Newertech miniStack

Assembly Manual & User Guide

Introduction

1.1 Minimum System Requirements

1.1.1 Mac® Requirements

eSATA: OS X® 10.3 or later
FireWire®: OS X 10.2 or later
USB 3.0 (backwards compatible to USB 2.0): OS X 10.6 or later

1.1.2 PC Requirements

eSATA: Windows® XP or later
FireWire: Windows XP or later
USB 3.0 (backwards compatible to USB 2.0): Windows XP or later

1.2 Package Contents

NewerTech miniStack®
Power supply
FireWire 800 (1394b) cable
USB 3.0 (A to Standard-B) cable

Notes:

eSATA cable not included.
Some units come with assembly screws that are not pictured.

1.3 About This Manual

Firmware, images, and descriptions may vary slightly between this manual and the unit shipped. Functions and features may change depending on the firmware version. Please visit the product web page for the most recent specifications.

1.4 Front View

1.4.1 Front Features

Power LED — The miniStack has a single LED at the front. The LED will illuminate when the miniStack is powered on and also blinks when there is drive activity.

1.5 Rear View

1.5.1 Rear Features

On/off switch — Turn the miniStack on and off using this switch.
Power input — Connect the included power supply here.
USB 3.0 port — Connect this port to your computer using the included USB 3.0 (A to Standard-B) cable.
eSATA port — If you want to use the miniStack over eSATA, connect this port to your computer using an eSATA cable (not included). This eSATA port operates at SATA 2.0 (3.0Gb/sec.) speeds.
FireWire 800 (1394b) ports — Connect one FireWire 800 port to your computer with the included FireWire 800 cable to use the hard drive in the miniStack over FireWire 800. Use the other FireWire 800 port to connect additional devices.
Security slot — Attach a security tether here.

1.5.2 Connectivity Notes

The miniStack can connect using any of the three interface types (USB 3.0, eSATA, FireWire 800). It is recommended that you only connect the interface cable that you wish to use. If multiple cables are connected, the miniStack will connect using the fastest available interface.
If there is no data connection present, the drive will not spin up.
To connect additional FireWire devices through the miniStack, you must connect the miniStack to your computer using the FireWire interface.
For the safe removal of your drive and to assure that no data is lost, always eject or unmount the drive from your operating system before powering off.
In order for the computer to access volumes larger than 2TB, the operating system needs to support large volumes (e.g., Windows Vista or OS X 10.4 and above).

Device Setup

2.1 Quick Start

If you purchased the NewerTech miniStack as an empty enclosure, proceed to Section 2.2 below. If the miniStack you purchased includes a hard drive, the NewerTech NuDrive formatting utility has been installed. Follow the steps below to use the NuDrive utility to format your drives for Mac (OS X 10.4 and later) or Windows (XP and later). If you do not wish to use NuDrive to format your miniStack, you can use the formatting utility of your choice instead. See Section 3.1 Formatting of this manual for more formatting options.

Connect the drive to your computer using one of the included data cables or an eSATA cable that you supply, then turn on the drive. If you prefer to use a different formatting utility, do so at this time (skipping the rest of these instructions).
Your drive will show up as a “Newer Setup.” Open the drive to view its contents.
Launch the “NuDrive” application.
Follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the formatting process.
Once the formatting is finished, the drive is ready to use.

2.2 Assembly

Notice: The following assembly instructions are written for users who purchased the miniStack as an empty enclosure. The instructions show how to open the enclosure in order to install a drive. If you purchased the miniStack with a drive already installed, opening the miniStack before the expiration of the original warranty WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. If you wish to remove or replace a drive after the expiration of the original warranty, you may do so at that time. For warranty information, please visit https://eshop.macsales.com/Service/warranty/nwt-1-year-warranty.cfm

1. Remove the NewerTech miniStack from the box. Notice there is a clear protective plastic sheet attached to the top of the enclosure. Leave this sheet intact for now.

2. Turn the miniStack over, placing the top on a soft work surface, such as a towel. Remove the four Phillips screws at the corners of the miniStack (circled below).

3. Turn the miniStack over again, placing the bottom on the work surface. Lift the top cover off of the miniStack, exposing the internal chassis. Untape the plastic bag with assembly screws from the inner chassis (circled below).

4. There are three rubber-coated, plastic tabs on the chassis (circled in red), as well as a fourth plastic tab with a circular nub protruding from its center (circled in yellow) — these are designed to hold the drive in place.

