Today we would like to present to your attention the Zalman ZM-SHE350 external box with a digital password function for accessing the hard drive. This compact solution protects your data and makes it easier for you to work with your personal data. Excellent price, nice design, compact size, all this allows you to attract the attention of buyers. Let's get to know the device a little closer and start the review.

Zalman ZM-SHE350

How often do you use portable media, USB flash drives? Personally, our experience shows that a portable hard drive is simply necessary for work, because all the necessary and important information is always with you, because it is very convenient and practical. But there are often cases when strangers try to steal this data by copying it to their personal computer or laptop.

We recently came across a very interesting device, the Zalman ZM-SHE350. This is an external housing that looks like an entrance intercom, but in fact its function is completely different - to protect your data on the HDD. How does this happen? Everything is very simple, but before we look at the functions and operation of the device, let's take a look at the package and external design.

Zalman ZM-SHE350 review

Contents of delivery

The device comes in a small premium transparent packaging on which you can read all the necessary information and familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the Zalman ZM-SHE350. The package includes:

• The Zalman ZM-SHE350 case itself
• USB 3.0 cable for power and data transfer
• Operation book
• Rubber insert to increase the thickness of the hard drive
• Compact case

The device comes with everything you need for full operation. Small additional bonuses, such as a cover and a special rubber insert to increase the width of the HDD, if necessary, I cannot but please my customers.

Characteristics

• External box - Zalman ZM-SHE350
• 2.5-inch SATA drives are supported. Maximum thickness (depth) of HDD is 9.5 mm.
• Interfaces of connected HDDs - SATA III, SATA-I/SATA-II
• PC connection interface - USB 3.0/USB 2.0
• Case material - plastic
• OS support - Linux, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP
• Dimensions (l/w/h) - 135/75/16 mm

Appearance

As we have already said, the device externally resembles a door intercom. The device is completely made of black plastic. The build quality is good, no creaks. But I didn’t quite like the fact that when dropped slightly from the height of the lid, the devices immediately diverge to the sides. Perhaps developers will still need to think about the reliability of the entire case, because opening it and simply picking up the hard drive is not particularly difficult.

On the front of the device there are the main control buttons: numbers from 0 to 9, the “Lock” button and the “Enter” button. Here, just above the buttons, there are light indicators, and opposite them there is information about their designation.

On the top edge there is a micro USB connector. The other faces lack any controls.

The back cover opens. Below it is a connector for a 2.5-inch SATA drive. The thickness of which should not exceed 9.5 mm. If the disc is thinner, you can use a special rubber insert that allows you to obtain the required thickness.

One of the minuses should be noted that the back cover is not protected from opening in any way. That is, anyone can open it. In other words, if with the help of the Zalman ZM-SHE350 you can protect information from being transferred to other PCs or laptops, then you will not be able to protect your hard drive, which is located inside the Zalman ZM-SHE350.

Setup and operation

First, let's figure out how to configure the device, in other words, how to install a hard drive in the Zalman ZM-SHE350 and make it work. First, you need to purchase a hard drive, since it is not included in the package; let us remind you that 2.5-inch SATA drives are supported. Then everything is very simple, open the back cover, install, close and connect to the PC.

After connecting the device for the first time, you will need to go through a few simple steps. The beauty is that above the panel with numbers there is a small information panel where certain actions are prescribed; you just have to carry out the one next to which the indicator light will light up.

The first step is to come up with a password. Next, you need to confirm it, after which, using this password, you will be able to open access to this hard drive. Don't forget to go through the process of initializing, partitioning and formatting your HDD for normal use and recording through your operating system. You can find out how to do this process using the instruction manual; everything is described there in detail and clearly. In short, the following steps need to be taken:

• Connect Zalman ZM-SHE350 with an inserted HDD to your PC
• Next open "Control Panel/Administration/Computer Management/Disk Management
• In the window that opens, you will see that your PC cannot recognize the HDD, since it was initialized only through a software program.
• Next, you just need to right-click on this external drive and select “Initialize disk”, and then go through a short procedure.
• Once initialization is complete, you can begin the markup and formatting process

Let's look at the additional commands that are available on the Zalman ZM-SHE350. Apart from entering a password, the Zalman ZM-SHE350 has 3 additional options for working with the panel button device:

• If you press Lock - 0 - Enter in turn, you can change the current password to a new one.
• The key combination Lock - 9 - Enter starts the HDD initialization process
• If you press and hold the Lock button for more than 2 seconds, the HDD will be connected/disconnected, in other words, the device will be safely removed.

