Review: Iomega Mac Companion 2TB

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br /> <img alt="Review: Iomega Mac Companion 2TB" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2cf73d3e53470-75.jpg.jpg" src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2cf73d3e53470-75.jpg.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /><br /> The Iomega Mac Companion 2TB is no ordinary desktop hard drive. Along with the brushed aluminium and smoky black casing, designed to sit comfortably (and look great) on the foot of an iMac or Apple Display, Iomega Mac Companion also has a useful charging feature.<br /> Mac Companion is, of course, Mac formatted out of the box. Connect it to your computer through USB and you also benefit from its two-port hub. If you use FireWire 800 for its faster data transfer speeds, there's a second port for daisy chaining.<br /> But far more interesting is the high-powered USB port on the side of the drive. It's there for charging iOS devices, and is optimised as a fast-charging port if you're using FireWire, or have the drive powered via the mains but not connected to a computer.<br /> With the drive connected to your Mac through USB, the charging port delivers 500mA of power and can also sync your iOS device. In our tests, it took just over 13 and a half hours to fully charge a flat iPad 2.<br /> Connect using FireWire and it can no longer be used for syncing, but it delivers 1000mA of power and charges in under seven and a half hours. You can't connect using both at the same time. We think FireWire makes most sense as it gives you faster data transfer and charging, and you can sync using your Mac's own USB ports.<br /> Available in 2TB or 3TB versions, Mac Companion uses a fast 7200rpm drive. In testing, it achieved random read/write speeds of 14.5/14.7 MB/s under USB and 21.8/21.2 MB/s using FireWire.<br /> Given the feature set that's included as standard, it's good value for money too.<br /> </div>

Review: Iomega Mac Companion 2TB

The Iomega Mac Companion 2TB is no ordinary desktop hard drive. Along with the brushed aluminium and smoky black casing, designed to sit ...

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Hard Drive Data Recovery Software Will Fix Your Data Loss

<P>Your computer is vital part of your life. If you are a person that utilizes your computer both at home and at the office, you know how important it is for your computer to work properly and store your data safely and securely. But what if there is a problem with your computer? Computer problems can pop up out of nowhere, and there sometimes seems to be no explanation. You can try to fix it all you want, but if you have lost data, you may be in for some trouble.</P><br /><P>Whether it is an office computer or personal computer, you will not want to suffer the loss of data. The first step in avoiding this problem is to backup of your files. If you haven't done that, then you will need to find services that offer data disaster recovery. Hard drive data recovery software is one of the ways which can come in handy at this point in your hard drive data recovery services. It is the cheapest, easiest way for you to recover your data yourself.</P><br /><P>Hard drive data recovery software works on both hard drives and USB drives. The software works by recovering NTFS and FAT data from the drives that are in a dangerous condition. And if you are not technically savvy besides knowing how to point and click, you will be pleasantly surprised at how it works. It has an easy to use wizard-like interface that will direct you right through the process. All you will have to do is read the instructions and make your choices for data recovery.</P><br /><P>This hard drive data recovery software will be able to provide you with all the tools you need in order to fix and restore your files, folders, and records that you may have lost. This program will let you automatically fix the problem and there is no extra knowledge required.</P><br /><P>When you are successful with the hard drive data recovery software, you will then want to think about other data backup options. For personal computers, you can use an external hard drive or other small storage item. Office computers on a network will benefit from a remote recovery data facility that can backup all the files on their network and keep all of the changes updated. This is a paid service, but one well worth the cost. This way, you can avoid having to deal with another close call with data loss.</P>

Hard Drive Data Recovery Software Will Fix Your Data Loss

Your computer is vital part of your life. If you are a person that utilizes your computer both at home and at the office, you know how impor...

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Apple issues recall for some iMac hard drives

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding: 0.6em;"> <div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="84" mce_src="http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/2456/apairofmatchedimacs.jpg" src="http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/2456/apairofmatchedimacs.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; height: 233px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 640px; width: 500px;" width="180" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Apple has issued notice of a recall of potentially defective 1 TB Seagate hard drives installed in iMacs sold between May and July of 2011. Apple has offered to replace the possibly defective drives free of charge until July 23, 2012.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The drives, installed in 2011-model iMacs in both 21.5 and 27-inch configurations, may fail under "certain conditions," which has led to the recall. If your iMac is one of those covered under the recall, you can take your iMac in to the local Genius Bar or set up an appointment with an Apple Authorized Service Provider.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Apple will not replace your data for you, so to ensure you don't lose anything, make a full backup of your drive using Time Machine or another backup solution before taking your iMac in for service. Apple does recommend replacing the drive as soon as possible, so if you have one of the affected iMacs but haven't been backing up your data, you'd better start now.</div> </div> </span></div>

Apple issues recall for some iMac hard drives

Apple has issued notice of a recall of potentially defective 1 TB Seagate hard drives installed in iMacs sold between May and July of 2...

