Today we would like to present to your attention the external Box Zalman ZM-SHE350 with digital hard disk password function. This compact solution allows you to protect your data and make it easier for you to work with personal data. Great price, nice design, compact size, all this allows you to get the attention of buyers. Let's get to know the device a little closer and proceed to the review.
Zalman ZM-SHE350
How often do you use portable media, USB flash drives? Personally, our experience shows that portable HDD it is simply necessary in work, because all the necessary and important information is always with you, because it is very convenient and practical. But not infrequently, there are cases when strangers try to steal this data by copying it to their own Personal Computer or laptop.We recently came across a very interesting Zalman ZM-SHE350 device. This outer case, which looks like an access intercom, but in fact its function is completely different - to protect your data on the HDD. How does this happen? Everything is very simple, but before considering the functions and operation of the device, let's get acquainted with the package and external design.
Zalman ZM-SHE350 review
Contents of delivery
The device comes in a small premium transparent package, where you can read all the necessary information and get acquainted with the characteristics of Zalman ZM-SHE350. The package includes:- Myself corps Zalman ZM-SHE350
- USB 3.0 cable for power and data
- Operation book
- Rubber insert for increased thickness hard drive
- Compact case
The device comes with everything you need for full-fledged work. Small additional bonuses, like a cover and a special rubber insert to increase the width of the HDD, if necessary, cannot but please my customers.
Characteristics
- External box - Zalman ZM-SHE350
- Supports 2.5" SATA drives. The maximum thickness (depth) of the HDD is 9.5 mm.
- Connected HDD interfaces - SATA III, SATA-I/SATA-II
- PC connection interface - USB 3.0/USB 2.0
- Body material - plastic
- OS Support - Linux, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Windows Vista Microsoft Windows XP
- Dimensions (l / w / h) - 135/75/16 mm
Appearance
As we have already said, outwardly the device resembles a door access intercom. The device is completely made of black plastic. Build quality is good, no creaks. But I didn’t quite like the fact that with a slight fall from a height, the covers of the device immediately diverge to the sides. Perhaps the developers will still need to think about the reliability of the entire case, because opening it and just picking up the hard drive is not difficult.
The main control buttons are located on the front of the device: numbers from 0 to 9, the "Lock" button and the "Enter" button. Here, a little towers from the buttons, there are light indicators, and opposite them is information about their designation.
The micro USB connector is located on the top edge. There are no controls on the other faces.
The back cover opens. Under it is a connector for a 2.5-inch SATA drive. The thickness of which should not exceed 9.5 mm. If the disc is thinner, you can use a special rubber insert that allows you to get the required thickness.
Of the minuses, it should be noted that the back cover is not protected from opening in any way. That is, anyone can open it. In other words, if with the help of Zalman ZM-SHE350 you can protect information from being transferred to other PCs or laptops, then you cannot protect your hard drive inside the Zalman ZM-SHE350.
Setup and operation
First, let's look at setting up the device, in other words, how to install a hard drive in Zalman ZM-SHE350 and make it work. First you need to purchase a hard drive, since it is not included in the kit, we remind you that 2.5-inch SATA drives are supported. Further, everything is very simple, open the back cover, install, close and connect to a PC.After connecting the device for the first time, you will need to go through several simple steps. The beauty is that there is a small information panel above the panel with numbers, where certain actions are prescribed, you just have to do the one next to which the indicator light will light up.
The first step is to come up with a password. Next, you need to confirm it, after which, using given password you will be able to share this hard drive. Don't forget to initialize, partition and format your HDD for normal use and recording through your operating system. How to do this process, you can find out with the help of the instruction book, everything is described in detail and clearly. In short, the following steps need to be taken:
- Connect Zalman ZM-SHE350 with HDD inserted to your PC
- Then open Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Computer Management/Disk Management
- In the window that opens, you will see that your PC cannot recognize the HDD, since it was only initialized through a software program.
- Next, you just need to click right click click on this external drive and select the "Initialize disk" item, and then go through a short procedure.
- After the initialization is complete, you can start the layout and formatting process
- If you press in turn Lock - 0 - Enter, then you can change the current password to a new one.
