Hey Marty.....here in Arizona $391 - 100 = $291.....probably just a regional difference! ;-)

What operating system do you have?? (Oopps, I see you have Windows 98SE.)

I had a similar problem when I first tried to get my computer to recognize the external HHD via ADS Pyro 1394 HD enclosure. I had to get into disk management of the XP PRO operating system in order to get things working.

Sadly enough, I'm not at my computer at this minute so I can't give you the exact instructions. (I'm so sorry. . . I really am!). I believe, though, that I right-clicked on "My computer" which took me to a menu that had disk management as a choice. I then clicked on the appropriate choice which then proceeded to configure my external HHD.

Everything works fine! I would think that someone here knows the exact instructions. If not, try the search function of this bulletin board. If you still can't find the exact instructions, try www.dvinfo.net. That web site provides a wealth of information with regards to DV recording, configuring computers, etc. . .

Oh, there's also www.creativecow.net. Also a great web site with a wealth of information.

Good luck!

Ted

Hmmm.

http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101211

Well at least you have it immediately

JBJones

Nice job, Jonesy...

I can return this rig and get the google deal w/ free 2nd day air...

And not have to wait for the rebate.


Thanx!





As for getting my WD to work w/ 1394... I just followed the instructions and all was cool...


HTH, MPH

I can sympathize with the problems one might run into in getting a new internal HD to be recognized by the OS. In my case, the problem was that WinXP pro would not recognize the disk until it was prepared (partitioned and formatted). I reviewed the WinXP help area (it always amazes me how software mfrs will change the basic ways to accomplish old things, then, bury the new terminology/instructions in a manual (online, these days) in a way that makes finding the information difficult even for an “experienced” user).

Anyhow, I tried XP’s DiskPart utility, ListDisk, etc., all to no avail. I’m sure there is a way to do it (and, even I must have succeeded at some point in the past, because this new HD that I was trying to get working was a second disk for that enclosure. I don’t remember having any problem with the original HD that I purchased with the ADS enclosure – but that’s been a while ago.

I finally gave up and worked around the problem by using a second computer (a trusty old Compaq 233 mhz that, to its credit, has its master HD located right at the top of the box where, buy lifting off the outer cover, I can basically unplug the data drive from that HD, set my new HD on top of the unit, plug the data drive to the new HD, plug in one of the white connectors from the power supply, fire up the computer, and use the drive mfr’s supplied software to properly prepare the drive.

Once thus prepared, I simply unplug the new drive, reconnect my old Compaq, move the new drive to the enclosure and its ready to go.

This worked for me. I don’t, to this day, know why I could not find the unprepared drive using the XP utilities. BTW, I have three other external firewire enclosures (Maxtor units that came with their own drive). As I recall, all I ever did with these was plug them in – I don’t remember whether I even had to format them or not (thinking that I must have had to . . . just can’t remember).

Good luck with your drives . . . these things are a great way to increase storage space, and come in quite handy as a way to move large files from one machine to another.

Caruso

Here's an even better deal, but with a caveat... it's refurbished. So does anyone have any comments on:
1. IBM (Hitachi) drives in general
2. Refurbished drives???

http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=100428-RFB

It's 180 gig with an 8MB cache for only $130 with free 2nd day delivery... I'm drooling, but having recently had a HD crash, am suspicious about "refurbished", and "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"....
comments?

For excellent prices on PC hardware check out http://newegg.com. For example
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=22-144-305&depa=1

It’s a Maxtor, 200gig for $228.

I’ve used these guys several times. Fast shipping and very pleased. In my research I have found newegg to be one of the least expensive suppliers around.

Wouldn't touch a "refurbed" hard drive with a 10 foot pole!

IBM drives have generally been known to be very reliable and fast. However, they have had several well publicized incidents of very poor quality on some DeskStar models that had field failure rates in the 20-50% range. IBM was also really pissy towards customers with the RMA procedure for those failed drives.