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Choosing a Data Recovery Company After Hard Drive Disasters

<br /> <p>In the constantly evolving world of computers there is expensive research and development necessary to keep up with new technology in data recovery not only for hard drives but other storage media devices and servers. Companies who are at the forefront of the technology have paid for the R & D which becomes a factor in successful pricing. However, like any new sector where there is a vacuum to fill and opportunity to exploit, companies offering low prices for data recovery have sprung up to make a fast profit. As in many sectors business opportunists look for the latest trend and open a company offering sub-par services at a substantially discounted rate, often unbelievable low. Every company has had to offer free evaluation in order to compete.</p><p>If a stricken company needs data file recovery of important and confidential information they should not send the hard drive to the company with the cheapest prices. The main reason is that they may not be able to restore data that a more sophisticated and experienced firm could get back for you. Moreover, the drive, disc, or device may get contaminated and further damaged by a failed effort. Even if the company advertises low prices, they will have hidden service fees they will present if a recovery is possible. Price should be the last thing on your mind when faced with a technological problem; you want the best laboratory and staff to save your business information if it has been lost. Large corporations understand this and have service providers chosen for whenever data loss problems occur.</p><p>With the rise of personal computers even consumers have need for data recovery services - even if only for sentimental files like family and vacation pictures that people forgot to back up when they bought a new laptop. Many have home businesses and aren't completely organized when a virus strikes and cripples the hard drive. It often takes a few mistakes to remember to consistently do a back up every day or every hour if necessary.</p><p>Computers are vital on every level to businesses. Data gets backed up regularly as the first line of defense against a malfunction caused by a virus, a power surge, a blackout, fire, flood, pestilence, or a vandal on the other side of the world hacking into systems just to cause havoc. Data, especially recent entries that haven't been backed up yet, can get lost, damaged or corrupt due to physical damage to the storage device or logical damage to the file system installed on the host operating system. Various types of data can be recovered, including deleted files, corrupt files, damaged or deleted partition, missing partition, and corrupt or missing operating system files.</p><p>Data recovery is one of those services that can rescue the operation of a company and the qualified operators can do it cleanly in sterile laboratories in a short period of time. Being competitive includes excellent customer service for often panic-stricken clients who have their fingers crossed that they've come to the right experts.</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Choosing a Data Recovery Company After Hard Drive Disasters

In the constantly evolving world of computers there is expensive research and development necessary to keep up with new technology in dat...

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New Intel Solid State Drive 310 is smallest yet

<P align=center><img src="http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/9525/intel20ssd20310200200.jpg"></P><br /><P>Intel has just released its latest solid state drive, boasting a considerably smaller form factor than past SSDs. </P><br /><P>Intel's Solid State Drive 310 Series offers similar performance to the popular X25M SSD but is around an eighth of the size.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Embedded apps and dual-boot notebooks</STRONG></P><br /><P>Intel sees customers using this new SSD 310 Series for things like embedded apps (small, autonomous computers), as well as flagging a whole range of potential industrial and military uses. </P><br /><P>As far as consumer tech goes, Lenovo has already selected this new SSD, with Tom Butler, director of ThinkPad product marketing noting:</P><br /><P>"The Intel SSD 310 series will allow us to provide the advantages of a full-performance Intel SSD paired with the storage of a hard disk drive in a small, dual-drive system." </P><br /><P>A dual-drive system will allow you to put all your system and apps on the SDD for fast boot and launch times, while also keeping your main files and data on the cheaper and 'old fashioned' 2.5-inch hard drives.</P><br /><P>The SSD 310 series also matches the X18/25-M series' <a href="http://www.interfacebus.com/Engineering_Dictionary_MTBF.html">MTBF</A> of 1.2 million hours and operating shock of 1,500G/0.5ms </P><br /><P>The SSD 310 series is now shipping to manufacturing customers at a cost of $99 for 40GB and $179 for 80GB (though that's based on a minimum order of 1000).</P>

New Intel Solid State Drive 310 is smallest yet

Intel has just released its latest solid state drive, boasting a considerably smaller form factor than past SSDs. Intel's Solid State Dr...

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Buying Guide: Best 1TB external hard drive: 10 drives tested

