Q   Drive compatibility and maximum drive capacities.

o    The MB881 Series will accept all standard 2.5” and 3.5” SATA drives. Only 2.5” SATA drives can be used with USB power only. All 3.5” SATA drives will require the use of the power adapter.

Q   Can it power drive “x”?

o    We have tested the MB881 Series enclosures with 2.5" 500GB 7200 rpm SATA drives while using only a single USB connection. While this worked on our system, individual systems will vary.

o    If a single USB connection is not enough, please use the supplied USB Y-cable for extra power.

o   Most 2.5 " 5400 rpm drives should be able to be powered by a single USB connection.

Q   The unit works intermittently over USB/eSATA.

o    If the 5VDC-to-USB cable or a USB Y-cable is not being used, please connect the unit using either method. If power to the drive is not stable, it can cause the drive to behave irradically, unmounting unexpectedly.

o    If the drive is utilizing the extra power, try connecting it to other systems to see if the behavior is the same.

o    If using an eSATA PCI, PCI Express, or ExpressCard, please make sure the drivers are up to date.

o    The final troubleshooting methods are to connect the drive direct to the motherboard or use a different enclosure to make sure that the drive is functioning properly, and also replacing the USB and eSATA cable.

o    If the issue still persists, please contact us for more assitance.

Q   System freeze over eSATA.

o    If the system’s eSATA port does not support hot swap, it is possible an unstable connection could cause the drive to unmount which would make the system freeze. If the eSATA connection is via a SATA port from the motherboard, check the motherboard BIOS to make sure it supports AHCI, which is under SATA settings. If the eSATA connection is via PCI or PCI Express card, make sure the drivers are updated and the card is working correctly.

o    To make sure the connection is stable, you can make sure the drive is getting enough power by plugging in both USB connections on the Y-cable, providing extra power to the drive. The eSATA and USB cables can also be replaced.