Transfer speed

I was pleased that the Zalman ZM-SHE350 uses a USB 3.0 connection, which allows for very fast data transfer speeds. During the writing of the review, the transfer and recording speed to the hard drive ranged from 40 to 100 Mbit/s.

Plus, we should add to all this that the Zalman ZM-SHE350 can be connected to any device that has a USB host and play your media files through it. What happens if your Zalman ZM-SHE350 with important information is somehow stolen? If the attacker does not know the password, then he will not be able to obtain your information. Yes, you can remove the hard drive and connect it to the computer directly, but there is a small nuance, this will not do anything, your PC simply will not see the hard drive, and accordingly will not be able to show the information that is inside. The PC will detect that a device is connected to it and install the necessary drivers on it, but will not allow you to use this disk. Agree, very convenient and practical.

Where does such security come from, you ask? The answer is simple, Zalman ZM-SHE350 uses AES 256 encryption, which allows you to completely secure your data on your hard drive. But there is another side to this trick: if for some unknown reason you forgot the password that was installed on the device, then you will not be able to recover the password without losing all the data on the hard drive. Yes, you can contact the company’s service center, but even if they help you there, the data you recorded on the HDD will still be erased.

Results

To summarize, it should be said that the Zalman ZM-SHE350 is not just a box through which you can connect your HDD to a PC or other devices and view your saved files, but a real, reliable protector of information stored on your hard drive. Without knowing the password, in the hands of attackers, the Zalman ZM-SHE350 will be an ordinary box for storing HDDs, since it will not be possible to obtain information from it in any other way. Of course, you can’t carry it in your pocket, but the Zalman ZM-SHE350 won’t take up much space in a backpack or bag. It all comes down to the fact that this solution cannot fail to attract the attention of buyers; of course, such security is not necessary for all users, so to some the Zalman ZM-SHE350 will seem like a meaningless “toy”. The choice is always yours, we can only show and tell.

October 12, 2015, Odnokrylov Vladimir 8

Our next review is dedicated to the Zalman ZM-VE350 external hard drive enclosure. The box is designed for 2.5-inch SATA drives and supports high-speed USB 3.0 interface. The device is equipped with a virtual optical drive function, allowing you to connect ISO images on the fly. The write protection feature helps prevent damage to important files.

Video review of Zalman ZM-VE350

Equipment and characteristics of Zalman ZM-VE350

An external hard drive box that arrived to us for testing Zalman ZM-VE350 comes in a black cardboard box.

Packaging Zalman ZM-VE350

Package Included:

• Boxing itself.
• Case.
• USB 3.0 cable.
• Set of screwdriver and four screws.
• Quick guide.

Equipment Zalman ZM-VE350

The complete cable is 50 cm long, including connectors.

USB 3.0 cable

The case is very thick and it is easy to remove the device from it. You can, of course, use the box directly in the case, but we do not recommend doing this, otherwise the inserted drive may overheat.

Zalman ZM-VE350 in case

We have compiled the technical characteristics of the device into a single table.

HDD interface	SATA, form factor 2.5"
Device interface	USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0)
Device interface baud rate	USB 2.0: up to 480 Mbps; USB 3.0: up to 5 Gbps
Working with ISO images	Virtual optical drive
Indicator	Lights up when power is turned on, flashes when data is being exchanged
Nutrition	Power via USB
Dimensions	131x79x13 mm (L x W x H)
Weight	96 g (without storage)

Design Zalman ZM-VE350

Frame Zalman ZM-VE350 mostly made of painted aluminum with soft polymer inserts on the sides. On the front side there is an LCD display and an LED activity indicator.

External hard drive box Zalman ZM-VE350

At the top end there is a Backup button and a USB 3.0 connector (Micro-B type, which also transmits power to the HDD) for connecting the supplied cable.

Upper end of Zalman ZM-VE350

Technical information about the model is pasted on the opposite end.

Bottom end on Zalman ZM-VE350

On the left side there is a push lever for navigating through the device menu, and the rest of the space is occupied by a soft insert.

Left side panel Zalman ZM-VE350

On the right side, except for the second such insert, there is nothing important.

Right side panel Zalman ZM-VE350

The build quality is decent - buttons and body elements do not loosen. In general, the design gives the impression of being monolithic.