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img392-main-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>These days, you can never have too much storage space. However much you have, you're bound to fill it sooner than you think. But what do you do if you want more?</P><br /><P>Internal drives are all very well, but your PC doesn't have an infinite number of drive bays, and what if you want to transport your digital data as well as access it from your own PC? </P><br /><P>For this test then, we're comparing external desktop hard drives that have a 1TB capacity. </P><br /><P>A desktop drive is based on the 3.5-inch hard drive and is plugged into the mains, as opposed to portable external drives, which use smaller 2.5-inch HDDs and draw their power from their data connection cable, normally powered USB. </P><br /><P>The main advantage offered by desktop drives over their portable counterparts is price. They can, of course, be unplugged and carried away should you wish to (for example) take data between work and home, but if your drive is likely to spend as much time in your bag as it does on your desk, a portable unit may prove a better option. </P><br /><P>So you can compare like with like, we've benchmarked the drives by average random read/write speeds in MB/s under the ubiquitous USB 2.0 connectivity, though most drives offer faster methods, such as eSATA. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Hard drives on test</STRONG></P><br /><P>LaCie Starck 1TB - £89 <BR>Iomega Minimax 1TB - £116 <BR>Freecom Hard Drive XS 3.0 1TB - £91<BR>G-Technology G-Raid 1TB - £156 <BR>Iomega Ego Desktop Hard Drive 1TB - £115 <BR>G-Technology G-Drive 1TB - £155 <BR>Hitachi LifeStudio 1TB Desk Plus - £95 <BR>Buffalo DriveStation 1TB - £74 <BR>Freecom Hard Drive Quattro 1TB - £116 <BR>LaCie D2 Quadra - £131 </P><br /><P><STRONG>Iomega Minimax 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://go.iomega.com/en/?partner=4735">www.iomega.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Iomega minimax 1tb" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup3_1-minimax-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This almost-square hard drive is clearly designed to sit under small-form factor machines. Of course, that also means it's fairly convenient to slip into your bag and carry from computer to computer. </P><br /><P>Not as convenient as a portable drive, of course. It's bigger, and you need to carry the MiniMax's power supply as well as the drive. But if your need an external hard drive that will spend most of its life on your desk, but take the occasional trip to the office or your friend's house, this drive is well worth considering. </P><br /><P>The MiniMax is very sturdy, and its large rubber base stops it sliding about on your desk. Its brushed aluminium sides and white top look great next to most PCs (small-form factor or otherwise), and its transfer speeds are very respectable.</P><br /><P>Perhaps most interestingly of all, as well as a USB 2.0 and twin FireWire 800 ports (a cable for FW400 connections is supplied), there's also a three-port USB hub for connecting further peripherals. Just the thing if you want a USB hard drive, but are running out of ports. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 89%</STRONG> </P><br /><P><STRONG>LaCie Starck 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.lacie.com/uk/">www.lacie.com/uk </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Lacie starck 1tb" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup3_1-starck-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>If you're looking for an external hard drive that looks great next to almost any PC, you could do a lot worse than check out this one. </P><br /><P>Designed by top industrial designer Philippe Starck, its sturdy aluminium casing and shiny, molten metal front look absolutely gorgeous. Starck's signature cross sign is projected onto the desktop as a drive status LED too, which is a nice touch. </P><br /><P>The molten front panel is touch-sensitive, functioning as a shortcut button that can be set up to launch an application, open a file or mount and unmount the drive. Unfortunately, the configuration software that controls this function is a little flaky. </P><br /><P>The Starck isn't LaCie's most versatile external desktop hard drive. It's USB 2.0-only, though it gave us reasonable speeds in our benchmarking tests. For even faster speeds, you can download a turbo driver, to boost USB speeds by up to 33 per cent. </P><br /><P>Also bundled is 10GB of Wuala online storage, which is free for a year, and LaCie Genie Backup Assistant for an easy way to back up your files. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 83%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>G-Technology G-Raid 1TB </STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.g-technology.com/">www.g-technology.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="G-raid" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img39240_1-gtech.gdrive-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This attractive, sturdy device holds two 500GB drives arranged in a hardware RAID 0 array for additional speed. </P><br /><P>It offers USB 2.0 connectivity, twin FireWire 800 ports with a FireWire 800-to-400 cable for connection to a FireWire 400 port.For the fastest possible connection, there's also eSATA. </P><br /><P>An Oxford 936 chipset is used for its out-of-the box hardware RAID 0 array. You can switch to a RAID 1 mirrored array, which copies your data to both of the drive's two discs, halving the unit's overall storage capacity but protecting your data against drive failure.</P><br /><P>G-Technology doesn't exactly go out of its way to show you how to do this, though. You have to download an application called 'G-Tech Configurator' from the support section of its website, or search the bundled CD where it's only found under G-RAID Mini, a different product.</P><br /><P>Unlike its stable mate, the similarly-styled G-DRIVE, the G-RAID uses a fan-based cooling system. Thankfully, it's based on a thermo-regulated smart fan that only kicks in when the temperature rises, and is pretty quiet in operation even when it's running.</P><br /><P>It's also worth mentioning that the 4TB version of this external hard drive isn't compatible with Windows XP. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 86%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Freecom Hard Drive XS 3.0 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web <a href="http://www.freecom.com/default2.asp">www.freecom.com</A> </P><br /><P><img alt="Freecom hard drive xs 1tb" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img39240_1-freecom-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Freecom's Hard Drive XS 3.0 is USB-only. As you'd expect from the name, it's compatible with the new USB 3.0 standard, which is up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 and fully backwards-compatible. </P><br /><P>Although a desktop design (it's based on a 3.5-inch SATA drive format and plugs into the mains), it's clearly built with portability in mind. </P><br /><P>Described as 'the world's smallest 3.5-inch external drive', the unit as a whole is barely larger than the drive it holds. It's also wrapped in a rubber sleeve to reduce vibrations and protect against minor knocks. This rubberised finish and its fanless construction make the Hard Drive XS 3.0 almost silent in operation. </P><br /><P>Even when using a slower USB 2.0 connection, the XS 3.0 is pretty speedy. It's reasonably light at 862g too, and its power supply is a modest, pocket-sized affair. There's no enormous brick-like transformer to lug around. </P><br /><P>Given its clear advantages as a semi-portable drive, we can't think why Freecom didn't bundle a carry case. It would've rounded off a very useful and keenly-priced package. