Thanks to anyone in advance who can offer help...
I have DriveStation FlexNet HD-CE1.0TLU2 (1TB USB/NAS drive) which I am having a lot of difficulty installing.
First: I started using it in USB mode so that I can quickly backup my data. However, in doing so, I used Windows Disk Manager to reformat the drive to NTFS so I can copy >4G files.
Looks like that was a bad move. Problems galore:
1) Initially I was able to copy a lot of stuff on to it from my main laptop but now it simply will not register as a USB drive anymore...the XP balloon pops up that new hardware is detected but I don't see a new drive under "My Computer". However it works on another older laptop - no problem.
2) I hooked up the drive to my router; after installing the Buffalo program, using the BrowseHD-XXXX shortcut, it asks me for a password, which I do not have.
3) I looked up the DS IP address from my router admin page. Going to \\IP does not work -- I am asked for a username / password. "admin/password" does not work.
I did (2) and (3) above with my old laptop that "see" the drive using USB.
Reading some notes on this forum shows that in formating the drive to NTFS, I have deleted a crucial Share folder, so IP access (NAS) will not work. Is that true? I do I correct? I ***REALLY*** cannot reformat the drive to FAT32 because a) I need NTFS, b) I have a lot of stuff on here now which I don't know where to put anymore!
Finally, on a slightly humorous note, I tried to download support software from buffalo's website. It asks me for a SERIAL number. At the bottom of the drive, I can find 2 numbers starting with: MEMBUFFXXXX and 455----. Neither of these work.
I am not a complete dunce when it comes to electronics but I fail to see how I can recover having apparently committed some cardinal sins in setting this up. Help? :)
PS: I have tried the support line but been on it for >1 hour at various times to no avail. Just music.
To summarize: I'd like to find out:
a) Why the external drive as USB is not showing up on my new laptop (the port is OK, I checked) -- I read somewhere that sometimes it gets confused so a few reboots are needed - tried that, no avail. Pressed "reset" button. No avail again.
b) Why is ethernet access (\\IP) askng for username / password? I don't think I set it up but even if I did, how can I reset?
Message Edited by alan_gen on 04-08-2009 02:58 AM