Testing Zalman ZM-VE350

To install a drive into the box, you will first have to remove the module with the LCD screen, which essentially contains the entire contents of the device.

Base unit Zalman ZM-VE350

For testing, we took the SSD and connected it to the internal SATA port.

SSD connected to Zalman ZM-VE350 board

For reliability, it is worth clamping the module with the supplied screws - the holes for them are hidden under the folded edges of the soft inserts.

Screw holes for Zalman ZM-VE350

To do this, we used the included screwdriver - fortunately, little effort is required, so the miniature size of the screwdriver is not a hindrance. It is worth noting that the kit includes twice as many screws as needed - four versus the required two.

Zalman ZM-VE350 base unit secured with screws

After connecting to the PC, the display of our device turned blue and displayed a simple menu.

Display Zalman ZM-VE350

At the same time, the operating system recognized two devices at once: the USB drive itself and an additional optical drive - completely virtual, as indicated in its name.

Zalman ZM-VE350 in task manager

This is precisely the main feature of this case - you can mount any ISO images by placing them in a folder "_ISO" on the disk inserted into the case. For example, a Windows 7 image downloaded from MSDN was read without problems.

Windows 7 image in Zalman ZM-VE350 virtual drive

However, our copy was originally equipped with faulty firmware, and for the virtual drive function to work correctly, we had to update the device software to a more current version. We attach the archive with the firmware and update instructions below. REMEMBER: This operation is carried out at your own peril and risk, and if you are not exactly sure what you are doing, it is better to contact technical support or a service center.

• (122.7 KB).
• (579.78 KB).

However, the drive function can be completely disabled - to do this, you just need to select the appropriate mode, of which there are three:

• HDD Mode - drive mode without a drive.
• VCD Mode - “virtual drive only” mode.
• DUAL Mode - simultaneous operation.

Zalman ZM-VE350 modes

Another great feature Zalman ZM-VE350- ability to set write protection. This allows you to work even in a potentially or actually virus-infected system without the danger of contracting an infection. All you need to do is select “Enable WP” from the menu. The lock icon closes on the start screen - and that’s it, no problems.

Installing write protection in Zalman ZM-VE350

Additionally, in the “Information” section you can see the temperature of the storage medium (let’s just say that for SSDs it is determined incorrectly, don’t be alarmed), S.M.A.R.T. status, serial number and controller firmware version.

Information about the drive in Zalman ZM-VE350

Now let's check the performance when using the USB interface. 3.0. IN HD Tune 5 the speed graph has an average read speed of 161.9 MB/s with a random access time of 0.169 ms. The CPU load was 9.8%.

We will talk about the external pocket (box) of the Zalman-VE500 (Fig. 1), we will look at the unpacking, the main functions, characteristics, pros and cons, and also tell you how to solve problems that, unfortunately, it does. In the future we will often refer to this gadget,because this is some kind of colossal saving of time and nerves. Forward!

Fig.1 Box for HDD Zalman ZM-VE500

Declared parameters.

Model - Zalman ZM-VE500. The device is available in black and silver colors (Fig. 1). The back cover is made of metal, and the main part is made of plastic. Interfaces of connected HDDs - SATA-I/SATA-II, SATA III. PC connection interface USB 3.0/USB 2.0 Powered by USB. See Table 1 for other parameters.

Specification	ZM-VE500
Housing material	Aluminum alloy, acrylic, polycarbonates
Weight	91 grams (Without HDD)
Dimensions	146 x 80.8 x 14 mm
Maximum transfer speed	5Gbps
Nutrition	DC5V(USB Power)
OS support	Win XP/2000/VISTA/Win7/Win8/Win8.1/Win10/Linux/MAC

Table 1 Specification Zalman ZM-VE500

Equipment.

Fig.2 Equipment Zalman ZM-VE500

Contents (Fig. 2): Sh nur USB 3.0, guide, sidewith Zalman-VE500, a case for it (the material is not leather, but it’s good that it’s still there, it serves as good shockproof protection), a small screwdriver and two bolts to tighten the back cover after inserting the HDD into the box.

Everything is very simple here and instructions are not needed, although they are available at the place where you need to install the HDD.And so we insert the 2.5" HDD at an angle into the SATA connector and lower it into the box, close everything with the lid and screw in the small screws with a small screwdriver from the box (Fig. 3).

Fig.3 Installing the HDD into the box.

Preparation for use.

