Price : Too low to display
DS DUO EXT USB 2.0 FWIRE 500GB COMBO SATA HD
This review is from : Buffalo Drivestation Duo 500 GB Desktop External Hard Drive HD-W500IU2-R1
Mac Intel . I have a MacBook 2Gz Core 2 Duo. Getting the Drivestation to work on my Mac was easy :
1- Ignore the Mac utility that comes on the CD, it doesn't work.
2- Connect the drive to a Windows machine and install the windows setup application.
3- When you install the application, a new window will appear with "RAID Setup Utility". For some reason, when I ran the utility from that window it would walk me through a number of setup pages, but never let me pick the configuration I wanted for my drive (RAID1). If that happens to you, run the RAID Setup Utility from Start/All Programs/BUFFALO/... instead. That opened up the window letting me pick my configuration. I picked RAID1 ...
4- Connect the drive to your Mac (I chose Firewire), DONE. Works great ! It mounts every time, no issues.
The drive itself looks good, well built, silent. I only wish the cord was a bit longer.
Mac Intel . I have a MacBook 2Gz Core 2 Duo. Getting the Drivestation to work on my Mac was easy :
1- Ignore the Mac utility that comes on the CD, it doesn't work.
2- Connect the drive to a Windows machine and install the windows setup application.
3- When you install the application, a new window will appear with "RAID Setup Utility". For some reason, when I ran the utility from that window it would walk me through a number of setup pages, but never let me pick the configuration I wanted for my drive (RAID1). If that happens to you, run the RAID Setup Utility from Start/All Programs/BUFFALO/... instead. That opened up the window letting me pick my configuration. I picked RAID1 ...
4- Connect the drive to your Mac (I chose Firewire), DONE. Works great ! It mounts every time, no issues.
The drive itself looks good, well built, silent. I only wish the cord was a bit longer.
Buffalo Drivestation Duo 500 GB Desktop External Hard Drive HD-W500IU2-R1 Reviews
Great RAID 1 with nice power plug . For people that rely on external storage, the biggest concerns are a harddrive failure and broken power plug. If you want a drive that has RAID 1(mirroring), this one works with MACs and PCs. The only problem is that you will need a Windows machine to do the initial RAID hardware configuration. Once the hardware is set to RAID 1, you can simply plug the unit into a MAC and use disk utility to format the drive as a 250GB mirrored HFS+ journaled volume.
This enclosure is great because it uses a regular boombox power cord for its power. No more stupid broken power adapters like most other brands. It will also work with 240v.
Great RAID 1 with nice power plug . For people that rely on external storage, the biggest concerns are a harddrive failure and broken power plug. If you want a drive that has RAID 1(mirroring), this one works with MACs and PCs. The only problem is that you will need a Windows machine to do the initial RAID hardware configuration. Once the hardware is set to RAID 1, you can simply plug the unit into a MAC and use disk utility to format the drive as a 250GB mirrored HFS+ journaled volume.
This enclosure is great because it uses a regular boombox power cord for its power. No more stupid broken power adapters like most other brands. It will also work with 240v.
Buffalo Drivestation Duo 500 GB Desktop External Hard Drive HD-W500IU2-R1 Opinions
Works good for me . I bought the 500G Drivestation Duo to use as a RAID 1 storage device for my photos. I'm using it with a MacBook Pro w/Intel 2.33 processor. The disc configuration software that comes with the device does not work with Intel Macs, but you can configure the drive with a PC using the version 1.01 software downloaded from Buffalo's web site and then run the drive on a MAC. This is what I did and it works fine. I called Buffalo support line to confirm the above details before I tried it and was able to get through after about a 5 minute wait, and the CSR was very polite and helpful. The drive seems quite a bit slower than my inernal drive, but it's not too bad. Overall, the setup was very simple and everything seems to be working just fine. So I'm quite satisfied.
