooting  
page 29  
The Problem  
The drive is working  
slowly.  
Questions to Ask  
Are there other USB devices  
connected to the same port or  
hub?  
Possible Solutions  
Disconnect any other USB devices and see if the drives  
performance increases.  
The drive is not running  
noticeably faster when  
connected via Hi-Speed  
USB 2.0.  
Is the drive connected to a USB  
1.1 port on your computer, or to  
a USB 1.1 hub?  
If your drive is connected to a USB 1.1 port or hub, this is  
normal. A Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device can only operate at Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0 performance levels when it is connected  
directly to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port or hub. Otherwise, the  
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device will operate at the slower USB 1.1  
transfer rates. For more information, please see sections 5.3.  
Optimizing Data Transfers and 6. USB Questions And  
Answers.  
Is the drive connected to a Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0 port on your  
computer?  
Check to see that the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 drivers for both  
your host bus adapter and device have been installed  
correctly. If in doubt, un-install the drivers and re-install  
them.  
Does your computer or  
operating system support Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0?  
See sections 2.1. Minimum System Requirements – 2.1.1.  
Windows Users and 5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers for  
more information.  
Are you using a certified Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0 cable to connect  
your drive?  
Ensure that the cable you are using has been properly  
certified. The Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable that was shipped with  
your LaCie drive has been properly certified and tested to  
comply with USB standards.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
7. Troubleshooting  
page 30  
7.2. Mac Users  
Questions to Ask  
Is there an icon for the drive  
appear on the desktop?  
The Problem  
The drive is not  
recognized by the  
computer.  
Possible Solutions  
There should be an icon for the LaCie drive on the desktop.  
If the drive does not appear, follow the rest of the  
Troubleshooting tips to isolate the problem.  
Does your computers  
Check section 2.1. Minimum System Requirements – 2.1.2.  
Mac Users for more information.  
configuration meet the minimum  
system requirements for use with  
this drive?  
Did you follow the correct  
installation steps for the specific  
interface and operating system.  
Review the installation steps under 3.1. Connecting The  
Drive To Your Computer.  
Are both ends of the USB cables  
firmly attached?  
Check both ends of the USB cables and make sure that they  
are fully seated in their respective ports. Try disconnecting  
the cables, waiting 10 seconds, and then reconnecting them.  
If the drive is still not recognized, restart your computer and  
try again.  
Is the drives Activity LED lit?  
If both ends of the USB cable are firmly attached and the  
drives Activity LED (for the exact location of the LED, see  
section 2.2.2. Views Of The Drive) does not appear, try  
using the optional USB Power Sharing Cable (3.2.  
Connecting The Optional Power Sharing Cable).  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
7. Troubleshooting  
page 31  
Questions to Ask  
Have the USB or FireWire  
drivers been installed correctly  
and enabled?  
The Problem  
The drive is not  
recognized by the  
computer.  
Possible Solutions  
Mac Users: Open Apple System Profiler and click on the  
Devices and Volumes tab. If your device is not listed,  
recheck the cables and try the other troubleshooting tips  
listed here.  
Is there a conflict with other  
device drivers or extensions?  
Contact LaCie Technical Support for help.  
Has the drive been formatted?  
Make sure that the drive has been formatted properly. Please  
see sections 4.1. Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie  
Drive and 5.1. File System Formats for more information.  
Does your computers operating  
system support the file system?  
Check your computers documentation and see sections 4.1.  
Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie Drive and 5.1. File  
System Formats for more information.  
Error messages under  
Mac OS 10.x.  
Did you get an “Error –50”  
message while copying to a FAT  
32 volume?  
When copying files or folders from Mac OS 10.x to a FAT  
32 volume, certain characters cannot be copied. These  
characters include, but are not limited to:  
? < > / \ :  
Check your files and folders to ensure that these types of  
characters are not being used.  
Did you get an error message  
telling you that the drive has  
been disconnected when coming  
out of sleep mode?  
Simply ignore this message. The drive will remount to the  
desktop. LaCie drives conserve power by spinning down  
when you set your computer to sleep mode, and when the  
computer is “woken” from sleep, it does not give the drive  
enough time to spin-up from its sleep mode.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
7. Troubleshooting  
page 32  
Questions to Ask  
Are there other USB devices  
connected to the same port or  
hub?  
The Problem  
The drive is working  
slowly.  
Possible Solutions  
Disconnect any other USB devices and see if the drives  
performance increases.  
