Welcome to the Hard Disk SpeedToolsª Quick Reference Guide.

Updated: March 2002

This document has been developed as a reference supplement and should be used in conjunction with the included SpeedTools UserÕs Guide.  It is in no way intended to be used as a replacement for the SpeedTools UserÕs Guide.  

NOTE:  This guide will take a brief look at many of the features found in the Hard Disk SpeedTools program.  However, it will NOT attempt to caution you as to potential risk of each of their abilities.  We hope that this reference document will help you quickly understand the range of capabilities that this software product has to offer.

Sections covered by this document:

     Section 1:  The Hard Disk SpeedTools Main Selector Window
     Section 2:  The Benchmark Window
     Section 3:  The Device Test Window
     Section 4:  The Create/Delete Volume Window
     Section 5:  Using the Volume Options Window
     Section 6:  The Hard Disk SpeedTools Pull-Down Menus
     Section 7:  Using the HDST Cartridge Mounter extension

If you are using a FireWire disk, please be sure to install the HDSTª FireWire Support extension/driver using the HDST Installer program before you begin using the HDST utility with your FireWire disk device.  Otherwise, your FireWire disk will not be seen in the HDST main utility.

Section 1: The Hard Disk SpeedTools Main Selector Window:

This window will display all SCSI and IDE/ATA devices that are properly connected to your computer.  From this window you can select the device that you want the Hard Disk SpeedTools program to test, mount or configure.  Its features are outlined below.

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1)  Device type icon: Click on a displayed device icon to select that device.
2)  Stripe device icon: This particular icon type indicates that this device is part of a striped array.
3)  Close box: Click this box to quit the Hard Disk SpeedTools program.
4)  Scan button:  Click this button to rescan your computer for connected devices.
5)  Info button:  Click this button to display additional information regarding your computer, operating system, maximum volumes size compatibility, selected (supported) device and the bus that the selected device is connected to.
6)  Mount button:  Click this button to mount all valid volumes of the selected device.
7)  Tune button:  Click this button to access advanced driver configuration options.  Please see the "Driver Tuning Options" section of the Hard Disk SpeedTools User's Guide for more information about this feature.
8)  Test button:  Click this button to test device for bad sectors.  See Section 3 below for more details.
9)  Update button:  Click this button to install an updated device driver on the selected device.
10)  Setup button:  Click this button to have Hard Disk SpeedTools automatically setup and configure your device with the maximum compatible volume size(s) and tune the device for use with your Macintosh model.
11)  Zoom box:  Click this box to enlarge the window to its maximum vertical size.
12)  Online Help button: Click this button for help with commonly asked questions and how-to information for Hard Disk SpeedTools Pro.
13)  Highlight bar:  This bar identifies the currently selected device.  If no highlight bar is present, no device has been selected. If you want to setup a striping array, click on the first drive to highlight it.  Then, holding the shift key down, click on the second drive you wish to setup as part of a striping array.  Both drives will remain highlighted and ready for setup and configuration.
14)  Volume/status information:  If a device has one volume, its desktop name will be displayed.  If a device has more or less than one volume, the number of volumes will be displayed.  Some additional device information may be displayed in this field such as which partner device is part of the striped array.
15)  Size box:  Drag this corner down to increase the window size to reveal more devices.

To setup or modify a device, you must first select the device by clicking its device icon in the main window (#2 above).  If you want to setup a two-disk striping array, you must hold down the shift-key and select a second drive as well.  Your selection(s) will be indicated by a highlight bar (shown as #13 above).  From this point, you may click the "Setup" button (#10) for a quick single volume setup or you may choose to build a more customized volume setup by using the "Create/Delete Volume" item located in the "Volumes" pull-down menu.

Note: You can use most functions of the Hard Disk SpeedTools software with a striping array.  To use a function with a striping array, both devices of the striping array must be selected first.  However, there are a few functions such as the Device Test feature (#8 above) which require each drive to be selected/tested individually.


