 When a radically new product hits the market it is bound to generate questions. If you have a question about MediaVaultHD that is not answered here, go over the Contact Us page and ask your question there. We might just add your question to this FAQ page. Before you go that trouble, though, please look through these frequently asked questions to see if we've already answered it.
1) Can I run the MVHD with the lid closed?
Yes. It is recommended that the MVHD lid be closed for maximum data
protection. The lid should be opened only when access to the
contents is necessary.
2) The hard drives in my MVHD feel pretty warm – how do I know if they are getting too hot?
The USB 2.0 specification only allows a maximum power output from USB ports of just over 2.5 watts, so the amount of power consumed by the hard drive is small and the resultant heat generation is also small. Under normal conditions, the drives inside your MVHD will feel warm however not excessively hot.
3) Can I locate and use the MVHD in a hot environment?
For maximum fire protection, it is recommended that the MVHD be
located in a space where the ambient temperature is maintained below
80°F.
4) What kind of connector do I need to connect to the MVHD?
The connectors located at the rear of the MVHD are USB "Mini-B" 5 pin
connectors. This is one of several standard USB connection types. The 4' USB cables included with the MVHD are of this type.
5) Can I run the MVHD all the time?
Yes. The MVHD is designed so that even under maximum hard drive
loading, the system will operate within acceptable temperature
limits.
6) Is it OK if I write to both drives at the same time?
Yes. If you choose to push data to the MVHD from more than one LAN
node, you may access both drives simultaneously.
7) What is the warranty on my hard drives?
If a hard drive is found to be defective within 3 yrs of the date of purchase, FireKing will send you a replacement hard drive.
8) Can I use my own USB cables to connect the MVHD to my computer?
The 4' USB cables provided with the MVHD must be used for connecting the MVHD to your computer. These cables are specially designed to provide both adequate power and data using a single cable.
9) Is my MVHD waterproof / is my data protected from water damage?
In the event of a fire, the MVHD is designed to be resistant to water from the use of sprinklers and fire hoses.
10) I do not have enough ports on my computer - Can I use a USB hub?
Yes, however many common USB hubs may not provide adequate power to
the hard drives. We recommend that the hard drives be connected
directly to the USB ports on your computer.
11) I accidentally damaged one of the cables in the MVHD - can I get it replaced?
No. These cables are integral with the MVHD fireproof container and
cannot be replaced. Please contact Customer Service for additional
information.
12) Can I use my own hard drives in the MVHD?
In many cases, the answer is yes. MVHD can accept a wide range of
2.5" external drives meeting the USB 2.0 specification. Note that some USB 2.0 drives require excessive power and may not function properly when connected.
13) Can I disconnect a hard drive from the MVHD while it is running?
It is recommended that you follow your computer manufacturer's
recommendation for safe disconnection of USB hard drives. Disconnection of a hard drive while it is reading or writing data can result in loss of data and/or permanent damage to the hard drive.
14) Can I use my own backup program to write/read to the MVHD drives?
Yes. Any program capable of reading/writing data to an NTFS (NT File System) formatted external hard drive will work with the MVHD.
15) How can I tell if my drives are working properly?
The best way to determine if your drives are properly connected and working is to copy/paste data to the drives on your computer. When the drive(s) are connected, you should see a Fire King icon & drive label in the drive list displayed on your computer.
16) Can I connect the MVHD to my laptop?
Yes as long as the USB port on your laptop provides sufficient power
to the external drive. In some cases it is necessary to connect the
Auxiliary Power lead (2nd connector on the twin lead USB cables
provided with your MVHD).
17) I have an older PC - will the MVHD work with it?
Generally speaking, yes. The MVHD is compatible with any computer capable of supporting USB connected external drives. Please note that older computers may only support USB 1.0/1.1 connectivity. The older versions of USB (1.0 & 1.1) are at least 20 times slower than USB 2.0, however the hard drive(s) should operate normally. Also if you are using Windows 2000, please make sure you have downloaded and installed Service Pack 4.
18) Will the MVHD work with my Mac?
Yes. The MVHD can be connected to any Mac or PC computer supporting USB connectivity. The MVHD’s hard drives will work as long as the USB ports supply adequate power to the drives. However, the free backup software provided with the MVHD will only work with Windows operating systems.
19) The 4' USB cable(s) that were included with my MVHD have 2 leads. Which one should I use. Do I need both of them?
For most installations, you only need to connect one of the 2 leads (larger one). In some cases (usually older computers) it is necessary to connect the supplemental power lead (2nd connector on the twin lead USB cables provided with your MVHD) to provide adequate power to your MVHD drive(s).
20) What happens if the power goes out? Are my files still protected?
The MVHD does not need to be powered in order to protect your data, however MVHD can only protect data which has been successfully written to the hard drive(s). Any data which has successfully been written to the hard drive by the backup software or has otherwise been successfully written to the hard drive is protected. In general, if power is lost while a backup is underway, the data being backed up will not be successfully written to the hard drive and will therefore not be protected. Fire King recommends that your backed up data be occasionally checked to ensure integrity.
21) Are the hard drives susceptible to power surges?
Yes. It is always recommended to protect your computer from power surges. As long as the computer is protected, your MVHD will be protected as well.
22) Can I have multiple MVHD’s hooked up to my computer? Can I connect them to each other?
You can hook up multiple MVHD’s to your computer. You cannot connect them to each other.
23) Can my MVHD be bolted down?
No. The MVHD is not designed to be bolted down.
24) Can my MVHD go inside of a desk cabinet?
The MVHD was designed to be a “stand alone” unit. However, provided that the integrity of the exterior cables of the MVHD is not compromised in any way, the unit can be placed inside of a desk cabinet. It is not recommended to place the MVHD inside of a file cabinet.
25) Does the MVHD have to be connected directly to my computer? Can it be used with a network?
You can connect your MVHD directly to your computer whether it is a standalone PC or part of a network.
26) How much data can I backup at once? What is the maximum load?
The maximum number of files which can successfully be backed up is only limited by the size of your files and the capacity of your hard drives. However, we recommend that you limit the number of files being backed up in a single backup job to 200,000 files. If you have more than 200,000 files to backup, we recommend you simply create and run two separate back up jobs. | 
