Need help w/ DriveStation Flexnet external USB 2.0 & Network HD-Mod# HD-CE1.0TLU2

[mmdutcher]

   

I have received for Christmas a Buffalo DriveStation Flexnet external USB 2.0 & Network hard drive.  The model number is HD-CE1.0TLU2.

 

I am having some issues with the install and use.  I have done some searching on this forum for help, but I must admit that all of the jargon that is in this forum is pretty much over my head.  I am not stupid, but I am having trouble understanding the terminology being used and it just is not quite sinking in.  I would like some help and I would like to ask that the explanations to be dumbed down a little.  I know the basics when it comes to simple networking and PC support items, but my issue has me perplexed.

 

Here is my situation and this might be a little lengthy, but I want you to have the most detail possible.

 

The set-up in my house:  3 wirelesss laptops hooked to a Linksys wireless router.  2 of the laptops are IBM's with Windows XP.  The other laptop is a Macbook Pro with OS 10.6.2.

 

First thing that I did was hook the HD up to my MacBook Pro via the USB to do a data dump of pictures, music, and files.  To my surprise, the HD was recognized in the NTFS format and the FAT32 format was not even an option.  I figured that if the Mac recognized the files and also stored the files, than it must work.  I even hooked the HD up to an IBM to see if the Mac files would be recognized and they were.  I figured that by doing this data dump first, than it would save on time in the inintial file transferring later.

 

Then I hooked the HD up to my Linksys Router into one of the Ethernet ports.  I took the install CD and began the installation on the IBM.  I did the install for a LAN use.  The HD icon appeared on my desktop.  I clicked on the icon and up pops a dialogue box with a Share folder.  But, i do not see any of the files from my earlier data dump from the Mac.  Nevertheless, I decide to try and create a new folder in that Share folder to see if I can and to see if I can send files from the IBM to the newly created folder.  I can do that.  So, I thought that this is half of the battle.  Success - somewhat.

 

I than try to see if I can see the HD through my Mac.  I go to Finder-Go-Connect to Server.  I browse for items on the network and I amazingly see the HD.  I click on it and I see the folder created through the IBM and some files that I transferred there.  I was even able to open a Word document saved from the IBM onto my Mac.  Very cool I thought once again.  But, I could not transfer files from my Mac to those newly created folders.  I also could not see the original files from the early data dump.  However, when I returned later in the day to try and do some more troubleshooting on the Mac, I could not find the HD in the Finder this time around.

 

I hope that you were able to understand my situation up to this point...

 

That leads me to my questions now.

 

1. Should I not have done that earlier data dump?

2. Should the HD truly be formatted to FAT32 in order to be useful for both my Mac and the IBM's?  If so, how do I format it to FAT32?

3. If I should not have done the early data dump, was it intended to have the data dumped to it after hook-up through the network?

4. I noticed that when I was able to see the HD through my Mac, that I was a Guest.  Should I have a login for this drive?  If so, how do I do that?  Go through the web interface and set up the HD profile?

5. Now I don't see the HD on my Mac any more after that first initial test.  What could cause me to not see it now?

6. What troubleshooting should I do to ensure that the Mac is able to function with the HD?

7. Can the HD be mapped on my Mac or do I need to always go through the Finder-Go-Connect to Server option every time?

 

Any help or advice or assistace would be appreciated.  Let me know if you have follow-up questions.

 

Thanks,

Matt