When you turn it on for the first time, at best you will be greeted with the phrase “NO ISO FILES” or a file system error. To avoid file system errors, let's immediately partition and format the disk. We will do this in the free program EaseUS Partition Master 12.5.

Step 1.

We find the Zalmana disk, in our case it is “Disk 2 (MBR)” at the bottom of the window there is a graphical display of the partitions, right-click on our disk. and select the item “Delete all partitions” (Fig. 4). EaseUS Partition Master 12.5 doesn't do anything right away, we first assign it a list of tasks and at the end we confirm their completion.

Fig.4 Disk partitioning in EaseUS Partition Master 12.5
Fig.5 Disk partitioning in EaseUS Partition Master 12.5

A window with formatting settings will open; it differs from the standard settings only in that you need to switch from “Logical” to “Primary”. Click "Ok" (Fig. 6).

Fig.6 Disk partitioning in EaseUS Partition Master 12.5

All tasks have been set, now we confirm their completion - click “Apply” in the upper left corner of the window (Fig. 7).

Fig.7 Disk partitioning in EaseUS Partition Master 12.5

We confirm our consent and wait until all operations are completed (Fig. 8).

Fig.8 Disk partitioning in EaseUS Partition Master 12.5

Step 2.

On the Zalmana disk, create a folder “_iso” (without quotes), and put your images there, this is the only way Zalman will see them. In addition, you can create more folders in the "_iso" folder, for order, so to speak. For example, we will create “BackUp” “Linux” and “Windows”, transfer our iso images to “_iso” and all folders (Fig. 9).

Fig.9 Copying iso images to Zalman ZM-VE500

Menu overview.

In the main menu we can see 5 items:

1. Mode Select
2. Encryption
3. Set W-protection
4. Information
5. Exit

We will look at each of them in detail.

1.Mode Select- Select the operating mode of the pocket.

• HDD MODE- Works only in external storage mode. (Appears as local drive)
• VCD MODE- Work in virtual drive mode. (Will appear as the CD-ROM where you mount your ISO image)
• DUAL MODE- Work in two modes simultaneously. (Will appear as local disk + virtual CD-ROM where you mount your ISO image)

2.Encription - AES 256 bit hardware encryption in real time. (Simply put, access to files is granted only after entering a password)

• Enable Encryption- Enable encryption.

Enabling and disabling encryption leads to the disappearance of all information from the HDD, make sure that you have a copy of the information stored on the HDD, because you will have to re-create the "_ISO" folder and copy the ISO images there.

When you press " Enable Encryption " there will be a warning "Data will be lost!" 1. Yes / 2. No confirm your agreement/disagreement to continue enabling encryption.

2. No- will bring you back to "Enable Encryption"

Click 1. Yes ->"Input Password"- enter a password from 4 to 8 characters. "Confirm Password"- Confirm the password. Next, the device will reboot itself and require you to enter a password.

Now on the menu Encripton three points:

• "Change Password"- Change password.
• "Hide Password"- Remove password when turned on. (The device will not require a password, but if you remove the disk and insert it into another pocket, the data will remain encrypted and will not be accessible to the user.) When the password is disabled, the option "Hide Password" replaces "Set Password" - Set password.
• "Disable Encription"- Disable encryption.

Personally, I am satisfied with passwordless access to the device, so I will disable encryption.

Click "Disable Encription" device uswarns "Data will be lost!"(Data will be lost), buttons 1. Yes / 2. No

2.No- will bring you back to "Disable Encription".

Clicking 1. Yes, we will be asked to confirm our consent again "Confirm Again", apparently for complete certainty. 1. Yes/2.No confirm your agreement/disagreement to continue disabling encryption.

2.No- will bring you back to "Disable Encription".

Click 1. Yes- and without entering a password, the device reboots, after which we can use Zalmana without a password. It’s interesting that we now have access to those images that remained before encryption was turned on. Why did this happen when wewarned about their loss, I don’t know.

Set W-protection

• Disable W-P - Disable Read-Only mode - Enable Write mode.
• Enable W-P - Enable Read-Only mode (Protect the device from changes).

Information

• HDD Temp: 26 - Hard drive temperature in degrees Celsius.
• HDD Health: Good/Bad - HDD status ( S.M.A.R.T.). If the condition Bad make a backup copy of the disk and check it for errors, Good- Everything is fine.
• 100505**** - Full HDD serial number.
• Firmware: v1.10 - Firmware version.
• Exit - Exit.

Interface and control.