- Combination Lock keys- 9 - Enter starts HDD initialization process
- If you press and hold the Lock button for more than 2 seconds, the HDD will be connected / disconnected, in other words - safe extraction devices.
Transfer rate
Pleased that Zalman ZM-SHE350 uses USB connection 3.0, which allows you to get a very fast data transfer rate. At the time of writing the review, the transfer and write speeds to the hard drive ranged from 40 to 100 Mbps.
Plus, to all this, it should be added that the Zalman ZM-SHE350 can be connected to any device that has a USB host and play your media files through it. What happens if your Zalman ZM-SHE350 is somehow stolen from you important information? If the attacker does not know the password, then he will not be able to get your information. Yes, you can pull out the hard drive and connect it to the computer directly, but there is a small nuance, this will not work, your PC simply will not see the hard drive, and therefore will not be able to show the information that is inside. The PC will detect that a device has connected to it and install on it required drivers, but will not allow you to use this disc. Agree, very convenient and practical.
Where does this security come from, you ask? The answer is simple, Zalman ZM-SHE350 uses AES 256 encryption, which allows you to completely secure your data on your hard drive. But there is another side to this chip, if for some incomprehensible reason you forgot the password that was set on the device, then you will not be able to recover the password without losing all the data on the hard drive. Yes, you can contact service center companies, however, even if they help you there, all the same, the data that you wrote to the HDD will be erased.
Results
Summing up, it should be said that Zalman ZM-SHE350 is not just a box through which you can connect your HDD to a PC or other devices and view your saved files, but a real, reliable protector of information stored on your hard drive. Without knowing the password, in the hands of attackers, Zalman ZM-SHE350 will be an ordinary HDD storage box, since there is no other way to get information from it. Of course, you can’t carry it in your pocket, but it won’t take up much space in a Zalman ZM-SHE350 backpack or bag. It all comes down to the fact that this solution cannot but attract the attention of buyers, of course, not all users need such security, so some Zalman ZM-SHE350 will seem like a meaningless "toy". The choice is always yours, we can only show and tell.External box for 2.5" drives With USB interface 3.0 and from virtual optical drive function. An interesting and no less useful gadget from Zalman. A great alternative to Chinese "boxes" for 2.5 inch HDDs.
Specifications
Interface: USB 3.0 (compatible with USB 2.0/1.11)
Drive Form Factor/Interface: 2.5″/SATA 1.2
Supported OS: Windows 98. ME, 2000, XP, Vista. 7/Mac OS/Linux
Additionally: text display, Backup button, virtual optical drive function
Dimensions: 135.3×78.6×13.1mm
Weight: 96g
Advantages and disadvantages of Zalman ZM-VE300 V
Advantages
- Aluminum alloy body
- Compact dimensions
- Hi-Speed USB 3.0 interface
- Virtual optical drive function
- Rich equipment
Flaws
- High price
Design and ergonomics
As you can see, the device looks very impressive. Its body is made of durable and lightweight aluminum alloy, thanks to which the gadget is thin (a little thicker than 1 cm) and efficient heat dissipation from the drive is observed. At the top is a small LCD text display that shows the status of the device and the settings menu, which is navigated using a three-way joystick on the left side of the device. At the top there is a Backup button and a micro-USB 3.0 connector for connecting to a computer.
Gadget functionality
Zalman ZM-VE300V differs in unusually high functionality for devices of this kind. The most interesting thing is that in order to use its capabilities in practice, you do not need to install special drivers or utilities on your computer (in addition to the proprietary backup utility). You can manage the device using its own menu: change the screen brightness and idle time of the drive to enter sleep mode, analyze the current parameters (temperature, drive status - S.M.A.R.T., power voltage, etc.), as well as reconnect and safely disconnect, and even enable write protection.
Emulate virtual optical drive
"Chip" of the device - virtual optical drive emulation. By activating this mode"ODD Mode" in the corresponding section of the "Mode Select" menu, the device is determined by the computer not as external hard disk (HDD Mode) as well as an optical drive. As optical discs the usual ISO files (images) are used, which must be placed in a folder called "iso". If you place several files with images in it, then you can quickly switch between them using the screen and the joystick without disconnecting the external box from the PC. And of course, it is possible to boot a computer from a virtual optical disk by selecting its image. The main thing is that the BIOS supports booting from an optical USB drive. Among other things, boxing by Zalman can work simultaneously external HDD, and as an optical drive - Dual Mode. Accordingly, the computer sees it as two separate devices.