Works good for me . I bought the 500G Drivestation Duo to use as a RAID 1 storage device for my photos. I'm using it with a MacBook Pro w/Intel 2.33 processor. The disc configuration software that comes with the device does not work with Intel Macs, but you can configure the drive with a PC using the version 1.01 software downloaded from Buffalo's web site and then run the drive on a MAC. This is what I did and it works fine. I called Buffalo support line to confirm the above details before I tried it and was able to get through after about a 5 minute wait, and the CSR was very polite and helpful. The drive seems quite a bit slower than my inernal drive, but it's not too bad. Overall, the setup was very simple and everything seems to be working just fine. So I'm quite satisfied.
RAID is fixed . I had trouble with the RAID utiltiy, too. But I just noticed that Buffalo released version 1.01 of their RAID tool in January. At least it doesn't through an exception when you try to run it now!
Other than that problem, I like this drive for the money.
Other than that problem, I like this drive for the money.
USB Connection Does Not Work with Raid1 . I could not get the RAID utility to work on XP with USB either.
But while browsing the documentation for the Mac, I have noticed something about using WireFire. I switched the cables and was able to set up a RAID mirror on Windoze XP. For the sake of completeness: I have also downloaded and installed the latest RAID Utility from buffalotech.com.
It seems like people are running into this problem, but the information on the net and in the documentation on how to fix the issue is very sparse.
But while browsing the documentation for the Mac, I have noticed something about using WireFire. I switched the cables and was able to set up a RAID mirror on Windoze XP. For the sake of completeness: I have also downloaded and installed the latest RAID Utility from buffalotech.com.
It seems like people are running into this problem, but the information on the net and in the documentation on how to fix the issue is very sparse.
Cons Review
Nice case noisy hard drive and a NEVER WORKED RAID software. . Duo pairs up with 2 WD HDs, which is simply noisy when operate. Speed passing though USB2 is alright, USB driver works like a charm. Security + backup software is a plus.
However, RAID never worked! I've been fighting with Tech support for days (It will take you about 50 mins. waiting on the phone to get to them each time.) and nothing works. Tech support simply push back the problem to customers and indicated it's your "windows" problem.
1. Raid driver can't find the USB hard drive. On the first public version of driver, it creates C++ error. The newest version simply can't find the hard drive.
2. If you are looking for mac support, there is none. The newest driver "README.TXT" indicated that, newest driver only works under PowerPC chip with OSX. So if you have intel core duo, good luck to find the RAID driver.
3. When I first spoke with tech support about RAID problem, they said it might be my windows. Actually, I've tried 7 computers with 3 of them are clean installed. Nothing works! the RAID software simply CAN NOT FIND ANY DEVICE on the USB, even your hard drives are working and running.
4. Tech told me the RAID is hardware raid, however, it requires "THE DRIVER" to work. Where, most of people on the net will tell you, "THE DRIVER", never worked. So, if you are unlucky just like me, you have to run 2 USB drives at same time instead of any RAID/MIRROR support on this thing. they simply don't have it yet. The newest driver 1.01 was dated as far back as June 2006, and there is no newer driver existing so far.
Buffalo's linkstation gaves me nice experiences (only down side was the transfer rate), but this Drivestation Duo turns me away. I'll never going to be business with Buffalo ever again in my life. It's too painful to call in and gets no results whatsoever.
============== UPDATE Feb/27/07 ==================================
After a few weeks of problem solving, I am able to make the RAID work now.
Since the utility came with CD or "buffalo" tech support suggested version was never worked. (RAID utility simply can't find the Hard drive itself), and MAC raid utility only support OS 9 or older.
Instead of killing myself without a RAID feature which I paid for, I went to Japanese website to download the newest RAID utility. First of all, if you have the connection problem like I do, and you only have windows machines, I have to tell you the sad news. Even Japanese (NEWEST update) RAID utility still won't work under windows XP SP2.
Instead, You need an IntelMac (like macbook/pro), hook up with firewire (only works under firewire connection), and fire up the Japanese version of the RAID utility. It will find the Drivestation Just fine.