The drive is not running  
noticeably faster when  
connected via Hi-Speed  
USB 2.0.  
Are you operating in Mac OS  
9.x?  
Apple does not support the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 standard  
under Mac OS 9.x. You will be limited to the slower transfer  
rates of the original USB standard. For more information,  
please see 5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers.  
Are you operating in Mac OS  
10.x?  
Apple has only recently begun incorporating native Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0 ports in their computers. To achieve Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0 transfer rates, you will need to add a Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0 PCI or PC card to your computer. For more  
information, please see 5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers.  
Is the drive connected to a USB  
port on your computer, or to a  
USB hub?  
If your drive is connected to a USB port or hub, this is  
normal. A Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device can only operate at Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0 performance levels when it is connected  
directly to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port or hub. Otherwise, the  
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device will operate at the slower USB  
transfer rates. For more information, please see sections 5.3.  
Optimizing Data Transfers and 6. USB Questions And  
Answers.  
Is the drive connected to a Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0 port on your  
computer?  
Check to see that the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 drivers for both  
your host bus adapter and device have been installed  
correctly. If in doubt, un-install the drivers and re-install  
them.  
Does your computer or  
operating system support Hi-  
Speed USB 2.0?  
See sections 2.1. Minimum System Requirements – 2.1.1.  
Windows Users and 5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers for  
more information.  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
8. Contacting Customer Support  
page 33  
8. Contacting Customer Support  
Before You Contact Technical Support  
1) Read the manuals and review the Troubleshooting section.  
2) Try to isolate the problem. If possible, make the drive the only external device on the CPU, and make sure that all of the  
cables are correctly and firmly attached.  
If you have asked yourself all of the pertinent questions in the troubleshooting checklist, and you still can't get your LaCie drive  
to work properly, contact us via the provided Web link. Before contacting us, make sure that you are in front of your comput-  
er and that you have the following information on hand:  
Your LaCie drive's serial number  
• Operating system(Mac OS or Windows) and version  
• Computer brand and model  
• Names of CD or DVD drives installed on your computer  
• Amount of memory installed  
• Names of any other devices installed on your computer  
 
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
8. Contacting Customer Support  
page 34  
LaCie Technical Support  
LaCie Belgium  
LaCie Australia  
Contact Us At:  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie Denmark  
LaCie Canada  
Contact Us At:  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie France  
LaCie Finland  
Contact Us At:  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie Italy  
LaCie Germany  
Contact Us At:  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie Netherlands  
LaCie Japan  
Contact Us At:  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie Spain  
LaCie Norway  
Contact Us At:  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie Switzerland  
LaCie Sweden  
Contact Us At:  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie USA  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie United Kingdom & Ireland  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie Grand Export  
Contact Us At:  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
9. Warranty  
page 35  
9. Warranty  
LaCie warrants your drive against any defect in material and workmanship, under normal use, for the period designated on  
your warranty certificate. In the event this product is found to be defective within the warranty period, LaCie will, at its option,  
repair or replace the defective drive.  
This warranty is void if:  
• The drive was operated/stored in abnormal use or maintenance conditions;  
• The drive is repaired, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification or alteration is expressly authorized in writing by  
LaCie;  
• The drive was subjected to abuse, neglect, lightning strike, electrical fault, improper packaging or accident;  
• The drive was installed improperly;  
• The serial number of the drive is defaced or missing;  
• The broken part is a replacement part such as a pickup tray, etc.  
• The tamper seal on the drive casing is broken.  
LaCie and its suppliers accept no liability for any loss of data during the use of this device, or for any of the problems caused  
as a result.  
LaCie will not, under any circumstances, be liable for direct, special or consequential damages such as, but not limited to,  
damage or loss of property or equipment, loss of profits or revenues, cost of replacement goods, or expense or inconvenience  
caused by service interruptions.  
Any loss, corruption or destruction of data while using a LaCie drive is the sole responsibility of the user, and under no cir-  
cumstances will LaCie be held liable for the recovery or restoration of this data.  
Under no circumstances will any person be entitled to any sum greater than the purchase price paid for the drive.  
To obtain warranty service, contact LaCie Technical Support. You will be asked to provide your LaCie products serial number,  
and you may be asked to furnish proof of purchase to confirm that the drive is still under warranty.  
All drives returned to LaCie must be securely packaged in their original box and shipped with postage prepaid.  