For those wishing to use this external box for SSD drive with SATA 3 will be disappointed with the performance and unjustified purchase of this type of hard drive. SATA 2 media works great.
Equipment
The device will also appeal to fans of the accompanying accessories in the kit. They will find there USB cable 3.0, a high-quality anti-scratch case, screws to secure the drive inside the box, and a small screwdriver. There is also a disc with a proprietary backup utility and a user manual in English.
IN modern world there are a lot of stereotypes... for example, that Japanese cars are better than South Korean ones, or that money is best kept in Swiss banks. Sometimes it is interesting to see how the prevailing stereotypes actually justify themselves. Electronics produced by South Korean companies such as LG or Samsung have always been considered a good compromise between product quality and cost. The hero of our testing today is an external 2.5" hard drive box, Zalman ZM-VE200, also made by a South Korean manufacturer. Zalman has a really good reputation among computer cooling system manufacturers. But case HDDs are not cooling systems. Let's see how Zalman is doing well in the HDD pocket market.
The factory packaging turned out to be relatively small, however, like the product itself. On its front side there is an image of a black HDD pocket, on the sides of which two silvery devices are brought into the background. Apparently, the manufacturer has set himself the goal of presenting the external HDD box to the buyer at a glance, and in the same way helping him decide on a more desirable color for the product. The packaging is well balanced and not overloaded with secondary information; only the main names and designations of the external HDD pocket ZM-VE200. Despite the brevity of the packaging, one inscription still makes you pleasantly surprised: "External HDD Case + Virtual Drive". Wait a minute, virtual disk included? This is great, but let's talk about everything in order.
Let's first take a look at the main features and technical specifications external pocket for Zalman ZM-VE200 hard drives, which can be found both on the back of the package and on the official website of the manufacturer.
Key features of Zalman ZM-VE200:
Aluminium case
Pre-installed software for mounting CD/DVD images from ISO files: no additional software is required to mount any ISO image.
Built-in screen that displays information about the status of the hard drive
Protective case included
The ability to mount ISO images, a built-in screen that displays information - yes, we have here, it seems, a case with its own operating system, not otherwise!
Technical characteristics ZM-VE200:
Dimensions (LxWxH): 135.3x78.6x13.1mm
Weight: 98.5 g
Material: aluminum, acrylic, polycarbonate
Type: 2.5" SATA HDD
Interfaces: USB 2.0 (compatible with USB 1.1), eSATA Direct HDD Access
Transfer rate: USB up to 480Mbps, eSATA up to 3Gbps
Spindle speed: 5400 or 7200 rpm
Nutrition:USB
Color: black, silver
The factory packaging opens from the top, after which you can pull out another additional cardboard package (gray, already without beautiful pictures), in which, in addition to the HDD pocket itself, a protective cover, a quick start guide, and a screwdriver with bolts are neatly packed. It's nice to note that USB and eSATA cables are also included as standard. Obviously, the device comes without a hard drive. The protective case is a very nice bonus that protects appearance Case HDD, especially when you consider that the ZM-VE200 can be in it even when it is connected to a computer without fear of overheating.
As mentioned above, the external case for the hard drive can be either black or silver. The USB pocket that came to us for testing is painted in silver, and as for me, it is more attractive than black, as it contrasts more with the overall appearance of the product.
Connecting and using Zalman ZM-VE200 will not cause any trouble even by yourself ordinary user PC. On the right, on the top side of the HDD case, there is a USB port, a write protection switch, a hard drive activity LED, a factory reset button, and an eSATA port. Unlike other 2.5" and 3.5" devices, this HDD box is powered only by USB or eSATA cable, which explains why there is no dedicated power connector. This fact is both a plus and a minus at the same time. The fact is that not all of today's eSATA ports support the function of powering devices connected to them, so it would be nice to leave a special connector for powering the hard drive if necessary, or at least emphasize the fact of incompatibility with the eSATA standard.
