Maxtor OneTouch III Mini Edition user reviews (100GB)

1.0 stars

"Software deficient and dangerous" on December 6, 2006 by caymanjeff

Pros: Drive works fine

Cons: Software misses many critical files in backup

Summary: Taken from user in AMAZON.com that said it better than I could:
Comes with essentially no printed documentation.
The software needed to install is on the hard drive itself (as is documentation).
BIG PROBLEM: The backup this thing will make is not a complete backup at all: it will not back up any files that are open, hidden or system files and folders, compressed files/folders, or encrypted files or folders.
This means, for example, if you use Microsoft Outlook, your critical .pst file with all your email, calendar, and contacts will not be backed up by the included '1-touch' software, or by the 'MaxBackup' program! In my opinion, the software supplied with this thing is so useless it is dangerous as many will think they are getting backups and only realize they don't have a backup of needed data until it's too late. And this limitation isn't disclosed in writing since there's nothing wirtten other than a basic how to install sheet.
(Solution may be to use Microsoft XP's built-in Backup program - and forget the 'one touch'.)

PROBLEM #2: Maxtor says there is 2-step protection of data - encryption and drive lock. The drive lock relies on the software that's preloaded on the drive. Well, if you have a hard drive crash and you've enabled the drive lock, you won't be able to re-install the software needed to unlock the drive because the drive is locked and the software you need is on the locked drive. Smart. Whether the data on the drive is really 'encrypted' I'll leave to someone else to figure out - with the inconsistencies I see already, I wouldn't count on it.