bobpeers -> blog

I downloaded Ubuntu NBR to install on an Acer Aspire One.

On a side note why the hell is there no download link direct from the main page, it takes 3 more pages to find the download link. It’s almost as though they don’t want you to use it!

Anyway after downloading the ISO file I also downloaded the Imagewriter for Windows to copy the ISO file to my USB disk. At this point I realised that the disk is not recognised as a removable device and so the tool does not ‘see’ it.

Next I tried the Fedora Live USB Creator but that has exactly the same problem. Finally I tired a different computer but with the same results.

After reading this bug report for Ubuntu Imagewriter it seems to be some issue with certain USB disks where they are not ‘seen’ by the OS as removable disks. Even though my disk does show the “Safely Remove Hardware” list it still doesn’t work.

I’ll try from within Linux next to see if that solves the problem.

Edit: I just tried a different key and it works perfectly. I’d be interested to know how to set Windows (XP SP3) to see a disk as either removable or fixed.

I ordered an external USB hard drive that came today, it’s a Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini 160GB.

As you may know I already have a 320GB NAS device on my network but I really wanted something that was portable to move files around, plus, for security, I think it’s good to have multiple backups in physically separate locations. I currently have important photos on my girlfriends PC plus on the Disk Station but they are right next to each other so in the event of theft I’ll probably loose both copies.

Using the USB device I can either backup from the Disk Station to the USB drive over the network or plug it directly into the Disk Station and do the backup from there.

Since it’s primarily designed for Windows users (what isn’t?) it comes with some bundled software on the drive, but since I’m doing this from Linux the first thing I did was wipe the disk clean.
Apart from that I’m happy with it, it seems fast, almost silent, is very small and weights only 167g so can easily slip into a pocket.

I also read today the Synology have released some beta software for the Disk Stations that allows for, amongst other items:

Extra Data Protection: The Network Recycle Bin ensures all deleted files are recoverable from the recycle bin folder. This function works for all CIFS connections.
Integrated Telnet/SSH: Telnet and SSH terminal services are now configurable directly from the management UI.

Pretty cool, it’s the NAS that just keeps on giving!