Installing a hard drive in the Zalman ZM-VE200 we tested today turned out to be even easier than I could have imagined. All you need to do to install your hard drive inside the pocket is to connect the HDD itself to a special controller through the appropriate connectors, and then insert the HDD together with the connected controller inside the pocket (HDD first, the controller remains at the top). Once you have connected and inserted the hard drive inside, all that remains is to securely fix it inside with a screwdriver and two bolts, which the South Korean manufacturer prudently included in the package. During installation, you need to slightly open the rubber band that hides the mounting holes. By the way, after installation, this tape will stick out a little because of the twisted bolts, and this, although a small, but still a flaw of Korean engineers.
After the installation is complete, it would be a sin not to test the strength and build quality of the body of our test subject today. Simply shaking and moving the device convinced me that the engineers designed the case well, it is strong enough and reliable. While most 3.5" drives aren't built for everyday carry, the ZM-VE200's 2.5" HDD Pocket - one of the smallest HDD cases I've ever owned - is purpose-built for maximum mobility and portability.
October 12, 2015 Odnokrylov Vladimir 8
Our next review is devoted to the external case for hard drives Zalman ZM-VE350. The box is designed for 2.5-inch SATA drives and supports high-speed USB 3.0 interface. The device is equipped with a virtual optical drive function, allowing you to connect ISO images on the fly. The write protection feature helps prevent damage to important files.
Video review Zalman ZM-VE350
Complete set and characteristics Zalman ZM-VE350
An external hard drive box that came to us for testing Zalman ZM-VE350 Supplied in a black cardboard box.
Packaging Zalman ZM-VE350Package Included:
- Boxing itself.
- Case.
- USB 3.0 cable.
- Set of screwdriver and four screws.
- Quick guide.
The complete cable is 50 cm long including connectors.
USB 3.0 cableThe case is very dense, it is easy to remove the device from it. You can, of course, use the box directly in the case, but we do not recommend doing this, otherwise the inserted drive may overheat.
Zalman ZM-VE350 in caseWe have summarized the technical characteristics of the device in a single table.
| HDD interface | SATA, 2.5" form factor |
| Device interface | USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0) |
| Device interface baud rate | USB 2.0: up to 480 Mbps; USB 3.0: up to 5 Gbps |
| Working with ISO Images | Virtual optical drive |
| Indicator | Lights up when power is turned on, blinks when data is being exchanged |
| Nutrition | USB powered |
| Dimensions | 131x79x13mm (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 96 g (without drive) |
Design Zalman ZM-VE350
Frame Zalman ZM-VE350 for the most part made of painted aluminum with soft polymer inserts on the sides. On the front side there is an LCD display and led indicator activity.
External hard drive box Zalman ZM-VE350On the top end there is a button Backup and USB connector 3.0 (Micro-B type, also transmitting power to the HDD) to connect the supplied cable.
Upper end of Zalman ZM-VE350Glued on the opposite side Technical information about the model.
Bottom end on Zalman ZM-VE350On the left side there is a push lever for navigating the device menu, and the rest of the space is occupied by a soft insert.
Left sidewall Zalman ZM-VE350On the right side, except for the second such insert, there is nothing important.
Right sidewall Zalman ZM-VE350The build quality is decent - the buttons and body elements do not hang out. In general, the design gives the impression of a monolithic.
Testing Zalman ZM-VE350
To install a drive into the box, you will first have to remove the module with the LCD screen, which contains, in fact, the entire stuffing of the device.
Base unit Zalman ZM-VE350For testing, we took an SSD and connected it to an internal SATA port.
SSD connected to Zalman ZM-VE350 boardFor reliability, it is worth clamping the module with complete screws - the holes for them are hidden under the bent edges of the soft inserts.
Screw holes on Zalman ZM-VE350To do this, we used a complete screwdriver - fortunately, the effort required is small, so the miniature size of the screwdriver is not a hindrance. It is worth noting that the screws in the kit are twice as many as needed - four against the required two.
Zalman ZM-VE350 base unit is clamped with screwsAfter connecting to a PC, the display of our device turned blue and gave out a simple menu.
Display Zalman ZM-VE350Wherein operating system recognized two devices at once: the USB drive itself and the additional optical drive - completely virtual, which is indicated in its name.