Important Info: Register online for free technical support: www.lacie.com/register  
LaCie Data Bank Hi-Speed USB 2.0  
Users Manual  
Glossary  
page 36  
Glossary  
Asynchronous – Data transfer method where the data is transferred independently of other processes. With this transfer  
method, the intervals between transmissions can vary, and data can be resent if it is initially missed.  
Backup – (1) The act of creating at least one additional copy of data onto a different (and safe) storage device from where it  
can be retrieved at a later time if needed. (2) A copy of a file, directory, or volume on a separate storage device from the  
original, for the purposes of retrieval in case the original is erased, damaged, or destroyed.  
Bit – The smallest measure of computerized data, either a 1 or a 0. Eight  
bits equal one byte, or one character.  
Block – A very small section of the storage media comprised of one or more sectors. A block is the smallest amount of space  
allocated on a drive for data storage. By default, a sector of data consists of 512 bytes.  
Buffer – RAM cache that is faster than the data that is being delivered. Buffers are used so data may be stored and delivered  
to the receiving item as it is needed.  
Bus – Electronic links that enable data to flow between the processor, RAM and extension cables (peripherals).  
Byte – A sequence of adjacent binary digits, or bits, considered as a unit, 8 bits in length. There are 8 bits in 1 byte. See also  
MB (Megabyte) or GB (Gigabyte).  
Cache, -ing – This is an area of electronic storage (usually RAM) set aside to store frequently used data from electro-  
mechanical storage (hard drives, floppy disks, CD/DVD-ROM, tape cartridges, etc.) Therefore, storing frequently used data in  
RAM can enhance your systems overall response to disk-intensive operations significantly.  
Configuration – When talking about a PC, configuration is understood to be the sum of the internal and external components  
of the system, including memory, disk drives, the keyboard, the video subsystem and other peripherals, such as the mouse,  
modem or printer. The configuration also implies software: the operating system and various device managers (drivers), as  
well as hardware settings and options set by the user via configuration files.  
Controller – This is a component or an electronic card (referred to in this case as a "controller card," such as PCI or PCMCIA  
cards) that enables a computer to communicate with or manage certain peripherals. The controller manages the operation of  
the peripheral associated with it, and links the PC bus to the peripheral via a ribbon cable inside the PC. An external  
controller is an expansion card which fills one of the free slots inside your PC and which enables a peripheral (CD-ROM  
drive, scanner or printer, for instance) to be connected to the computer.  
Cross-platform – Term that refers to a device that is able to be operated by both Mac and Windows operating systems.  
Data Stream – The flow of data that accomplishes a task, usually related to moving data from storage to computer RAM or  
between storage devices.  
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Digital – Discrete information that can be broken down to zero or one bits.  
Driver (peripheral manager) – A software component that enables the computer system to communicate with a peripheral.  
Most peripherals will not operate correctly – if at all – if the appropriate drivers are not installed on the system.  
File System – Links the physical map of a disc to its logical structure. Thanks to the file system, users and computers can easily  
display path, directories and files recorded onto the disc.  
Firmware – Permanent or semi-permanent instructions and data programmed directly into the circuitry of a programmable  
read-only memory or an electronically-erasable, programmable read-only memory chip. Used for controlling the operation of  
the computer or tape drive. Distinct from the software, which is stored in random access memory and can be altered.  
Folder – A list created on a disk to store files. Creating folders and sub-folders enables you to organize the storage of your  
files in a logical, hierarchical manner so that you can find and manage them more easily.  
Format, -ting, -ted – This is a process where a device is prepared to record data. In this process, the hard disk writes special  
information onto its own recording surfaces into areas (blocks) that are ready to accept user data. Since this operation causes  
all current user data stored on the hard disk to be lost, this is an infrequent operation that usually only happens at the factory  
that created the hard disk. It is unusual for something to happen to a hard disk that requires the end-user to initially perform  
this operation.  
GB (GigaByte) – This value is normally associated with data storage capacity. Basically, it means a thousand million or a  
billion bytes. In fact, it equals 1,073,741,824 bytes (or 1,024 x 1,024 x 1,024).  
Hardware – Physical components of a computer system, including the computer itself and peripherals such as printers,  
modems, mice, etc.  
Host Bus Adapter (HBA) – A printed circuit board that installs in a standard microcomputer and an interface between the  
device controller and the computer. Also called a controller.  
Initialize, -ed, Initialization – After a hard drive (or other storage device) is formatted and partitioned, some special data  
needs to be written to it that helps the Mac and Windows create files and save data. The process is called initialization. This  
process, like formatting, causes all user data on the storage device to be lost.  