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 85%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>G-Technology G-Drive 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.g-technology.com/">www.g-technology.com</A></P><br /><P><img alt="Gtech g-drive" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img392-gtech.graid-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This beautifully realised aluminium design from Hitachi subsidiary G-Technology is clearly conceived with the Mac user in mind, but it looks just as at home next to a brushed metal PC tower. </P><br /><P>As well as USB 2.0, G-DRIVE offers eSATA for ultra-fast connection with compatible machines, and twin FireWire 800 ports. A FireWire 800-to-400 cable is bundled, so you can connect using the slower FireWire 400 standard if you've no spare FW800 port. </P><br /><P>Like many of the drives on test here, the G-DRIVE offers a fanless cooling system. Instead, there's an aluminium heatsink between its supports that silently dissipates heat. At just under five centimetres tall it's got a very low profile, but it's certainly not designed to be vertically mounted. </P><br /><P>It performed admirably in our speed tests, being one of the faster drives in our base-line USB 2.0 test, and at the front of the pack using FireWire. </P><br /><P>The G-DRIVE isn't exactly awash with bundled software, though we wonder how many people actually use applications they get bundled with storage solutions. Despite its triple-interface connectivity options we feel it's a little expensive too, though the quality is very high. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 88%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Iomega Ego Desktop Hard Drive 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://go.iomega.com/en/?partner=4735">www.iomega.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Iomega ego" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img39240_1-iomega.ego-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Iomega's popular eGo Desktop Hard Drive range comes in various fl avours. The silver model we're looking at here offers FireWire 400/800 and USB 2.0 connectivity and is Mac-formatted out of the box, but can easily be reconfigured for Windows.</P><br /><P>Other variations of the drive include a jet black or midnight blue USB 2.0-only drive, or a charcoal enclosure offering USB 3.0 connectivity. </P><br /><P>The eGo Desktop range boasts plastic enclosures, but they look as smart and attractive as any metal casing. They can be mounted vertically using the supplied stand, or horizontally. </P><br /><P>You get two free software applications with the drive, though you have to download them – they're not on the hard drive itself or on a bundled CD. </P><br /><P>Iomega QuikProtect lets you back up your data to an external or networked drive, according to a schedule or whenever a fi le changes. MozyHome Online backup service lets you back up your data to a cloud server. You get 2GB free with the drive, or you can sign up for MozyPro and buy more storage space for a monthly fee. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 85%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Buffalo DriveStation 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.buffalo-technology.com/">www.buffalo-technology.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Buffalo" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup2_1-buffalo-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This cost-effective drive from Buffalo is USB 2.0-only, but its transfer speeds can be enhanced using the bundled TurboUSB driver. </P><br /><P>Windows users can enjoy full disk AES256-bit hardware encryption to keep your data safe and secure, encrypting all data as soon as it's written to the drive, and protecting it with a password. </P><br /><P>SecureLockManager Easy remembers your credentials and makes logging-on a simple task when using Full Automatic Encryption, and there's a power saving mode that automatically switches off the drive when you shut down your PC. </P><br /><P>Also included is Memeo AutoSync backup software and Google's Picasa software for photo and movie organising. </P><br /><P>The DriveStation's shiny black plastic casing is fairly attractive, especially next to a glossy black tower system, but it picks up fingerprints faster than the CSI team. Thankfully, being a desktop drive, you won't have to pick it up often. </P><br /><P>It's not the fastest of the drives on test here, but it's not the slowest either and its TurboUSB driver makes it a wise choice if you only plan to use USB 2.0 connectivity. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 80%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Hitachi LifeStudio 1TB Desk Plus</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.lifestudio.com/">www.lifestudio.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Hitachi" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup2_1-hitachi-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>If you're looking for a big, dumb hard drive for data storage, look elsewhere. Hitachi's LifeStudio range, available in mobile and desktop form factors, is aptly described as 'the hard drive redefined'. It's far more than a bare storage device. </P><br /><P>Its bundled management suite lets you find, organise and share digital content located on both your PC and your LifeStudio drive, view photos you've uploaded to social networking sites, access online content such as games, news, music and videos and auto-sync with the removable USB key mounted on the front of the drive. </P><br /><P>This removable storage device uses a MicroSD card, which can easily be removed and replaced if you want to upgrade. It's all accessed through a gorgeous 3D browser too.</P><br /><P>The LifeStudio Desk Plus isn't the fastest of drives, and it's USB 2.0 only, with no support for faster connectivity methods. </P><br /><P>With its blue and black plastic finish it looks pretty good on your desktop, but the removable USB flash drive means you can't tuck it away out of sight and out of reach. </P><br /><P>If you're only looking for a storage device, this isn't the drive for you, but if its lifestyle and management features appeal, it's excellent value for money. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 90%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>LaCie D2 Quadra 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.lacie.com/uk/">www.lacie.com/uk </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Lacie d2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup2_1-lacie.d2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This Neil Poulton-designed external hard drive is extremely versatile. It has four connectivity options (as suggested in the name); USB 2.0, twin FireWire 800 ports, a single FireWire 400 port and eSATA. </P><br /><P>It can be vertically mounted using the supplied aluminium stand or used in a horizontal position, and up to four d2 Quadras can be installed together in a convenient desk rack (sold separately). </P><br /><P>The D2 Quadra's casing is made from sturdy aluminium, and its ribbed surface provides a handy heat sink, which LaCie claims offers up to 60 per cent more surface area for heat dissipation compared to a more conventional, flat-sided external drive. </P><br /><P>The drive light on the front of the unit also functions as a shortcut button. Using the supplied software (which is a little buggy – we hope a revision is in the pipeline), you can configure it to back up your data or launch a file or application of your choice.</P><br /><P>Its speeds are very agreeable, it can be set to power down when you switch off your computer and there's bundled software too. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 91%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Freecom Hard Drive Quattro 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.freecom.com/default2.asp">www.freecom.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Freecom quattro" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup2_1-freecom.quad-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This sturdy quadruple-interface drive is clearly built for function rather than aesthetics. While far from ugly, its uncompromising box-like form factor and no-frills design make no attempt to be decorative. </P><br /><P>Build quality is superb, with a robust brushed aluminium casing and a rugged plastic facing. If you need a drive that can take the knocks, the Freecom Quattro is well worth considering. The Quattro's fanless design means it runs almost silently, making it ideal for desktop use, and it can be mounted horizontally, or vertically using the bundled rubber stands. </P><br /><P>As well as the ubiquitous USB 2.0 port, the Quattro also boasts eSATA, twin FireWire 800 ports and even a FireWire 400 port, which is unusual. Most drives that offer FireWire 400/800 connectivity usually omit the FireWire 400 port, but instead bundle a cable that lets you connect a FW800 outlet to your system's FW400 port. </P><br /><P>Although far from poor, the Freecom Quattro's transfer speeds were nothing special, putting in a mediocre performance under USB 2.0 and lagging behind some of the other FireWire-compatible drives when using FW800. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 78&</STRONG></P>