Zalman ZM-VE350 in task managerThis is precisely the main "trick" of this case - you can mount any ISO images by placing them in the folder "_ISO" on the disc inserted in the case. For example, the Windows 7 image downloaded from MSDN was read without problems.
Windows Image 7 in Zalman ZM-VE350 virtual driveHowever, our copy was originally with erroneous firmware, and in order for the virtual drive function to work correctly, we had to update software devices up to more current version. We attach the archive with the firmware and the update instructions below. REMEMBER: This operation is carried out at your own peril and risk, and if you are not exactly sure what you are doing, it is better to contact technical support or a service center.
- (122.7 KB).
- (579.78 KB).
However, the drive function can be completely disabled - for this, you just need to select the appropriate mode, of which there are as many as three:
- HDD Mode - drive mode without a drive.
- VCD Mode - "virtual drive only" mode.
- DUAL Mode - simultaneous operation.
Another great feature Zalman ZM-VE350- Possibility to set write protection. This allows you to work even in a potentially or actually virus-infected system without the danger of catching an infection. All you have to do is select "Enable WP" from the menu. The lock icon closes on the start screen - and that's it, no problem.
Setting write protection in Zalman ZM-VE350Additionally, in the "Information" section, you can see the temperature of the media (we must say right away that for SSD it is determined incorrectly, do not be afraid), S.M.A.R.T. status, serial number and controller firmware version.
Drive information in Zalman ZM-VE350Now let's check the performance when using the USB interface. 3.0. IN HD Tune 5 the speed graph has an average read speed of 161.9 MB/s with a random access time of 0.169 ms. CPU usage was 9.8%.
In our time, it is difficult to surprise someone with both external hard drives and cases for them. But among the competitors, the external case for hard drives Zalman ZM-VE300 stands out. In addition to the traditional 2.5" box with a fast USB 3.0 interface, Zalman ZM-VE300 has a unique function - it can mount disk and floppy disk images recorded in it. That is, in addition to the normal external HDD mode, it can work as a DVD-ROM and floppy drive Such devices appeared on the market more than one year ago, but I could only really appreciate their convenience when I saw them in action with my own eyes.Now I am another happy owner of the Zalman ZM-VE300.
The package includes a ZM-VE300 aluminum case, a hard carrying case, a USB 3.0 cable, an installation CD with programs, a quick start guide, and a small screwdriver with bolts to fix the hard drive.
Zalman ZM-VE300 has a spectacular design: a lightweight aluminum case with plastic inserts on the sides, a small LCD screen that displays the disk status. On the top side there is an activity indicator, a socket for connecting a USB cable and a "Backup" button. In addition, a three-position joystick wheel is located on the left side of the box, with the help of which almost all actions are performed. The activity indicator is two-color. White is used to indicate operation in USB 2.0 mode, blue - in USB 3.0 mode.
In order to install a hard drive in Zalman ZM-VE300, you need to pull out the top board with a display and connect the drive itself to it. Then insert the resulting structure into the aluminum case.
Of the three tested 2.5" drives, the Zalman ZM-VE300 refused to work with one, and accepted the other two normally. I did not find any pattern in his preferences, and, as it became clear from the reviews in different internets Well, I'm not the only one with this problem. So it's probably better to have several different disks ready.
When the disk is installed and the performance is checked, it is necessary to fix it. Bend the seal from the sides of the case, holes for the bolts are hidden under them. As I said, bolts and a small screwdriver are included, so there should be no problems with fasteners. But the seal does not want to get back up, since it is made of hard plastic and after bending it starts to hang out. A trifle, of course, but spoils the impression. A seal made of ordinary rubber would look more harmonious here.
In the first Zalman ZM-VE300 models, the firmware only allowed working with drives formatted in FAT32 to support file NTFS systems I had to install an alternative firmware from a similar device - iODD-2531. In new batches, the firmware is already more recent, with it NTFS drives are perfectly supported without additional gestures. You can download the latest firmware version and the programs necessary for updating on the offsite.
