FIDECO USB 3.0 Dual Bay SATA HDD/SSD Docking Station User Manual

1. Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the FIDECO USB 3.0 Dual Bay SATA HDD/SSD Docking Station. This device provides a convenient solution for connecting 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA hard drives and solid-state drives to your computer, offering high-speed data transfer and an offline cloning function.

Key Features:

• Universal Compatibility: Compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Mac OS, and Linux operating systems. Supports SATA HDD/SSD only.
• USB 3.0 SuperSpeed: Achieves data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps, enabling fast transfer of large files.
• Offline Clone Function: Allows direct disk-to-disk cloning without requiring a computer connection.
• Dual Bay Support: Accommodates two 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA HDDs/SSDs simultaneously.
• Plug and Play: No drivers required for basic operation.

2. Package Contents

• FIDECO USB 3.0 Dual Bay SATA HDD/SSD Docking Station (Main Unit)
• USB 3.0 Cable
• Power Adapter
• User Manual

3. Product Diagram

Familiarize yourself with the components of your docking station:

• 2.5"/3.5" SATA Slots: Two slots for inserting SATA HDDs or SSDs.
• LED Indicators: Display power status, drive activity, and cloning progress.
• Offline Clone Button: Initiates the disk cloning process.
• USB 3.0 Interface: Connects the docking station to your computer.
• DC 12V Power Input: Connects to the included power adapter.
• Power Switch: Turns the docking station on or off.

4. Setup Instructions

Follow these steps to set up your FIDECO docking station:

1. Insert SATA HDD/SSD:

   Carefully insert your 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA HDD/SSD into the available slots. Ensure the drive is fully seated.

   

2. Connect USB Cable and Power Adapter:

   Connect one end of the USB 3.0 cable to the docking station's USB 3.0 interface and the other end to an available USB port on your computer. Then, connect the power adapter to the DC 12V input on the docking station and plug it into a power outlet.

   

3. Power On:

   Flip the power switch on the back of the docking station to the 'ON' position. The power LED indicator will illuminate.

5. Operating Instructions

5.1. Data Transfer Mode

Once connected to your computer and powered on, the inserted SATA HDDs/SSDs will appear as removable drives in your operating system. You can then drag and drop files, perform backups, or access data as you would with any other external storage device.

5.2. Offline Clone Function

The offline clone function allows you to duplicate a source disk to a target disk without a computer connection. This is useful for system migration or data backup.

1. Preparation:
   • Disconnect from PC: Ensure the docking station is NOT connected to your computer via USB.
   • Insert Drives: Insert the source disk (the disk you want to copy FROM) into Slot 1. Insert the target disk (the disk you want to copy TO) into Slot 2.
   • Capacity Requirement: The capacity of the target disk (Slot 2) must be equal to or greater than the capacity of the source disk (Slot 1).
   • Data Backup: All data on the target disk will be overwritten during the cloning process. Ensure you have backed up any important data from the target disk before proceeding.
   • Disk Health: If the source disk has bad sectors, the cloning process may fail.

   

2. Initiate Cloning:

   With both drives inserted and the docking station powered on (but not connected to a PC), press and hold the "Clone" button for approximately 5 seconds until the LED indicators begin to flash.
3. Monitor Progress:

   The LED indicators will show the cloning progress:

   • 25% LED: Flashes, then turns solid when 25% complete.
   • 50% LED: Flashes, then turns solid when 50% complete.
   • 75% LED: Flashes, then turns solid when 75% complete.
   • 100% LED: Flashes, then all LEDs turn solid when 100% complete.

   Once all four blue LEDs are solid, the cloning process is successfully completed.

6. Initializing a New Disk

For brand new HDDs or SSDs, they must be initialized and formatted before they can be used by your operating system. Follow these steps:

1. Connect the Disk: Insert the new HDD/SSD into the docking station and connect the docking station to your computer. Power on the docking station.
2. Access Disk Management (Windows):
   • Right-click on "This PC" (or "My Computer") and select "Manage".
   • In the Computer Management window, navigate to "Disk Management" under "Storage".
3. Initialize Disk:
   • Locate the unallocated disk (it will usually be marked as "Unknown" or "Not Initialized").
   • Right-click on the disk and select "Initialize Disk".
   • Choose the appropriate partition style:
     • For disks less than 2TB, select MBR (Master Boot Record).
     • For disks exceeding 2TB, select GPT (GUID Partition Table).
4. Create New Simple Volume:
   • After initialization, the disk will show as "Unallocated Space".
   • Right-click on the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume".
   • Follow the on-screen wizard to assign a drive letter and format the disk with a file system (e.g., NTFS for Windows).
5. For Mac OS:
   • Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility).
   • Select the new disk from the sidebar.
   • Click "Erase" and choose a suitable format (e.g., APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled)) and scheme (GUID Partition Map).

7. Troubleshooting

• Disk Not Recognized:
  • Ensure the power adapter is securely connected and the docking station is powered on.
  • Verify that the USB cable is properly connected to both the docking station and your computer.
  • Check if the HDD/SSD is correctly seated in the slot.
  • For new disks, ensure they have been initialized and formatted (refer to Section 6).
  • Try connecting the docking station to a different USB port on your computer.
  • If using an SSD and it's not working, please contact FIDECO support for potential firmware updates.
• Slow Transfer Speeds:
  • Ensure you are connected to a USB 3.0 port on your computer. USB 2.0 ports will result in slower speeds.
  • Verify that your operating system and drivers are up to date.
  • The actual transfer speed can be affected by the performance of your HDD/SSD.
• Offline Clone Failure:
  • Confirm that the target disk's capacity is equal to or greater than the source disk's capacity.
  • Ensure the docking station is NOT connected to a computer during the cloning process.
  • Check the health of both the source and target disks. Bad sectors can cause cloning to fail.
  • Ensure the power supply is stable during the entire cloning process.

8. Specifications

9. Warranty and Support

FIDECO products come with a standard warranty. For specific warranty details, please refer to the documentation included with your purchase or contact FIDECO customer support.

If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding the operation of your docking station, please contact FIDECO customer support for assistance. For technical issues such as SSD not working, firmware updates may be available upon request.