At the top of the front side of the gadget there is an LCD display, below it there is a touch numeric keypad, and buttons Menu And Enter.

In addition to the numbers on the keyboard intended for entering a password, the buttons also have control functions. (Fig. 10)

Fig. 10 Front side of Zalman ZM-VE500

2 - Up,

4 - To the left,

6 - To the right,

8 - Down,

3 - Updating iso file (Update the list of iso images),

5 - Mount (Mount iso image).

Zalman sees only the "_ISO" folder, the folders in it and the iso images that are in them. Using the arrows you can easily navigate through the folders, select the desired image, and mount it by pressing the button 5 . Also, if you uploaded a new iso image, then in order for it to appear on your screen, you can reconnect the device or press the number 3 .

Above the display there is an LED HDD operation indicator. It glows in two colors depending on which interface it is connected to, USB3.0 glows blue, USB2.0 glows white. In the upper right corner of the display you can also see which interface the device is connected to (Fig. 11).

In the upper left corner there is a lock icon that tells us the status of the function Set W-protection.(Simply put, if the lock is open, then the disk is not write-protected; if it is closed, then only read information is available).

The second icon from the left is the disk icon; it appears only if an iso image is mounted on the CD-ROM.

The third icon from the left indicates the Zalmana operating mode.

• HDD MODE- letter "H",
• VCD MODE- letter "O" or drive symbol,
• DUAL MODE- letter "D".

Fig.11 Zalman ZM-VE500 interface

Firmware.

If you are a “fan of updates” or are suddenly dissatisfied with the current firmware version of your device and are sure that it will work better with another firmware, then we will consider the issue "How to flash Zalman ZM-VE500?"

First of all, let's see what version of the firmware is currently installed on the device, click Menu -> Information.

We see Firmware: v1.10.

Fortunately, there is support on the Zalman brand website, where we can download the firmware we need.

• Link:http://www.zalman.com/contents/support/downloads.html?find_object=all&find_text=ve500

They have a little confusion there with the version descriptions, so I will attach direct links to the files with the correct descriptions.

• Link: Firmware: v1.10.
• Link:Firmware: v1.11.
• Link:Firmware: v2.00.

Since I want to update the device, I download the archive for the firmware - Firmware: v2.00.

And then I ran into a problem when unpacking the archive I needed ZM-VE500 Firmware Ver_2.00.rar, a message pops up - "The archive is empty." I'll leave a link to this archive for now, maybe Zalmana technical support will fix the problem in the near future, but it looks like we'll have to update to the version v1.11.

To avoid the problems described in the "Problems" section, I disable encryption and make a backup copy of the disk, which I strongly recommend that you do too!!!

Unpack the downloaded archive ZALMAN_VE500_3637E_FWUpdater_V1.11.rar

Run the executable file ZALMAN_VE500_3637E_FWUpdater_V1.11.exe

Fig.12 Zalman-VE500 firmware

Click "Install".(Fig.12)

Fig.13 Zalman-VE500 firmware

Scan bus for "Initio External Storage Devices" - Scanning external storage devices (Fig. 13). Simply put, the computer searches for Zalman, we connect it, and then everything goes on without user intervention.

Fig.14 Zalman-VE500 firmware download progress

Progress of downloading firmware to the device (Fig. 14)

Fig.15 Update completed!

The update is complete!(Fig.15)

Let's go Menu -> Information and we see Firmware: v1.11. That's all, everything turned out to be very simple.

Problems.

Let's look at common problems that users of our gadget experience.

1 - The disk is not initializing. Personally, I encountered this problem, my Zalman ZM-VE500 did not want to see the disk, it turned out to be very simple, I inserted the disk that I used for the Windows OS, and did not notice that the first partition of the disk was a system partition, 100 Mb in size. The gadget sees the "_ISO" folder only in the first partition of the disk, so divide your HDD correctly, but how correctly? written in section "Preparation for use".

2 - Zalman ZM-VE500 password does not work after flashing. You need to flash the device to the firmware version for which encryption and password were enabled, disable these functions and reflash the device.

3 - Zalman ZM-VE500 does not see all iso images. Personally, I again encountered this and thought that this was normal, until I saw that all the images were displayed on exactly the same gadget. In short, the problem can be solved by regular Windows formatting, do not forget to uncheck "Quick (cleaning tables of contents)".(Fig.16)

Fig.16 Full disk formatting

Results. Advantages and disadvantages.