ZM.VE300.Firmware.Upgrade.R1288N.zip (343,728 bytes)
In order to install firmware from iODD-2531 to Zalman-VE300, you will need to slightly modify the flash driver. I have updated the latest firmware. After installing it, the device is defined in the system as iODD, but it will not work worse from this. On the contrary, all new chips from iODD-2531 will be added to the functionality, which in official firmware Zalman-VE300 is not and is not expected.
iODD.2531.to.ZM.VE300.Firmware.Upgrade.R1600N.zip (345,755 bytes)
The Menu is entered and exited by pressing the side switch for more than 3 seconds. Moving through the menu and selecting items is done with the joystick, returning to the previous level - the "Backup" button.
- Main menu:
- Mode Select- setting the operating mode of the device
- Setting- adjust LCD brightness and sleep mode
- Information- view information about HDD and firmware version
- USB Connect- USB connection setup
- Advanced- setting up a virtual HDD connection
- Menu "Mode Select":
- dual mode- work in combined mode, external HDD and virtual DVD-ROM/Blu-Ray drive
- ODD Mode or CD Mode(for iODD firmware) - work only in DVD-ROM / Blu-Ray mode (this mode is usually used when installing the OS)
- HDD Mode- the device is detected only as an external HDD (this mode is used when connected to other devices besides a PC)
- "Setting" menu:
- LCD Bright- LCD backlight brightness adjustment
- Idle Bright- LCD backlight adjustment in sleep mode
- Standby time- setting the time to enter sleep mode
- Load default- return to default values
- Information menu:
- S.M.A.R.T.- S.M.A.R.T information
- HDD Model- display the name of the hard drive model
- HDD Serial- display the serial number of the hard drive
- Firmware Ver.- display firmware version
- USB Speed- display current connection type (USB2.0: Hi-Speed, USB3.0: Super-Speed)
- USB Input Volt- display the lowest input voltage by USB port after connecting to PC and the current input voltage
- Menu "S.M.A.R.T":
- HDD Temp.- display HDD temperature
- HDD Health- display HDD status (Good, Warning, Bad). If Warning or Bad appears, then immediately backup all data and check the HDD
- Menu "USB Connect":
- Refresh- reconnect device to PC
- Safe Removal- safe device removal
- Menu "Advanced":
- Umount VHDD- unmount all disk and floppy images
- Write Protect- enable or disable write protection
- Instant Save- remember the image immediately after selecting it (only in iODD firmware)
- Force USB 3.0- priority mode USB work 3.0 (only in iODD firmware)
It is not specified anywhere in the documentation, but it has been experimentally established that there should be no more than 32 images in the "_ISO" folder at the same time, otherwise Zalman ZM-VE300 will display the message "Too Many Files". This can be easily circumvented by creating subfolders, although this leaves a limit of 32 files per subfolder. There are alternative firmware, where there is no such restriction, but personally, I have all the necessary set of distributions within a dozen files. By the way, as a cheaper alternative to Zalman ZM-VE300, unscrupulous sellers can offer you cases for hard drives of the brand Konoos. Such a replacement is far from being equivalent, since the younger models of Konoos cases support only one image, and the more fancy ones - only three. Naturally, on the websites of online stores, this is modestly silent.
Zalman ZM-VE300 comes with a utility for Reserve copy backup utility. It is recorded on CD, but the latest version is always available offsite. As you might guess, with its help are made backups selected files and folders from your computer to an external hard drive in Zalman ZM-VE300. In the program, set up the necessary paths, then press the "Backup" button on the box and the utility copies the information.
But that's not all she can do. WITH Backup Utility, you can create virtual disks and then save them to the "_ISO" folder on an external hard drive. WITH virtual disks worth looking into better. "Virtual HDD" is empty files given size with the possibility of connecting external drives. Naturally, Zalman ZM-VE300 is responsible for the connection and emulation functions.
With the "Safe Removal" function, too, everything should be clear. You can safely turn off the Zalman ZM-VE300 by pressing the wheel or the "Backup" button on the device itself, or you can do it at the initiative of the computer through this Backup function utility.
And this is how physical hard drives are displayed in the system and virtual drives connected or created using Zalman ZM-VE300.
Returning to the topic of installing Windows XP on an HP Mini 210-1130ER netbook. The inconvenience of installing the system from a USB flash drive was the last argument for me to buy Zalman ZM-VE300. After acquiring it, I conducted an experiment: I burned the prepared image to an external hard drive, put a clean hard drive into the netbook, then mounted the image on a virtual CD and tried to install the system. As I expected, everything went well.