Place your drive onto the chassis, label side up with the ports facing to the right. Make sure the drive is resting against the three red tabs, then press down gently on the drive until the fourth tab clicks into place. Fasten the drive to the tabs opposite the circuit board using two of the included screws from the packet.

5. Turn the enclosure so that the drive’s ports are facing you. Insert the SATA and power cables into the hard drive. They are keyed to only go in one direction. When you’re finished place the top cover back onto the miniStack.

6. Turn the enclosure over again, setting the top onto the work surface. Use the remaining two Phillips screws from the packet to fasten the bottom of the chassis (circled in yellow) to the hard drive. Then, refasten the four Phillips screws (circled in red) that you removed in Step 2, to secure the cover to the chassis.

7. Turn the miniStack over so the top is facing up, then peel off the protective plastic coating shown in Step 1. This completes the assembly process.

Support Resources

3.1 Formatting

For tips on how to use the NuDrive formatting utility for OS X and Windows, please use the link below. If you prefer to manually format your drive with the OS X Disk Utility or with the built-in Windows formatting tools, there are links for that as well. www.newertech.com/support#storage

(Scroll to the bottom of the storage section to find links for NuDrive and each OS.

3.2 Unmounting Drives

To properly unmount any connected drives from your computer, you need to follow a few simple steps.

OS X:

There are two main methods to unmount disks with OS X systems. Either drag the icon for the disk you wish to unmount to the trash can, or right-click the disk icon on the desktop, then click “Eject”.

Windows:

Go to the System Tray (located in the lower right corner of your screen). Click on the “Eject” icon (a small green arrow over a hardware image).
A message will appear, detailing the devices that the “Eject” icon controls, i.e., “Safely remove...” Click on this prompt.
You will then be given the following message. “Safe to Remove Hardware”. It is now safe to disconnect the miniStack from the computer.

3.3 Troubleshooting

Begin your troubleshooting by verifying that the power cable is connected to the miniStack and to a power source. If the power cable is connected to a power strip, make sure that the power switch on the strip is turned on.

Then, simply verify that both ends of your cables are properly plugged into the computer and the miniStack. If the miniStack is still not working properly, try connecting to another interface (USB, FireWire, or eSATA) and see if the device works properly. You can also connect the miniStack to a different computer.

If problems persist, please contact OWC Support.

3.4 About Data Backup

To ensure that your files are protected and to prevent data loss, we strongly suggest that you keep two copies of your data: one copy on your miniStack and a second copy on either your internal drive or another storage medium, such as an optical backup, or on a second external storage unit. Any data loss or corruption while using the miniStack is the sole responsibility of the user, and under no circumstances will Other World Computing be held liable for compensation or the recovery of any lost data.

3.5 Online Resources

Access our online collection of frequently asked questions for this and other products at: www.macsales.com/FAQ

Changes

The material in this document is for information purposes only and subject to change without notice. While reasonable efforts have been made in the preparation of this document to assure its accuracy, Other World Computing and its officers and employees assume no liability resulting from errors or omissions in this document, or from the use of the information contained herein. Other World Computing 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

Warning! 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 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 with radio 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 with radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

Health And Safety Precautions

Use proper anti-static precautions while performing the installation of your hard drives into this drive enclosure. Failure to do so can cause damage to your drive mechanisms and/or the hard drive enclosure.
Read this user guide carefully and follow the correct procedures when setting up the device.
Do not attempt to disassemble or modify the device. To avoid any risk of electrical shock, fire, short-circuiting or dangerous emissions, never insert any metallic object into the device. If it appears to be malfunctioning, please contact OWC Support.
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

To avoid damage, do not expose the device to temperatures outside the range of 5° C to 40° C (41° F to 104° F).
Always unplug the device 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 device 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 device near sources of magnetic interference, such as computer displays, televisions or speakers. Magnetic interference can affect the operation and stability of hard drives.
Do not place heavy objects on top of the device.
Protect your device from excessive exposure to dust during use or storage. Dust can build up inside the device, increasing the risk of damage or malfunction.
Do not block any ventilation openings on the device. These help to keep the device cool during operation. Blocking the ventilation openings may cause damage to the device and cause an increased risk of short-circuiting or fire.
For up-to-date product and warranty information, please visit the product web page.

Copyrights and Trademarks

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 Newer Technology, Inc.

Newer Technology, NewerTech and the n boomerang logo are trademarks of New Concepts Development Corporation, registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and/or in Canada. miniStack is a trademark of Newer Techhnology, Inc. Apple, FireWire, Mac, and OS X are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other marks may be the trademark or registered trademark property of their owners.

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