Unknown how the drive division sale to Hitachi will affect quality or service, but I'd spend the extra dough and buy a new drive after doing research to make sure the model is stable.

Bob.

Just picked up two at local Fry's.
Boxed WD200jbrlt (8M buffer), $269 and then $120 in WD rebates.

Includes ATA/100 controller card

Limit 2 per household.

Don't know if this is available via their website, which I think is outpost.com

Here is how you can get the 200 MB Western Digital Special Edition 8 MB buffer drive for $179.99.

1. Go to BestBuy.com and search SWD2000JBRTL

2. $100 rebate is here:
http://www.bestbuy.com/rebatecenter/policypu.asp?o=34828&e=11176503&s=4764124
Original UPC is required.

3. $20 rebate is here:
http://www.bestbuy.com/rebatecenter/policypu.asp?o=35643&e=11176503&s=4764124
Copy of UPC is acceptable.

John

Re: The Fry's deal....Don't know much about Fry's. I live in the East. But I hear the horror stories on the internet.

I just ordered the 180GB from google gear (thnx again JBJ)... I hate waiting for rebates.

mph

(I'll be returning the HD from CC today.)

Just an aside about all these bigger and bigger drives - basically it seems if you look, you can get storage today for about $10 a gig. While it's very sexy to 'go for it' with gigantic 200gig drives, I'm thinking that I'll settle in with a bunch of firewire connected 80gig drives to add up to the necessary amount.
Why?
First it's my understanding that more drives makes smoother access (correct me if I'm wrong here, please)...
but as/ or even more important, a 200Gig HD crash is a serious thing. If an 80 goes, it's 1/3rd the aggravation. Plus, once your immediate need for the drive is completed, it's easier to reassign smaller drives.
For instance, later this week I'm shooting a 6 hour show. At 12 gigs an hour, it'll take one 80gig drive to hold it all. But I don't like to fill the drives to the top. I actually stop at about 80% of capacity to make defragging a simpler process. So instead of buying a 120gig, I'll spring for 2- 80's. If we run over, all the better. If not, I plan to consolidate and archive the completed job on one of them.

Now if you're going to archive a huge job, obviously the big gun is the way to go.
But I'm thinking that on a week by week basis, I'd rather have a bunch of littler guys chugging along.
Comments??

I got an ADS combo USB2/1394 case. That way I'm not sharing 1394 bandwidth between video capture and hard drive overhead on my desktop, yet can also use it with my laptop which has 1394 but no USB2. I also made the financially foolish decision to buy a 200 gig drive for an extra hundred dollars and forgo the rebate. The extra 20 gig will be used for MP3 music and sound effects files;)

Laurence

Thanks efiebke, marty and caruso -

I received my ADS 1394 enclosure today, and hope to try an install tonight - the package includes a driver disk, and the instructions, at least, are far more understandable and comprehensive (there is even a section titled "What if my drive is not recognized?"). So, we'll see...

Frenchy

Well, using a name brand enclosure (seemed to) solved my problem. Put it together, loaded included drivers, plugged it in and VOILA - recognized by OS. Formatted the disk, and ready to roll (I hope - Still haven't tried to capture/PTT).

This says something for brand names, I suppose... The instructions were clear, well written (by someone with english as a primary language, apparantly), and with obvious troubleshooting hints. I'm smiling once again. Thanks go out again to all.

Frenchy

A great drive! I've got that in my system as the video partition. That's all it does. For my next system, I plan to add another such drive, striped in a RAID array.

I'm really impressed at the speed, especially having left it all as one partition.

Cheers,
Peyton

GoogleGear comes through...

Took a moment to wait for the UPS guy today, before heading out...

As promised, the WD1800JB landed in fine form (so far).

It was delivered in plain packaging - not the retail carton: just the anti-static bag in a soft foam pad... no instructions, one jumper installed no written warrantee.

We'll see....

Good through the 5th