Paul E Condon put forth on 3/25/2010 11:32 PM: > Western Digital uses what must be the same software technology, but > they call it Virtual-CD or VCD. They also provide a software fix. But > the WD fix only disables VCD and makes the small partition > invisible. It does not release the space on the platter. (OK on a > 500GB drive, IMHO)
That's because, AFAICT, it's not on the disk platter Paul. That "partition" resides in a flash memory chip on the small PCB inside that pretty WD enclosure. I.e. it's a phantom, and you can't delete it, nor would you really benefit if you did. > I think my problem is solved, but not in a was that makes me happy > about either company's support for Linux What other company? Only WD is at issue here, no? That's what happens when you buy cutesy Windows/MAC devices without reading up on your potential purchase BEFOREHAND. From the PDF on WD's site: http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/AAG/ENG/4178-705051.pdf "SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY Formatted NTFS for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OSX, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard (requires formatting)." Nowhere does it mention Linux, period. How can you complain about their Linux support when the product literature doesn't mention Linux? So, you assume that the lack of mention means it's supported? Even though all the other OS's supported are clearly mentioned, down to each version? You're lying the blame at the wrong feet methinks. > Also the new drive has a different kind of USB socket that I have not > seen before. About the same size as current small end of USB cable > but incompatible shape. Why? You're kidding, right? You've never seen the mini and micro USB plugs? The mini and micro USB plugs have been around for a long time, used mostly by digital cameras, PDAs, cell phones, basically all the small devices that need a small plug. You bought a tiny 2.5" 500GB drive in a tiny case. It needs a tiny plug. And you're surprised and upset by this? If it's the latest micro plug, be happy, as it's rated for much higher total insertion/removal cycles over its lifetime, i.e. it's more durable. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus -- Stan -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/4bac4cbd.5080...@hardwarefreak.com