Section 2:  The Benchmark Window:

This Hard Disk SpeedTools window feature will measure the rate at which your drive can sustain sending data to your computer using a typical data request size (128K per request). 


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1)  Test button:  Click this button to start the Benchmark test.
2)  Exit button:  Click this button to return to the Main Selector window.
3)  Measured Speed field:  This field will display the device speed in either kilobytes or megabytes per second.

For a more comprehensive performance test, you may use the included QuickBenchª stand-alone utility included with your Hard Disk SpeedTools software package.


Section 3:  The Device Test Window:

This non-destructive test will allow you to examine a device's media for bad sectors.  If a bad sector is found, Hard Disk SpeedTools will notify you and allow you to reassign it (map it out of use).  The device test window will also allow you to start the test from any valid sector contained in the device and can also be set to repeat the testing indefinitely.


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1)  Last Sector field:  This field represents both the last and the total amount of sectors the device contains.
2)  Current Sector field:  This field allows you to type in a specific sector to test from.  Additionally, while the test is running, this field will display the current sector that is being tested.
3)  Continuous Test box:  Click this box if you want the device test to automatically restart the test indefinitely.
4)  Test progress bar:  This bar displays the test progress and will stay blue so long as no bad sectors (errors) have been found.  If a bad sector has been detected, it will turn red in color, whether or not the sector was reassigned.
5)  Total Errors field:  This field represents the total number of bad sectors the test encountered.  It will keep its count no matter how many times the test has been stopped, started or cycled.
6)  Test Cycles field:  This field keeps track of how times the test has completed before it restarted.  This feature works in conjunction with the Continuous Test box.
7)  Start button:  Click this button to start the test.  While the test is in progress the button will turn into a "pause" button, allowing you to stop the test at any time.
8)  Exit button:  Click this button to return to the Main Selector window.

Note: To test the media of a striped array, you must selected and test each drive of the array individually.


Section 4:  The Create/Delete Volume Window:

Use this feature of Hard Disk SpeedTools to add custom sized volume(s) to your drive or if you wish, use it to delete one or more volume(s) from your drive.  This window is especially useful for removing volume(s) that are positioned in between other volumes.  When you delete any volume but the last volume, Hard Disk SpeedTools combines the unused disk space and allows you to create larger contiguous volume sizes with the new space.


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1)  Delete using Security Erase box:  Click this box if you want to overwrite a deleted volume for added data security.
2)  Active volume list:  This is the list of active volumes contained on the device media (your list will vary).  Use it to view what has already been created or to select a specific volume for removal.  You may only select one volume at a time.
3)  The Delete Volume button:  Use this button to delete a single selected volume from the active volume list.  A volume must be selected before it will be enabled for use.
4)  The Delete All button:  Unlike the Delete Volume button, no volumes have to be selected to use it.  Click it to remove all active volumes contained on the device.  Essentially, this button initializes the device media and allows you pto setup new volumes from scratch.
5)  The Available Space field:  This field identifies how much unallocated space is available for you to create a new volume.
6)  Create Size field:  Use this field to type in a custom volume size.  Your maximum volume size equals the space available in the above field.
7)  Exit button:  If you did not create a new volume, clicking this button will return you to the Main Selector window.  If you did created one or more new volumes, click the Exit button to initialize the volume(s).  If you are using MacOS 8.1 or later, you will be asked if you want your new volume(s) to be initialized using HFS (Standard) or HFS+ (Extended) disk format.  After your new volumes are initialized, you will be returned to the Main Selector window. 


Section 5:  Using the Volume Options Window:

This feature allows you to set volume (partition) level behaviors.  It provides two options: volume write protection and automatic volume mounting.  The first option, write protection, can be configured to allow or prevent writing privileges.  This feature, when enabled, will allow you to see and read the data contained on the configured volume, but will not allow you to add, change or delete the data.  The second feature, automatic mounting, can be configured to prevent a volume from mounting on the desktop when you start your computer.  This feature is especially useful for creating "hidden" volumes that may contain sensitive information.  A volume set to not mount at startup requires that you return to this options window and manually mount the volume using the mount button whenever you want to access its data.  Each volume (if multiple volumes have been created), may be configured uniquely.