If you don't read Japanese, basicaly, there are 3 options under the RAID menu, and once you opened up the utility, you see 2 partition (2 separated HD on the list), and you will have 3 options. 1st, remain 2 Partitions. 2nd, Make them into one 500GB partition. 3rd, make into RAID 1 configuration.
Here is the tricky part!! Since windows RAID utility didn't work, You have to make your RAID configuration on MAC through firewire. However, You HAVE TO USE USB2.0 connection to the Windows machine after this. After you configured your DriveStation into 500GB or RAID 1, You will either see a 500GB HD after reboot the Drivestation on Mac, OR!!! You will see nothing (Partition worked, but MAC has no longer access the right partition.)
So, You need to use USB 2.0 connection back to Windows, and fire up the "Format program" that came with original CD. (Sorry! No MAC utility here!). Here! You can delete/create/format a partition. And after format the Drivestation into FAT32, both of your PC/MAC will see it and work perfect after that.
Since the front pannel did indicate 1, 2 as first and second hard drive in LED. If your RAID 1 worked, they both will access almost at same time when you are using the Hard Drive. Fully RAID 1 baby!!
If you made them into a Huge 500GB, it works the same too.. 2 Hard Drive will access at same time (Almost). It is much better than 2 separated Hard Drives.
============ WARNING ===================
This is personal testing result. Actual procedure might facing difficulty I haven't encountered. So, if this method don't really work for you, please don't contact me. Just call Buffalo-tech then.
Be honest, I think Buffalo-USA did a bad job of re-writting the entire utility. They simply didn't do a full testing on it. Japanese one didn't work as well. You will also see FW update.. I didn't try that at all. This is the catch.. if FW fails.. You never gotta know how to get back to the original FW in the first place.
However, RAID never worked! I've been fighting with Tech support for days (It will take you about 50 mins. waiting on the phone to get to them each time.) and nothing works. Tech support simply push back the problem to customers and indicated it's your "windows" problem.
1. Raid driver can't find the USB hard drive. On the first public version of driver, it creates C++ error. The newest version simply can't find the hard drive.
2. If you are looking for mac support, there is none. The newest driver "README.TXT" indicated that, newest driver only works under PowerPC chip with OSX. So if you have intel core duo, good luck to find the RAID driver.
3. When I first spoke with tech support about RAID problem, they said it might be my windows. Actually, I've tried 7 computers with 3 of them are clean installed. Nothing works! the RAID software simply CAN NOT FIND ANY DEVICE on the USB, even your hard drives are working and running.
4. Tech told me the RAID is hardware raid, however, it requires "THE DRIVER" to work. Where, most of people on the net will tell you, "THE DRIVER", never worked. So, if you are unlucky just like me, you have to run 2 USB drives at same time instead of any RAID/MIRROR support on this thing. they simply don't have it yet. The newest driver 1.01 was dated as far back as June 2006, and there is no newer driver existing so far.
Buffalo's linkstation gaves me nice experiences (only down side was the transfer rate), but this Drivestation Duo turns me away. I'll never going to be business with Buffalo ever again in my life. It's too painful to call in and gets no results whatsoever.
============== UPDATE Feb/27/07 ==================================
After a few weeks of problem solving, I am able to make the RAID work now.
Since the utility came with CD or "buffalo" tech support suggested version was never worked. (RAID utility simply can't find the Hard drive itself), and MAC raid utility only support OS 9 or older.
Instead of killing myself without a RAID feature which I paid for, I went to Japanese website to download the newest RAID utility. First of all, if you have the connection problem like I do, and you only have windows machines, I have to tell you the sad news. Even Japanese (NEWEST update) RAID utility still won't work under windows XP SP2.
Instead, You need an IntelMac (like macbook/pro), hook up with firewire (only works under firewire connection), and fire up the Japanese version of the RAID utility. It will find the Drivestation Just fine.