As a result, I will say as in my diploma - “We considered everything we wanted to consider.” :D, but overall the gadget turned out to be very good. Unfortunately, Zalmana has no competitors in this area on the market, so we can only compare with previous models Zalman ZM-VE200, 300, 350, 400. Of course, we won’t do this, because they are all +/- the same in their main functionality. The differences are minor, for example, up to the 400th model, the main control element is a joystick and they are sold a little cheaper, etc. I'd better give it to you pros And Minuses which I found in reviews on popular online stores.

pros

• Save time. If we compare it with a flash drive, which needs to be prepared to install something from it (format, download a program for burning images, burn an image, etc.), then with Zalman ZM-VE500 Most likely it will be 2-3 times faster.
• Data encryption. You can change up to 50 HDDs and they will remain encrypted.
• Temperature monitoring, and "S.M.A.R.T." HDD.

Minuses

• No native safe removal.
• Safely Removing in Windows identifies the device as Zalman ZM-VE350.
• When updating again, all information disappears. (This is taken from people’s reviews; personally, I did not lose any files as a result of the update)
• When formatting and creating a partition, the MBR may display messages that the disk is not initialized the next time the pocket is booted.
• Price. In stores it sells for 3500-4000 rubles. a lot of money, judging by the salaries of system administrators, and even without HDD, and this is at least another 500 rubles. if you buy used small capacity.

Nowadays, it is difficult to surprise anyone with both external hard drives and cases for them. But among its competitors, the Zalman ZM-VE300 external hard drive enclosure stands out. In addition to the traditional 2.5" box with a fast USB 3.0 interface, the Zalman ZM-VE300 has a unique function - it can mount images of disks and floppy disks recorded in it. That is, in addition to the regular external HDD mode, it can work as a DVD-ROM and floppy drive Similar devices appeared on the market many years ago, but I was able to truly appreciate their convenience only when I saw them in action with my own eyes.Now I am another happy owner of the Zalman ZM-VE300.

The kit includes an aluminum ZM-VE300 case, a thick carrying case, a USB 3.0 cable, an installation CD with programs, a quick user guide and a small screwdriver with bolts for fixing the hard drive.

Zalman ZM-VE300 has an impressive design: a lightweight aluminum case with plastic inserts on the sides, a small LCD screen that displays the status of the disk. On the top edge there is an activity indicator, a socket for connecting a USB cable and a “Backup” button. In addition, on the left side of the box there is a three-position joystick-wheel, with which almost all actions are performed. The activity indicator is two-color. White color is used to indicate operation in USB 2.0 mode, blue - in USB 3.0 mode.

In order to install a hard drive in the Zalman ZM-VE300, you need to remove the top board with the display and connect the drive itself to it. Then insert the resulting structure into the aluminum housing.

Of the three 2.5" drives we tried, the Zalman ZM-VE300 refused to work with one, but accepted the other two normally. I didn’t find any pattern in its preferences, and, as it became clear from reviews on various Internets, I wasn’t the only one who had this problem. So it's probably better to have a few different drives ready.

When the disk is installed and functionality has been verified, you need to secure it. Bend the seal from the sides of the case; holes for the bolts are hidden under them. As I already said, bolts and a small screwdriver are included in the kit, so there shouldn’t be any problems with fastening. But the seal doesn’t want to go back up, since it is made of hard plastic and after bending it starts to hang out. A trifle, of course, but it spoils the impression. A regular rubber seal would look more harmonious here.

In the first Zalman ZM-VE300 models, the firmware only allowed working with disks formatted in FAT32; to support the NTFS file system, it was necessary to install alternative firmware from a similar device - iODD-2531. In new batches, the firmware is more recent, with it NTFS drives are perfectly supported without additional steps. You can download the latest firmware version and the programs necessary for updating on the website.

ZM.VE300.Firmware.Upgrade.R1288N.zip (343,728 bytes)

In order to install firmware from iODD-2531 on Zalman-VE300, you will need to slightly modify the firmware program. I corrected the latest firmware version. After installing it, the device is identified in the system as iODD, but this will not work any worse. On the contrary, all new features from the iODD-2531 will be added to the functionality, which are not and are not expected to be included in the official Zalman-VE300 firmware.

iODD.2531.to.ZM.VE300.Firmware.Upgrade.R1600N.zip (345,755 bytes)

Entering and exiting the Menu occurs by pressing the side switch for more than 3 seconds. Navigating through the menu and selecting items is done using the joystick; returning to the previous level is done using the "Backup" button.

