Very interesting.

I still emphatically state that using the shipped hard drives (I have 3), that the cable in the box did not work often enough to be reliable and that I have a 12 inch, thick USB cable that works every time, on the same port(s) that didn't like it before.

I have never thought to go machine to machine, I have 4 on right now, and test to see if the same cable runs my blackberry, or charges it. I tried the two headed thing shipped by pgmusic when I forgot my charger and found out that again, it would not work on the Acer to charge my blackberry.

I also suspect that as other stuff gets plugged in and out that you start getting access violations. I think I'd put last on the testing line a low powered usb port, that might be typical of what an end user has, and test the thing there, and as you point out try different sequences to ensure that the device is working. Also some sort of script to sort out the usb ports might be in order. Again as i have stated before, I have 2 machines that the Ketron via Edirol USB Midi 1 in 1 out cable, HAS to reside in the same USB port it was first plugged into or it won't play. Same for one of my cameras.

Just throwing stuff against the wall here. I continue to suspect that perfectly good hard drives are being shipped internationally when in reality they work, but it's good customer relations to say we are shipping you a new one rather than make Igor seem like his computer and his brain are not functioning.

I'd be sorely tempted to send out a support email with detailed instructions meticulously written to end run the costs and frustrations. To do that you'd need to test the 'faulty' drives and figure out how to make them work, and then do that. It might just be as simple as finding Xing cable company makes some really robust cable and go buy a hundred or so, and include that cable in the packaging. The new silver and black box in a blister pack to satisfy those who don't want to see the old graphics. Mug shots of the Realtracks guys done in black and white, morphed to silver on the box. LOL.

John Conley
Musica est vita