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"Not what it purports to be" on by consumer_ron
Pros: Easy setup with USB. Didn't try Firewire due to reported problems.
Cons: Backup with XP Pro multiple users seems to require logging in under each user to back up each users files even when logged on as administrator.
Summary: I had expected this unit to backup my entire hard drive at the push of a button. It does not. Using XP Pro with multiple users I had to log on as the administrator, change all users to administrator to set the backup for each, and reset all users to limited accounts. I don't believe limited accounts are automatically backedup. I found this out when the unit showed 16 GB (1 user) when the hard drive showed 44 GB. Other users totaled 26 GB and review of the website knowlege base indicated no operating system files are copied I figured it out. Nowhere in the limited system documentation did it mention this. Sent a request to the company several days ago and have not received a response.
I am disappointed as I was looking for a simple solution to the one problem facing all intermediate users, that is a true backup drive that copies everyting. I'm not sure if the Raid 0 unit provides this but based on the available information, I would expect it would not include complete backup. My disappointment comes from not being told this upfront. Just tell us so we know what we are buying. -
"One Bad Joke" on by pctower
Pros: It works, sort of
Cons: It doesn't do what it is suppose to do
Summary: I had no trouble setting it up with USB 2.0. However, be warned, if you hook it up with another firewire drive (such as the Turbo III - which I did), firewire on both seem to be permanently disabled. There is a lame explanation of this on the Maxtor website - BUT NO PRIOR WARNING AND NO SOLUTION. In short, forget firewire.
But worse than that is the Retrospect backup software doesn't work. I had set restore points, and then unfortunately had to try to use the restore function. After reloading XP Pro and the Retrospect software, I could easily see my restore points (system roll-back). Unfortunately, they WOULD NOT RESTORE. I got a few files resotred, but just enough to really mess things up.
I had to spend all night manually rebuilding my system. DO NOT DEPEND ON THIS JOKE TO RESTORE YOUR SYSTEM!!!! -
"Decent extra haed drive" on by papabear075
Pros: read/write speed is pretty fast
Cons: Not sure yet
Summary: I have been using this has an extra hard drive (not for backups and restores of my OS) and it has been working great. Got a great deal at Office Max for 120 bucks so for the price you can't beat it. Not so sure about the other users comments on backups and restores but I see no reason why mine would fail.
Cheers,
Dave -
"Aggravating and Lousy Product" on by pgubbiom
Pros: It was cheap, and seemed to have a good reputation.
Cons: Gives a failure icon, with no explanation.
Summary: After using this thing for about a month, I got a red failure icon. The manual had nothing to address this (mentions the icon, but no language on causes or solutions). The website had nothing to address it. Uninstalling and reinstalling did not change this at all. It was a waste of money and I'm looking for a new external hard drive.
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"Worked for a year+ then failed suddenly - no warning" on by rdaniel3383
Pros: The product was easy to set up and worked well.
Cons: Sudden failure - no warning. The drive lives stationary on my desk - never moves, just use it as one of my backups to a stationary computer
Summary: I cannot complain too much, because I did get over a year of use from it. Because external USB drives with 300GB of storage are available at such cheap prices, I always employ at least two - and alter my backups. Hardware will fail - some sooner than others. My concern on this one is that it gave NO notice of impending failure. We haven't had storms in a week, the unit sits undisturbed on a desk in a private office, it just stopped responding. After doing a power cycle the drive would not spin up and just emits a constant click.
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