To access the Volume Options window (as shown below), you may either select the "Volume Options" menu item contained within the "Volumes" pull-down menu or you may double-click the drive you wish to configure in the main window.

Note: Some older Macintosh models may not respond to double-clicking a drive in the main window to present the Volume Options window.  If your model does not respond, you will need to select the Volume Options menu item as explained above.

Note: The Don't mount at startup feature is compatible with "fixed" ATA and SCSI drives only.  If a removable media device has been selected, the Don't mount at startup checkbox will be grayed and unavailable for use.


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1)  Don't mount at startup check box:  First, you must select a volume by clicking on its name.  Afterwards, you may check this box to tell your computer not to automatically mount the selected volume the next time you start your computer.  When this box is checked, a red "slash" will appear through the icon as pointed to by item 6 above to display this selection.  The default selection for this box is for it not to be checked so that you volume(s) will automatically mount at startup.
2)  Write protect check box:  First, you must select a volume by clicking on its name.  Afterwards, you may check this box to tell your computer not to allow modifying, data deleting or all other forms of writing to the selected volume.  When this box is checked, a red "slash" will appear through the icon (item 7 above) to display this selection.  Your write protect selection will be active immediately.
3)  Active volume list:  This is the list of active volumes contained on the device media (your list will vary).  Use it to view what has already been created or to select a specific volume for volume level changes.  You may only select one volume at a time.
4/7)  The write protection status symbol:  This icon will reflect the current write protect status selection for all displayed volumes.  The icon (item 4 shown above) shows that the "Work Disk" volume is not write protected.  If this icon appears with a slash through it (item 7 above), this would indicate that the volume was currently set for write protection.
5/6)  The auto mount status symbol:  This icon will reflect the current mount status selection for all displayed volumes.  The icon as shown above shows that the "Games" volume is set to auto mount at startup.  If this icon appears with a slash through it (as seen in item 6 above), this would indicate that the volume was currently set to not mount at startup.  In this instance, you must manually mount the volume whenever you wish to access its data.
8)  The Exit button:  Clicking this button will save your changes (if any) and will return you to the main selector window.
9)  The Unmount button:  Clicking this button will unmount the selected volume (remove from the desktop) until you either click the mount button (item 10 ) or restart your computer, provided the volume is set to mount automatically at startup.  If no volume has been selected, this button will be gray and unavailable for use.
10)  The Mount button:  Clicking this button will mount the selected volume (mac available for use with your Macintosh) regardless of whether or not the volume was set to automatically mount at startup.  If no volume has been selected, this button will be gray and unavailable for use.


Section 6:  The Hard Disk SpeedTools Pull-Down Menus:

File Menu:
   Print device list  - Allows you to make a hard copy printout of all connected SCSI, ATA and HDST controlled 
   FireWire devices.
   Quit  - Exits the Hard Disk SpeedTools program.


Edit Menu:
   Has no usable items in the Hard Disk SpeedTools program.