Buying Guide: Best 1TB external hard drive: 10 drives tested

These days, you can never have too much storage space. However much you have, you're bound to fill it sooner than you think. But what do...

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How to Copy a Movie From a Hard Drive to a DVD Disc With Nero

<P>Open Nero Burning ROM and click "New" on the main screen. Select "DVD" from the drop-down menu on the "New Compilation" window and select "DVD-Video" as the disc type.</P><P>Drag and drop your movie files from the right pane under "Browsers" to the left pane to add it to the DVD.</P><P>Select your DVD recorder from the "Recorder" drop-down menu and insert a blank DVD. Click "Burn" and set any burn options that you want to use. Click "Burn" again to burn your DVD. Click "OK" when the process completes.</P><br /><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_7697381_copy-drive-dvd-disc-nero.html">Source</a>

How to Copy a Movie From a Hard Drive to a DVD Disc With Nero

Open Nero Burning ROM and click "New" on the main screen. Select "DVD" from the drop-down menu on the "New Compila...

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How to Copy an iTunes Playlist to a Jump Drive

<P>Open iTunes. Plug your jump drive into your computer's USB port.</P><P>Create and set up your playlist, if you have not already. To do this, select "File," then "New Playlist." Name the playlist; it appears in iTune's sidebar. Drag the desired songs from your library to the playlist to add them.</P><P>Right-click the playlist in iTune's sidebar. Select "Export ..."</P><P>Enter a name (or adjust the name, if desired). Select the jump drive as the save destination. Select "M3U" as the file format and click "Save." The playlist is saved to the jump drive.</P>

How to Copy an iTunes Playlist to a Jump Drive

Open iTunes. Plug your jump drive into your computer's USB port. Create and set up your playlist, if you have not already. To do this, ...

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How to Use Windows on My Mobile Drive

<P>Format the mobile drive. If your sole purpose is to run Windows from the mobile hard drive, then no other documents or files can be on the hard drive initially. Connect the hard drive to your computer. Go to "Start," then "My computer," and locate the drive letter associated with the mobile hard drive. Right click with your mouse and select "Format" (if format is not listed, select "Properties," then "Format").</P><br /><P>Make sure "Fat32" is selected. Click "Okay" and "Format" when given a warning message about being sure if you want to format the hard drive.</P><br /><P>Transfer Windows to your mobile drive. If you download Windows online, it may be an ISO file, which can be transferred directly to the mobile drive. Insert the Windows CD into your CD/DVD drive. Open ISO file-converter software (which you can find at your local computer store or download.com) and convert to an ISO file.</P><br /><P>Restart the computer that you want to connect to your mobile drive and press the key necessary to access the BIOS menu. Each computer has different methods of accessing the BIOS. For example, some Dell <a href="">computers</A> require you to press "F3." You will see which button to press the moment you restart the computer before the Windows splash page appears. Navigate to the section "Change boot order." The boot-order section will vary based on the type of computer you are using. Exit BIOS and reboot PC with the mobile drive connected.</P>

How to Use Windows on My Mobile Drive

Format the mobile drive. If your sole purpose is to run Windows from the mobile hard drive, then no other documents or files can be on the h...

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Hitachi ships Deskstar 7K3000 and 5K3000 HDDs, 3TB XL external drive

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTkLA_2dtkxtGdVAyZTDmMLCYNp8fjixRMHieZBJZNPbCv827ba2GM5P5Xkz5mgrtfOaIUxeSPcRIKbcr2L7DmdwnFsrL37v4kb7GcmicRsQCUx4QfhkWWB5aostMmhAUBWveIQvq9cA/s1600/hitachi-gst-xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTkLA_2dtkxtGdVAyZTDmMLCYNp8fjixRMHieZBJZNPbCv827ba2GM5P5Xkz5mgrtfOaIUxeSPcRIKbcr2L7DmdwnFsrL37v4kb7GcmicRsQCUx4QfhkWWB5aostMmhAUBWveIQvq9cA/s1600/hitachi-gst-xl.jpg"></a></div><br> <iframe align="right" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B003S6ID20&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Three. It's a magical number, you know? Hitachi GST sure feels that way, and the company is today introducing a trio of three terabyte storage solutions. First up is the 3TB Deskstar internal HDD kit, which apparently shatters the 2.2TB capacity limit on 32-bit Windows XP systems without any extra hardware required.<br> <br>

Hitachi ships Deskstar 7K3000 and 5K3000 HDDs, 3TB XL external drive

Three. It's a magical number, you know? Hitachi GST sure feels that way, and the company is today introducing a trio of three terabyte ...