The instructions that come with the kit are very poor. All that can be learned from it is where to attach the bolts and how to install the backup software. On the Internet, there are instructions in electronic form, even translated into Russian, but in fact they are no different from the paper version. According to rumors, full documentation is available in Korean, but this is unlikely to be of any help. So you have to be content with what you have.
Zalman.ZM.VE300.Manual.RUS.zip (546,663 bytes)
Zalman.ZM.VE300.Manual.ENG.zip (492,463 bytes)
Since the instructions are quite short, and they do not cover all Zalman features ZM-VE300. In preparing this review, I have collected from various sources and systematized helpful tips and undocumented features. All other possible problems are discussed in detail at the IXBT conference.
- If you hold down the "Backup" button while connecting the device, the write protection will turn on.
- If you hold down the joystick wheel while connecting, the write protection is removed, and the device switches to the "Dual Mode" mode.
- If you hold the joystick wheel up while connecting, the "ODD Mode" is set.
- If you hold the joystick wheel down when connected, the "HDD Mode" is set.
- If during operation, turn down and hold the joystick wheel, the device will be safely switched off. The same will happen if you press and hold the "Backup" button.
- If during operation, turn up and hold the joystick wheel, the "_ISO" folder will be rescanned and the list of images contained in it will be updated. This is very convenient if new images have been written to the device in "Dual Mode" or "HDD Mode".
- In order for Zalman VE-300 to remember the last mounted image, it must be safely disabled. Install the desired image, press and hold the "Backup" button or the wheel down, wait for the message "Data Saving ..." and disconnect the disk from the computer. After that Zalman VE-300 will start with the selected image.
- To unmount a floppy disk image or drive from the "Virtual HDD", you must go to the "End Of List" item and hold the wheel pressed for 3 seconds.
- When connected to desktop computer it is better to use the USB ports that are on the back system block, not on the front panel.
- If the hard drive installed in the case is divided into several partitions, then the partition with the "_ISO" folder must be Primary.
- It is not recommended to install SSD drives in Zalman ZM-VE300, as they are more sensitive to insufficient power supplied via USB and may fail.
To defragment files and directories, it is most convenient to use free program WinContig. Her main feature- fast defragmentation individual files without having to defragment the entire drive. Just start WinContig, select one or more image files and defragment, after that Zalman ZM-VE300 mounts everything quietly.
What can I say as a summary? Zalman ZM-VE300 is a very cool thing that justifies its cost to the penny. Now the problem with preparing installation flash drives, a pack of CD / DVD discs with different distributions has been solved once and for all, all this remains in the past. Zalman ZM-VE300 will be an excellent assistant for system administrators and advanced users who often have to rearrange the system or use different boot disks.
Despite all the advantages, it was not without its drawbacks. There is no list of recommended hard drive models that work with Zalman ZM-VE300 either in the manual or on the offsite. In extreme cases, it would be possible to indicate the recommended characteristics, such as amperage and rotation speed, so that you can independently choose the right model, but this information is not available anywhere. The included USB cable is short and VERY hard, so if used frequently, there is a risk of damage to the case connector. It would not hurt to foresee extra food so that the Zalman ZM-VE300 can be connected to older computers. Of course, no one bothers to find and purchase the right cable on your own, but it's strange that the manufacturer made such a wonderful device and saved on a penny cable. Judging by the reviews, for some hard drives, you have to additionally put a seal in the case so that the drive does not hang out inside. In my case, this was not necessary, but in general I agree that the mounting system could have been thought out better. Other than that, I'm very pleased with the purchase.
UPD. After the untimely death of Zalman ZM-VE300 (connected to a problematic system unit, and there was a breakdown of electricity on the USB port), I purchased the original iODD-2531. So, there are no described problems with seals. They are of sufficient length and have "horns" at the end, which are tucked under the side plugs and hold perfectly. Zalman also has these "horns", but the seal itself is shorter, as a result, they are useless. The cable is also long and flexible. That's just the case for iODD uncomfortable - soft. I replaced it with a freed case from Zalman. So it makes sense to purchase original iODD devices, and not crookedly copied replicas.