Digital Trends

TrekStor DataStation duo w.u. 1TB August 28th, 2007 | by Jason Tomczak

Setup and Use

As with most external hard drives, setting up the DataStation duo w.u. drive is very easy. Remove all the components from the packaging and set the drive on a desk or table. Plug the power adapter into the back of the drive enclosure and then plug the other end of the cable into a wall outlet. Connect the drive by USB (cable included) to an open USB port on your computer. To power the drive up, push the large black button on the front. The button will light up blue to indicate that it's powered up. A few moments later, the "TREKSTOR" drive will show up in Windows Explorer (Windows systems) or on your desktop (Mac systems).

Software & Drivers

As mentioned above, the DataStation duo w.u. comes with Nero "BACKitUP 2 Essentials" for use with Windows systems. As for drivers, if you're using an older operating system like Windows 98SE or Windows Me, you'll need to install drivers from the included CD. You'll also want to consider coming out of the Ice Age with your software. No need to jump to Vista — you can get XP Pro or XP Home really cheap these days. For those of us not using 98SE, Sansabelts, and 8-tracks, the DataStation duo w.u. will instantly show up as an available drive. 

While the BACKitUP software isn't obligatory, you may find that it's very helpful and convenient for making automatic backups of your Windows system. If you find yourself struggling to wade through the long and arduous task of backing up multiple directories, certainly check the software out. Once configured, it scales a tedious, mind-numbing process down to a painless, brainless push of a button.

OS Neutrality

The TrekStor DataStation duo w.u. works equally well with most common operating systems, including Windows Vista, XP, 2000, Me, and 98SE, Mac OS X 10.3.x and above, as well as Linux systems using Kernel 2.6.x and above. No matter which OS you use, you'll simply need a USB 2.0 port. 

One Terabyte

The DataStation duo w.u. 1TB drive offers 931.52GB of actual useable space when given an NTFS format. When formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) mode, the DataStation duo w.u. gives 931.40GB of storage space. This post-format discrepancy is normal. Even though you don't get 1,000GB of actual storage space, the 1TB drive offers plenty of room for most storage needs. 

The back of the Datastation reveals the fan, USB and power interface