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Patriot intros Supersonic USB 3.0 flash drive, milks 100MB / sec from a single chip

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemjNh0chgrZ63c_uwj1Y5k_egRy7tmgd691t9GCh_VsheH5nu35ws3jIMvi3smwW3Zoo_MnkMw8Jl22fTsCAf5-WQ-OVXBMu6JxtKzYt8YMC-91qApJp5ugixYNkJEr8LGbnSjYrripM/s1600/12-10-10-patriotsupersonic-1292011837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemjNh0chgrZ63c_uwj1Y5k_egRy7tmgd691t9GCh_VsheH5nu35ws3jIMvi3smwW3Zoo_MnkMw8Jl22fTsCAf5-WQ-OVXBMu6JxtKzYt8YMC-91qApJp5ugixYNkJEr8LGbnSjYrripM/s320/12-10-10-patriotsupersonic-1292011837.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002RJMPKK&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>At present, there seem to be three strategies to embracing the potential of USB 3.0 -- go all out with an external SSD, introduce a hulking RAID-on-a-stick, or settle for a single-chip USB key with ho-hum maximum read/write speeds of roughly around 80MB / sec and 60MB / sec.<br> <br>

Patriot intros Supersonic USB 3.0 flash drive, milks 100MB / sec from a single chip

At present, there seem to be three strategies to embracing the potential of USB 3.0 -- go all out with an external SSD, introduce a hulking...

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Does the Seagate FreeAgent Pro External Hard Drive Support a 64-Bit Operating System?

<P>FreeAgent Pro drives work with 64-bit operating systems.The Seagate FreeAgent Pro range of external hard disk drives all function on 64-bit operating systems. However, the Microsoft Windows software utilities supplied with the drive are not 64-bit compatible.</P><br /><P></P>The Seagate FreeAgent Pro range includes external hard disk drives with capacities of up to 1 terabyte (TB). The drives are usually used for system backup or to store libraries of data or media files. A 64-bit operating system, such as Windows 7 64-bit, is able to recognize the drive when you connect it to your PC, and allows you to move files between the device and the hard drive on your <a href="">computer</A>. The bundled software will only work with 32-bit versions of Windows. If you plan to use a FreeAgent Pro hard drive with your 64-bit system and have no intention of utilizing the bundled software, you should experience no functionality problems. If you wish to use the software utilities, it would be better to buy a more recent drive from the FreeAgent range, which includes 64-bit compatible software.

Does the Seagate FreeAgent Pro External Hard Drive Support a 64-Bit Operating System?

FreeAgent Pro drives work with 64-bit operating systems.The Seagate FreeAgent Pro range of external hard disk drives all function on 64-bit ...

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What Is a Drive Caddy Icy Box?

<P></P>FunctionThe Icy Box has an aluminum case that houses and connects a hard drive to a computer either through a USB port or FireWire. It has FTP capability for file transfers. Internal hard drives do not come with the Icy Box drive caddies.FeaturesThe Icy Box drive caddy box comes with the external caddy case, an external power supply, screws and a screwdriver for installation, as well as a USB connector cable. It also contains an instruction guide that outlines how to properly connect the Icy Box to a computer. The Icy Box is compatible with both Windows and Mac <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computers</A>.BenefitsNot every computer has space inside its case to install extra hard drives. The Icy Box allows a person to connect an <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/how_8225_install-internal-hard.html">internal hard drive</A> to a computer -- either a drive from an old computer or a new internal drive (that costs less than a new external hard drive). References <a href="http://gigaom.com/apple/icybox-hard-drive-caddy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Giga Om: Icy Box Hard Drive Caddy</A> <a href="http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/storage/2009/02/01/icy-box-ib-nas4220-b-network-storage/1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bit Tech: Icy Box IB-NAS4220-B Network Storage</A> <a href="http://www.testseek.com/labs/reviews/review-of-icy-box-ib-318stu3-b-usb3-hdd-enclosure/?p=3242" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TestSeek: Review of Icy Box IB-318STU3-B USB3 HDD Enclosure</A>

What Is a Drive Caddy Icy Box?

FunctionThe Icy Box has an aluminum case that houses and connects a hard drive to a computer either through a USB port or FireWire. It has F...

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How to Repair the C Drive

<P>Click "Start," then "Computer."</P><P>Right-click on the Local Disk (C:) drive, then select "Properties" from the pop-up list.</P><P>Click the "Tools" tab, then click the "Check Now" button under "Error-Checking."</P><P>Place checks in the boxes next to "Automatically fix file system errors" and "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" in the "Check Disk Local Disk (C:)" dialog window. Click the "Start" button. The system will scan for and automatically fix any errors it finds.</P>

How to Repair the C Drive

Click "Start," then "Computer." Right-click on the Local Disk (C:) drive, then select "Properties" from the p...

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Choosing a Data Recovery Company After Hard Drive Disasters