Interface – The protocol data transmitters, data receivers, logic and wiring that link one piece of computer equipment to  
another, such as a hard drive to an adapter or an adapter to a system bus. Protocol means a set of rules for operating the  
physical interface, such as: do not read or write before the drive is ready.  
I/O (Input/Output) – Refers to an operation, program or device whose purpose is to enter data into or to extract data from a  
computer.  
Isochronous – Data transfer method that ensures that data flows continuously and at a steady rate. These transfers provide  
guaranteed transmission opportunities at defined intervals.  
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Kb (Kilobit) – Equivalent to 1,000 bits.  
Kb/s – Kilobits per second. 480Kb/s is equal to 60KB/s.  
KB (KiloByte) – Basically, this means 1,000 bytes, but it is actually 1,024 bytes.  
KB/s – Kilobytes per second. A means of measuring throughput.  
Mb (Megabit) – Equivalent to 1,000,000 bits.  
Mb/s – Megabits per second. A means of measuring throughput. 480Mb/s is equal to 60MB/s.  
MB (Megabyte) – Basically means one million bytes, but is actually 1,024 Kilobytes or 1,024 x 1,024 bytes, which equals  
1,048,576 bytes.  
MB/s – Megabytes per second. A means of measuring throughput.  
Media – The material or device used to store information in a storage subsystem, such as a tape cartridge, CD, DVD or disk  
drive.  
Operating System (OS) – Software that controls the assignment and use of hardware resources such as memory, processor  
time, disk space and peripherals. An operating system is the basis on which software (applications) run. Windows, Mac OS  
and UNIX are among the most common.  
Overwrite – To write data on top of existing data thus erasing the original data.  
Partition, -ing – After formatting, the hard drive is not yet ready to store files. It must be divided into sections that will contain  
special information required for a Mac or PC to operate and other sections that will contain the files. This process of dividing  
up the hard drive is called partitioning. A partition is just one section of the hard drive that will contain either special data put  
there by Silverlining or other files and data.  
Peripheral – A generic term applied to printers, scanners, mice, keyboards, serial ports, graphics cords, disk drives and other  
computer subsystems. This type of peripheral often relies on its own control software, known as a peripheral driver.  
Port, hardware – A connection component (SCSI port, for example) that enables a microprocessor to communicate with a  
compatible peripheral.  
Port, software – A memory address that identifies the physical circuit used to transfer information between a microprocessor  
and a peripheral.  
RAM (Random Access Memory) – Generally referred to as a computers memory.” An integrated circuit memory chip that  
allows information to be stored and retrieved by a microprocessor or controller. The information can be stored or accessed in  
any order, and all storage locations are equally accessible.  
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Seek Time – The amount of time (in thousandths of a second, or milliseconds) that it takes a hard drives read/write head to  
move to a specific location on the disk. Average seek, then, is the average of a large number of random samplings all over  
the disk. Seek time is CPU independent, meaning that seek time is the same for a disk drive, whether it is attached to a  
computer or not.  
Software – In a nutshell, software is a set of instructions for the computer. A set of instructions to perform a particular task is  
called a program. There are two main types of software: system software (an operating system such as Mac OS or Windows)  
which controls the operation of the computer and application software (programs such as Word or Excel) which enable users  
to perform tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet creation, graphics, etc.  
Storage – In computers, any equipment in which information may be kept. PCs generally use disk units and other external  
storage media (diskettes, CD-ROMs, magnetic disks, etc.) for permanent storage of information.  
Striping – Spreading data evenly over multiple disk drives to enhance performance. Data striping can be performed on a bit,  
byte or block basis for optimum application performance.  
Transfer Rate – The rate at which the drive sends and receives data from the controller. Transfer rates for reading data from  
the disk drive may not be the same as the transfer rate for writing data to the disk drive. Transfer rates are CPU dependent,  
meaning that regardless of how great a transfer rate your drive is capable of, the actual transfer rate can only be as fast as  
the slowest of your hard drive and computer.  
Volume – A desktop mountable storage area, may be a partition of a hard drive, a removable disk or a cartridge. Typically  
measured in Megabytes or Gigabytes.  
Utility – Software designed to perform maintenance tasks on the system or its components. Examples include backup  
programs, programs to retrieve files and data on disk, programs for preparing (or formatting) a disk or and resource editors.  

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