If you don't read Japanese, basicaly, there are 3 options under the RAID menu, and once you opened up the utility, you see 2 partition (2 separated HD on the list), and you will have 3 options. 1st, remain 2 Partitions. 2nd, Make them into one 500GB partition. 3rd, make into RAID 1 configuration.
Here is the tricky part!! Since windows RAID utility didn't work, You have to make your RAID configuration on MAC through firewire. However, You HAVE TO USE USB2.0 connection to the Windows machine after this. After you configured your DriveStation into 500GB or RAID 1, You will either see a 500GB HD after reboot the Drivestation on Mac, OR!!! You will see nothing (Partition worked, but MAC has no longer access the right partition.)
So, You need to use USB 2.0 connection back to Windows, and fire up the "Format program" that came with original CD. (Sorry! No MAC utility here!). Here! You can delete/create/format a partition. And after format the Drivestation into FAT32, both of your PC/MAC will see it and work perfect after that.
Since the front pannel did indicate 1, 2 as first and second hard drive in LED. If your RAID 1 worked, they both will access almost at same time when you are using the Hard Drive. Fully RAID 1 baby!!
If you made them into a Huge 500GB, it works the same too.. 2 Hard Drive will access at same time (Almost). It is much better than 2 separated Hard Drives.
============ WARNING ===================
This is personal testing result. Actual procedure might facing difficulty I haven't encountered. So, if this method don't really work for you, please don't contact me. Just call Buffalo-tech then.
Be honest, I think Buffalo-USA did a bad job of re-writting the entire utility. They simply didn't do a full testing on it. Japanese one didn't work as well. You will also see FW update.. I didn't try that at all. This is the catch.. if FW fails.. You never gotta know how to get back to the original FW in the first place.
Well it hasn't caught on fire yet. . It doesn't work at all. The drive is recognized by the USB driver but the RAID utility can not find it or initialize. I have 20 years experience with PC, build my own, have done software and hardware raid under Windows and Linux. This thing should just work. Technical support has hung up on me after being on hold for 15 minutes twice. So I'm guessing they just have so many problems that they are dumping their call queues to avoid busy signals.
Your going to be wasting a lot of time with something that really should be a non event.
Stay away from this product.
Your going to be wasting a lot of time with something that really should be a non event.
Stay away from this product.
Raid Setup Utility does not work - tech support on hold for 40 minutes . I should have read the review here before buying this product. I downloaded the latest Raid Utility for Windows and it still cannot find the drives. I disabled the drives as suggested on the BuffaloTech web site and still cannot find the drives.
I've been on hold for 40 minutes for tech support. This is the second call. The first call, I spend 10 minutes on hold, and then got hung up. It seemed like the company rushed the product before testing and probably too cheap to hire tech support people to deal with all the problems.
This is my last Buffalo Tech product.
I've been on hold for 40 minutes for tech support. This is the second call. The first call, I spend 10 minutes on hold, and then got hung up. It seemed like the company rushed the product before testing and probably too cheap to hire tech support people to deal with all the problems.
This is my last Buffalo Tech product.
Feature Buffalo Drivestation Duo 500 GB Desktop External Hard Drive HD-W500IU2-R1
- Box Contents - One DriveStation Duo, Quick Setup Guide, Setup CD-ROM with Memeo Backup Software for PCs, USB 2.0 Cable, Firewire Cable and Power Cord
- Two High Speed 7200 RPM Serial ATA Hard Drives
- No need to Install Drivers with Auto Setup
- Pre-formatted Hard Drive for immediate use
- Supports RAID 1 and Full Capacity Spanning Modes
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Product Details
EAN : 0747464110943UPC : 747464110943
MPN : HD-W500IU2/R1
Brand : Buffalo Technology
Weight : 7 pounds
Height : 4 inches
Length : 9 inches
Width : 7 inches
Binding : Personal Computers
Hardware Platform : PC
Manufacturer : BUFFALO
Model : HD-W500IU2-R1
Publisher : BUFFALO
SKU : MCE88-PJ91121000
Studio : BUFFALO
Where To Buy
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