<br /> <p>In the constantly evolving world of computers there is expensive research and development necessary to keep up with new technology in data recovery not only for hard drives but other storage media devices and servers. Companies who are at the forefront of the technology have paid for the R & D which becomes a factor in successful pricing. However, like any new sector where there is a vacuum to fill and opportunity to exploit, companies offering low prices for data recovery have sprung up to make a fast profit. As in many sectors business opportunists look for the latest trend and open a company offering sub-par services at a substantially discounted rate, often unbelievable low. Every company has had to offer free evaluation in order to compete.</p><p>If a stricken company needs data file recovery of important and confidential information they should not send the hard drive to the company with the cheapest prices. The main reason is that they may not be able to restore data that a more sophisticated and experienced firm could get back for you. Moreover, the drive, disc, or device may get contaminated and further damaged by a failed effort. Even if the company advertises low prices, they will have hidden service fees they will present if a recovery is possible. Price should be the last thing on your mind when faced with a technological problem; you want the best laboratory and staff to save your business information if it has been lost. Large corporations understand this and have service providers chosen for whenever data loss problems occur.</p><p>With the rise of personal computers even consumers have need for data recovery services - even if only for sentimental files like family and vacation pictures that people forgot to back up when they bought a new laptop. Many have home businesses and aren't completely organized when a virus strikes and cripples the hard drive. It often takes a few mistakes to remember to consistently do a back up every day or every hour if necessary.</p><p>Computers are vital on every level to businesses. Data gets backed up regularly as the first line of defense against a malfunction caused by a virus, a power surge, a blackout, fire, flood, pestilence, or a vandal on the other side of the world hacking into systems just to cause havoc. Data, especially recent entries that haven't been backed up yet, can get lost, damaged or corrupt due to physical damage to the storage device or logical damage to the file system installed on the host operating system. Various types of data can be recovered, including deleted files, corrupt files, damaged or deleted partition, missing partition, and corrupt or missing operating system files.</p><p>Data recovery is one of those services that can rescue the operation of a company and the qualified operators can do it cleanly in sterile laboratories in a short period of time. Being competitive includes excellent customer service for often panic-stricken clients who have their fingers crossed that they've come to the right experts.</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <p>Pat Boardman is an SEO consultant writing in respect to <a href="http://www.datarecovery.ca/data-recovery-advantage.html" target="_new">harddrive Data Recovery Canada</a> who provide <a href="http://www.datarecovery.ca/raid-data-recovery.html" target="_new">Raid Data Recovery</a> on all discs and hard drives.</p> <br />

Choosing a Data Recovery Company After Hard Drive Disasters

In the constantly evolving world of computers there is expensive research and development necessary to keep up with new technology in dat...

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Pen Drive Security Threat

<br /> <p>Pen drive is one of the most familiar devices with anyone who is using a computer these days. The portable gadget is growing immensely popular for its extended functionality in different sectors. Apart from being a perfect device for storing and transferring data, the popularity of the device has been fueled by its convenience of use.</p><p>However, every technology has its downside. The more the tech-savvies run after improved technology, the more they are being exposed to the dangers that are associated with the technology. Pen drive is not an exception in this regard. Although it has simplified the process of storing volumes of data, it has its own share of threats that can be hazardous and sometimes lead to disastrous consequences. Some of the major problems with pen derive are discussed bellow.</p><p>Virus threat:</p><p>In the corporate world, chances are their one can send virus to the PCs of an organization and disrupt functions. Earlier, the prime sources of virus to a computer were emails or floppy drives. However, the technology has evolved to check the virus from these sources and protect the PC. But, it is really difficult to detect the virus transmitted through a pen drive. Unless a company has strong anti-virus policies or unless each file in a networked is being checked for the security, it is almost impossible to protect the PCs against the virus that comes with a pen drive.</p><p>Data insecurity:</p><p>The corporate sectors across the world are vying with each other to stay afloat and at times they don`t hesitate to deploy any unethical means to get data from their rivals. If you flip the pages of history, you will find numerous instances where hackers and spies have been employed for espionage. Being a small device, pen drive creates opportunities for the miscreants to access data from unprotected PC that has an open USB port and steal information such as research data, clients` list, quotes and etc. As it is possible to store huge amount of data in the pen drive, anyone can easily bring the software in it to decode the password of the PC or hack other information.</p><p>Use of spamware:</p><p>Sometimes, the treats come with the employees of the organization. Apart from bringing the virus, the pen drive is able to carry malicious software that can be planted in a PC by anyone. Often, the employees go against the corporate ethics and use the device to take unauthorized software and data such as shareware, games, MP3 music, software pranks, video clips, pornography pictures, etc. Moreover, the introduction of the pen drive has multiplied the threats of data insecurity and bringing bulky spamware with its available space. The organizations are more susceptible to threats as the software with password cracking ability can also be carried easily.</p><p>Prone to data Loss:</p><p>Pen drive is a very small and useful device. But the most dangerous downside of the device is that it lacks any security system. So, if you have stored data in it and it is misplaced, anyone can access the data. Due to its small size the chances of loss are high. You and your organization may be in trouble in case the data is manipulated. Of late, there have been growing demands among the pen drive users to develop the device with security system.</p><p>Companies have been taking conscious protest against the threats involved with the portable device like small drive. However, the organizations need to be extremely careful about the use of this device inside the office premises.</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <p>Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for <a href="http://polomercantil.livejournal.com/" target="_new">Polomercantil</a></p> <br />

Pen Drive Security Threat

Pen drive is one of the most familiar devices with anyone who is using a computer these days. The portable gadget is growing immensely po...

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Pen Drive - A Necessary Evil?

