ByteCC ME-350U2 Aluminum 3.5" HDD External Enclosure

blade · Post by **blade** » Thu Dec 04, 2003 7:04 am

They asked me to review this earlier but I must of had a brain cloud, just didn't realize what it is and how useful it could be.

It's a very affordable and useful way to make a mobile USB 2.0 hard drive. They also make them in firewire, serial and combo versions.

http://www.pcabusers.com/reviews/bytecc ... u2/p1.html

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Thu Dec 04, 2003 8:37 am

I have a similar unit which is firewire, holds 2 drives and has cooling - atm i have i 80 GB 7200 Maxtor in it - it is equally fast as this one and i use it for archiving all sorts of stuff - game downloads, backups, etc. when i am not using it I simply turn it off - can't tell the difference between using this and internal drives and it certainly frees up space inside the case and helps keep the heat down - i may install a burner in the 2nd slot for portable backup capability of other computers....nice toy

BillyGoat · Post by **BillyGoat** » Thu Dec 04, 2003 10:03 am

very very cool- something like this is a must have for on site techs- cant beat the speeds and cool looks to boot

blade · Post by **blade** » Thu Dec 04, 2003 11:26 am

Originally posted by BillyGoat
very very cool- something like this is a must have for on site techs- cant beat the speeds and cool looks to boot

No doub Bill!

I would have liked the USB/Firewire version but my motherboards only have usb. I can't tell any speed difference either as you John. Playing a movie and football game files was smooth as it should be.

Nice toy indeed.

willhemakeit · Post by **willhemakeit** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 1:27 am

I have one of these ordered and it is FireWire. My ignorant question is. Do you have to partition and format the hard drive? If so, how is this done? Thanks for any information that you can give. As you can tell I am new to computers but I like to learn.
Thanks, Russell

blade · Post by **blade** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 5:56 pm

Welcome to pca <b>willhemakeit</b>.

Did you read the review?

You'll need to format and partition a hard drive in your system before placing it inside the enclosure. You can't do that in the enclosure. And that must be done first, otherwise it won't be seen when plugged in.

If it's already done then it doesn't need to be done again for this.

Do you have an install disk for the hard drive? Most makers include one.

willhemakeit · Post by **willhemakeit** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 6:59 pm

I read the review but I overlooked the part about having a formatted and partitioned drive before insertion. I guess I need to slow down in my reading. I don't have an install disk because all the drives I have are OEM. I'll get one.
Thanks for the information

seralin · Post by **seralin** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:03 pm

Hi,

I have a question. While installing this, I wanted to remove the power cable from its static place, and while using a knife to cut it, I accidentally cut a little on the side of the ide hard drive cable. I don't know how much it affects the drive, cause to try it, I connected the hard drive and it worked. As a precaution I want to buy an ide cable. I searched on the net to find a cable small enough to fit inside. I got no result. Do you know where I can find an ide cable for it?

Thanks.

willhemakeit · Post by **willhemakeit** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:33 pm

I've checked and can't come up with one, but you can probably call Bytecc at
15332 Valley Blvd., City of Industry, CA. 91746
Tel: 626-855-1868 Fax: 626-855-2748 and they would probably tell you where to get one or they may send you one..

blade · Post by **blade** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:36 pm

I doubt any company would carry something like this since it's made specifically for that device. I'd contact Byteccusa and ask them. They may sell or give you one, or at least direct you where to get one from. They are good people.

If no lines are actually cut and if it is working, perhaps covering it with electrical tape may be all that's needed, to protect any open lines.

Good luck, and welcome to pca

*edit, thanks willhemakeit

seralin · Post by **seralin** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:35 pm

I tried to contact Bytecc with email but haven't received a response yet. I also sent an email to Dealsonic form where I bought the enclosure and they sent me an email saying they sent a new ide cable to my address which is great.

Thanks for the replies.

Darlabbq · Post by **Darlabbq** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 9:14 am

I recently bought this hard drive off ebay (barely used since they upgraded). It had an 80GB hard drive in it. I had to install a firewire card and buy a cable. This installed with no problem. I have the installation cd, but no manuel. I emailed Bytecc, but so far no response. Could someone tell me the file to use on the installation cd for a Windows ME system. I will attempt to format and partition it. Please tell me this and I will use the info on this site as a guide. Thanks

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 9:31 am

when I used those in the past the OS just found it with out any of there goofy software. But if anything I would download there latest software from their website.

Greg

Grid · Post by **Grid** » Tue May 04, 2004 8:19 am

Hey Guys

Im having a problem with the Aluminium 3.5" HDD Mobile External Enclosure
W/ Blue LED Flashing Light model ME-350U2, that i purchased.
This is actually the second one, i had the first one replaced
because i was having the same problem with it.

Problem:

I hook the blue LED power connector up and hookup the hard drive IDE
cable & power connector, the USB cable and Main Power Cable
and i get no power to my hard drive, it wont spin up, if i disconnect
the hard drive power cable, the blue LED will light up. I can
hook a Fan to the HD power connector and the fan will come on
and the blue LED will light up, so i know there is power
running through the cable, but when i hook the power
cable back to the HD i get no power to anything.

I've tried 3 different hard drives, 2 different USB cables, 3
different computers and nothing happens at all, this is the
second unit which has had this problem, i returned the first
as defective and got it replaced with this one. I've
searched the Net High and low but cant find anyone
having a similar problem.

Any Idea's?

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Tue May 04, 2004 11:40 am

yea, that sounds liek a short somewhere when the hd and light are connected. I cant be much more help but it isnt your usb or pc or hd. it will be a short somewhere.

Greg

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ByteCC ME-350U2 Aluminum 3.5" HDD External Enclosure

ByteCC ME-350U2 Aluminum 3.5" HDD External Enclosure

Installing