Devices Menu:
   Rescan for devices - Same function as ÒScanÓ button in Main Selector window.
   Information - Same function as ÒInfoÓ button in Main Selector window.
   Mount all volumes - Same function as ÒMountÓ button in Main Selector window.
   Driver Tuning options - Same function as ÒTuneÓ button in Main Selector window.
   Test device - Same function as ÒTestÓ button in Main Selector window.
   Update disk driver - Same function as ÒUpdateÓ button in Main Selector window.
   Automatic disk setup - Same function as ÒSetupÓ button in Main Selector window.
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   Unmount/Eject disk - If possible, removes all mounted volumes of the selected device from the desktop.
   Simple Benchmark - Use this feature to benchmark the speed of the selected device.  See Section 2 above for more 
   details.
   Driver "Safe Mode" - The function of driver safe mode will depend on the type of drive selected.  If SCSI, Driver 
   Safe Mode will disable both Sync (fast/ultra) and wide transfers.  If ATA/ATAPI, Driver Safe Mode will disable all DMA 
   options and set PIO mode to 0 (slowest).  If FireWire, Driver Safe Mode will limit the maximum transfer size to 32K 
   per iteration. Use this feature to quickly fix drives that may be experiencing data corruption and other miscellaneous 
   problems.  If after you enable this feature and your trouble goes away, it is likely that your drive and/or bus have 
   firmware/hardware related incompatibilities. 
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   Format device - Use this menu item to Òlow-levelÓ format a devices media (for SCSI and ATAPI device only).  ATA   
   and FireWire disk devices do not support a "low-level" format command.  For these devices interfaces, the Format 
   device option will write "zeros" to every sector of the media (closest equivalent  to a format command).  Further, 
   if the procedure detects a bad block, it will map it out of use automatically.
   Takeover Selected Device - This feature allows you to convert drives which have been previously setup using 
   most other utility software programs to the SpeedTools format.  Taking over a drive in this way preserves the MacOS 
   data already on the disk.  Where applicable, make sure to remove all password protection, data encryption, and  set all 
   volumes to mount at startup before using this feature! 

   Warning: Taking over a drive often requires data to be moved on the drive and, therefore, Intech strongly recommends 
   that you make a backup of all your important data BEFORE initiating a takeover!  Additionally,  It is always 
   recommended that you scan your drive for potential problems and correct them using a program such as Disk First Aid 
   or Norton Utilities¨ prior to using any feature in Hard Disk SpeedTools that moves data.

   Warning: The Takeover feature is not compatible with RAID setups created using other RAID software.

Volumes Menu:
   Create/Delete Volume - See Section 4 above for details.
   Create Quick Volumes - This item allows you to quickly setup a device with up to 9 equal size volumes.
   Volume Options - See Section 5 above for details.
   Create DOS Volume - Use this option to create a DOS/Windows compatible removable disk cartridge.  This feature is 
   only compatible with Hard Disk SpeedTools supported removable media cartridges such as Zip, Jazz, Orb, MOs, 
   SuperDisk and Syquest.

Disk Array Menu:
    Change Striping Block Size - This feature allows you to customize your striping block size for maximum  
    performance based on your most common types of data access.  Please note: your data cannot be saved when you 
    change your striping block size. In other words, its best to use this feature at the time you setup your striping array.

    Note: The Disk Array feature is not compatible with all device interfaces. If HDST has determined that your interface     
    is not compatible or will receive no benefit from this menu option, it will automatically be grayed out and unavailable 
    for use.


 Section 7:  Using the HDST Cartridge Mounter Extension:

The HDST Cartridge Mounter extension (previously named "SpeedTools Extension") is used exclusively for SCSI and ATA/ATAPI removable media/cartridge devices.  This extension when installed, gives your Macintosh the ability to recognize removable media cartridges when one has been inserted and mount it automatically.  This extension is exclusively compatible with SCSI and ATAPI/ATA removable cartridge devices.  


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Install the HDST Cartridge Mounter extension into your System Folder/Extensions Folder only if you plan to use Hard Disk SpeedTools to setup and manage your SCSI and/or ATA/ATAPI removable media devices.

The good/bad startup icons (shown above) are presented during the "Welcome to Macintosh" screen when you first turn on your computer.

NOTE: Supported FireWire removable media disks do not need HDSTª Cartridge Mounter extension installed.  All FireWire devices use the HDSTª FireWire Support drivers instead.



© Copyright 1994-2002 by Intech Software Corporation.  All rights reserved worldwide. 

Apple, the Apple Logo, AppleShare, Finder, MultiFinder, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, PowerBook are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.  CD-ROM SpeedTools, CD/DVD SpeedTools, Hard Disk SpeedTools, DVD SpeedTools, QuickStripe, Raid SpeedTools, Cache Monitor, QwikInstall, Integrity, Integrity X, QuickBench, QuickBench X and the Intech Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intech Software Corporation.  All other brand and product names contained in this software and related documentation were used in an editorial fashion only, and are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.