<br /> <p>Technology has always been a necessary evil. The more the technology develops, the greater are the chances of its being abused. Pen drive, the small storage device used to store and transfer data to and from computers, has gained popularity due to its functionality. It has got thousands of uses. Ease of use and convenience is the prime reason of its popularity.</p><p>However, like many other equipments, pen drives are also a necessary evil and pose a potential security threat to the technology world. When placed in wrong hands, the portability and high storage capacity of the pen drive can be hazardous. The device has evolved as a threat to the corporate and other organizations where security of data is given utmost importance.</p><p>The threats that are associated with pen drives are serious. Some of them are listed below.</p><p>Stealing of data:</p><p>Apart from the defense department, the corporate sectors all over the world are under the threat of data theft for espionage. There is no dearth of incidents where spies, hackers and other source are employed to steal data. A pen drive gives ample of opportunity for the theft from an unattached or unlocked PC with a USB port. It is easy to access data and steal information like client list, research data or any other information. The hackers can even bring the software with a pen drive allowing the user to hack password or other confidential information.</p><p>Spreading virus:</p><p>Earlier, floppy drives and emails were considered as main source of virus to computers. However, there has been anti-virus software developed to counter virus and protect the PC. But with pen drive it is difficult to check the virus with the safeguard as the device can bypass the protection. It is almost impossible to defend against the viruses unless and until you have strong anti-virus policies or you are not scanning all files in your network. It is easy for a virus writer to corrupt the entire network of a corporate environment with a pen drive.</p><p>Plant malicious software:</p><p>Virus apart, it is not difficult for anyone to take any spamware and plant it in the PC. In corporate sectors the threat multiplies when employees use pen drives to bring unauthorized software or any other data such as software pranks, sharewares, mp3 files, pornography pictures, video clips and other inappropriate data that is against the corporate ethics. As pen drives allow more space, it is easy to bring bulky software which impossible with a floppy. Situation worsens when the software is used to crack password.</p><p>Causing data loss:</p><p>Pen drives barely allow any security system in terms of password or any other built in security feature. So it is more likely that if a person loses a pen drive, the data inside it can be accessed by anyone. If it falls in wrong hands he or she can misuse it. a pen drive can be easily stolen or misplaced and the data stored inside it can be easily manipulated. There have large demand for pen drives with some security systems such as finger-print reader or protective software.</p><p>There has been a conscious protest against pen drives in many private and government organization. Though it is a convenient device for the productive brains, it has proved to be beneficial for the thieves as well. Pen drives are small in size and have greater capacity to store information. Hence the thieves can carry the device stealthily in pockets and take information.</p><p>Unless and until any drastic step has been takes against it, the security of any organization can be in stake. Even a visitor can retrieve data easily from an open computer. Considering these threats, some companies have taken some protective measures for their security by banning pen drive inside company premises. It can reduce the threat to some extent.</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <p>Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for <a href="http://polomercantil.livejournal.com/" target="_new">Polomercantil</a></p> <br />

Pen Drive - A Necessary Evil?

Technology has always been a necessary evil. The more the technology develops, the greater are the chances of its being abused. Pen drive...

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How to Reset S.M.A.R.T. Errors on a SATA Hard Drive

<P>Insert your OSX install disc into the computer's optical drive. Start the computer while holding down the "C" key.</P><P>Choose your language from the menu that appears.</P><P>Click the "Installer" tab and then click "Open Disk Utility" form the menu,</P><P>Click the "Disk Utitlity" icon from the menu and then click the "First Aid" tab at the top of the menu.</P><P>Click the "Repair Disk" button and wait for the repair to complete.</P><P>Restart your computer.</P><P>Click the "Start" button and then click on the "Computer" option.</P><P>Right-click on your SATA hard drive and then click the "Properties" button. Click on the "Tools" tab and then click the "Check Now" button.</P><P>Click on the box next to "Automatically fix file system errors" and then box next to "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.</P><P>Click the "Start" button.</P><P>Restart your computer after the scan and repair have finished to clear your SMART error.</P>

How to Reset S.M.A.R.T. Errors on a SATA Hard Drive

Insert your OSX install disc into the computer's optical drive. Start the computer while holding down the "C" key. Choose you...

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How to Switch Drive C to E

<P>Click your "Start" menu and click "Control Panel."</P><P>Click "System and Security" ("System and Maintenance" in Windows Vista) and click "Administrative Tools."</P><P>Double-click "Computer Management" and navigate to "Disk Management."</P><P>Right-click the partition with "C" in parentheses and click "Change Drive Letter and Paths."</P><P>Select "C" and click "Change."</P><P>Select "Assign the following drive letter" and choose "E" from the drop-down list.</P>

How to Switch Drive C to E

Click your "Start" menu and click "Control Panel." Click "System and Security" ("System and Maintenance...

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How to Unlock a Floppy Drive

<P>Check the floppy disks write-protect switch. Both 5.25 and 3.5 inch floppy disks have a write-protect mechanism. For 5.25 inch disks, covering the notch along the side of the disk with tape will prevent further writing. For 3.5 inch disks, switching a plastic switch downward will unlock it for writing. Sometimes, the switch is missing and you can cover it with tape.</P><P>Check the computer's BIOS for a floppy drive write protect setting. The BIOS configures hardware settings for your <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computer</A> and is accessible when you first turn the machine then using the DEL or F-keys to enter setup. BIOS settings vary from computer to computer, so look for a phrase similar to floppy write protect, then disable it and save the changes.</P><P>Check if the disk is defective. Because floppy disks are prone to damage from dust, scratches, bending and magnets, it might be defective or corrupt. Sometimes when the disk is corrupt, you might not be able to read or write to part of the disk. To inspect for damage on a 3.5 inch floppy, pull the sliding metal cover back. Formatting the drive might fix problems caused by magnets.</P><P>Check if the drive is defective. Sometimes the sensor used to detect disk write-protection becomes defective. The easiest way to check for a defect is to temporarily replace the drive with a known good one.</P><P>Check if the drive cable is defective. Replace it temporarily with a known good one.</P><P>Check if you have a virus. A virus could be on the floppy and it might be protecting itself from deletion. Looking at the task manager for suspicious programs running can sometimes reveal viruses. Microsoft offers a free anti-virus software to users of its operating system called Microsoft Security Essentials.</P><P>Restart the computer. Sometimes buggy software or operating systems will lock a file or drive in order to read data and forget to unlock it when finished.</P>

How to Unlock a Floppy Drive

Check the floppy disks write-protect switch. Both 5.25 and 3.5 inch floppy disks have a write-protect mechanism. For 5.25 inch disks, cover...

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