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For help setting up and using your LaCie hard drive, review the frequently asked questions below. For additional support resources, go to LaCie customer support.
Q: Are both ends of the USB cable firmly attached?
A: Review troubleshooting tips for cable connections below:
Q: Is the hard drive connected to a Thunderbolt 2 port on your computer or hub?
A: While Thunderbolt 2 has the potential to reach transfers rates up to 20Gb/s, the port on LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C is Thunderbolt, which can reach up to 10Gb/s.
Q: Is the hard drive connected to a USB 2.0 port on your computer or hub?
A: If your hard drive is connected via USB to a Hi-Speed 2.0 port or hub, performance is limited to speeds up to 480Mb/s.
Q: Are there other Thunderbolt or USB devices connected to the same port or hub?
A: Disconnect other devices and see if the hard drive's performance improves.
Q: Will my hard drive's USB 3.1 port work with my computer's USB 2.0 port?
A: Yes, the cable end that plugs into the computer (USB Type A) is compatible with both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. Make certain to use the included cable with the correct USB Type A connector. The transfer rates are much slower with USB 2.0.
Q: Can I use my hard drive with a USB hub?
A: Yes, the hard drive can be connected to a USB hub. If you use a hub and encounter detection problems, slower than normal transfer rates, random disconnection from your computer or other unusual issues, try connecting the hard drive directly to the computer's USB port.
Some USB hubs are less than efficient with power management, which can be problematic for connected devices. In such a case, consider trying a powered USB hub that includes a power cable.
Please note that USB 2.0 hubs limit your hard drive's transfer rates to USB 2.0 speeds.
Q: Can I use my hard drive with a longer cable?
A: Yes, provided it is certified according to USB standards. However, LaCie recommends using the cable shipped with your hard drive for the best results. If you use a longer cable and experience problems with detection, transfer rates or disconnection, use the original cable included with your hard drive.
Q: Can I protect my hard drive with a password?
A: Yes, it is possible to protect the hard drive or individual folders and files with a password. There are many third-party solutions for password protection. However, LaCie cannot guarantee them since we do not test third-party applications.
Some versions of Windows have a built-in utility called Bitlocker that can protect hard drives with a password. For more information about Bitlocker, consult Microsoft's support documentation.
Q: Can I encrypt my hard drive?
A: Yes, the hard drive can be encrypted. There are many third-party solutions for encryption. However, LaCie cannot guarantee them since we do not test third-party applications.
Some versions of Windows have a built-in utility called Bitlocker that can encrypt hard drives. For more information about Bitlocker, consult Microsoft's support documentation
Q: Did you get an "Error -50" message while copying to a FAT32 volume?
A: When copying files or folders from a computer to a FAT32 volume, certain characters in the names cannot be copied. These characters include, but are not limited to: ? < > / \ :
Check your files and folders to ensure that these characters are not in the names.
If this is a recurring problem or you cannot find files with incompatible characters, consider reformatting the drive to NTFS (Windows users) or HFS+ (Mac users). See Optional Formatting and Partitioning.
Q: Did you get an error message telling you that the drive has been disconnected when coming out of sleep mode?
A: Ignore this message since the drive remounts on the desktop despite the pop-up. LaCie drives conserve power by spinning down when you set your computer to sleep mode. When the computer awakes from sleep mode, the drive may not have enough time to spin up, causing the pop-up to appear.
Q: Is your Finder configured to hide hard drives on the desktop?
A: Go to Finder and then check Preferences > General tab > Show these items on the desktop. Confirm that Hard Disks is selected.
Q: Is your hard drive mounting in the operating system?
A: Open Disk Utility at Go > Utilities > Disk Utility. If the hard drive is listed in the left-hand column, check your Finder preferences to see why it is not displayed on the desktop (review the question above).
Q: Does your computer's configuration meet the minimum system requirements for use with this hard drive?
A: Refer to the product packaging for the list of supported operating systems.
Q: Did you follow the correct installation steps for your operating system?
A: Review the installation steps in Getting Connected.
Q: Is the hard drive listed in Device Manager?
A: All drives appear in at least one place in Device Manager.
Go to Search to type Device Manager and then launch it. Look in the Disk Drives section and, if necessary, click the plus sign to view the full list of devices. If you're uncertain that your drive is listed, safely unplug it and then reconnect it. The entry that changes is your LaCie hard drive.
Q: Is your hard drive listed next to an unusual icon?
A: Windows Device Manager usually provides information about failures with peripherals. While the Device Manager can assist with troubleshooting most problems, it may not display the exact cause or provide a precise solution.
An unusual icon next to the hard drive can reveal a problem. For example, instead of the normal icon based on the type of device, it has an exclamation point, question mark or an X. Right click this icon and then choose Properties. The General tab provides a potential reason why the device is not working as expected.