• Main menu:
  • Mode Select- setting the device operating mode
  • Setting- adjust the brightness of the LCD display and Sleep mode
  • Information- view information about the HDD and firmware version
  • USB Connect- USB connection setup
  • Advanced- setting up a virtual HDD connection
• Mode Select menu:
  • Dual Mode- work in combined mode, external HDD and virtual DVD-ROM/Blu-Ray drive
  • ODD Mode or CD Mode(for iODD firmware) - works only in DVD-ROM/Blu-Ray mode (this mode is usually used when installing the OS)
  • HDD Mode- the device is detected only as an external HDD (this mode is used when connecting to devices other than a PC)
• Settings menu:
  • LCD Bright- adjust the brightness of the LCD screen backlight
  • Idle Bright- adjustable LCD backlight in sleep mode
  • Standby time- setting the time to go into sleep mode
  • Load Default- return to default values
• Menu "Information":
  • S.M.A.R.T- S.M.A.R.T information
  • HDD Model- display the name of the hard drive model
  • HDD Serial- display the serial number of the hard drive
  • Firmware Ver.- display firmware version
  • USB Speed- display the type of current connection (USB2.0: Hi-Speed, USB3.0: Super-Speed)
  • USB Input Volt- display the lowest input voltage via the USB port after connecting to a PC and the current input voltage
• Menu "S.M.A.R.T":
  • HDD Temp.- display HDD temperature
  • HDD Health- display the HDD status (Good, Warning, Bad). If a Warning or Bad appears, immediately backup all data and check the HDD
• "USB Connect" menu:
  • Refresh- reconnect the device to the PC
  • Safe Removal- safe removal of the device
• Advanced menu:
  • Umount VHDD- unmount all disk and floppy images
  • Write Protect- enable or disable write protection
  • Instant Save- remember the image immediately after selecting it (only in iODD firmware)
  • Force USB 3.0- USB 3.0 priority mode (only in iODD firmware)

To use virtual ODD, the image file must be located in the "_ISO" folder, which, in turn, must be located in the root of the hard drive. After this, you need to switch the Zalman ZM-VE300 to “ODD Mode” or “Dual Mode” and use the three-position joystick to select the desired image file. Depending on the type of image, it will immediately be mounted on the computer as a virtual DVD-ROM/Blu-Ray drive or as a virtual floppy drive.

It is not indicated anywhere in the documentation, but it has been experimentally established that there should be no more than 32 images in the “_ISO” folder at the same time, otherwise the Zalman ZM-VE300 will display the message “Too Many Files”. This can be easily circumvented by creating subfolders, although this still leaves a limit of 32 files per folder. There are alternative firmwares that do not have such a limitation, but personally, I have the entire necessary set of distributions in a dozen files. By the way, as a cheaper alternative to the Zalman ZM-VE300, unscrupulous sellers may offer you enclosures for hard drives of the brand Konoos. Such a replacement is far from equivalent, since low-end models of Konoos cases support only one image, while more sophisticated ones support only three. Naturally, online shopping sites are modestly silent about this.

The Zalman ZM-VE300 comes with a backup utility called Backup Utility. It is recorded on a CD, but the latest version is always available on the website. As you might guess, it is used to make backup copies of selected files and folders from your computer to an external hard drive in the Zalman ZM-VE300. In the program, configure the required paths, then click the “Backup” button on the box and the utility copies the information.

But that's not all she can do. Using Backup Utility, you can create virtual disks and then save them to the "_ISO" folder on an external hard drive. It's worth understanding virtual disks better. "Virtual HDD" are empty files of a given size with the ability to connect them as external drives. Naturally, the Zalman ZM-VE300 is responsible for the connection and emulation functions.

Everything should also be clear with the “Safe Removal” function. You can safely turn off the Zalman ZM-VE300 by pressing the wheel or the "Backup" button on the device itself, or you can do this at the initiative of the computer through this Backup Utility function.

And this is how the system displays physical hard drives and virtual drives connected or created using the Zalman ZM-VE300.

Returning to the topic about installing Windows XP on the HP Mini 210-1130ER netbook. The inconvenience of installing the system from a flash drive was the last argument for me to buy the Zalman ZM-VE300. After purchasing it, I conducted an experiment: I recorded the prepared image on an external hard drive, installed a blank hard drive in the netbook, then mounted the image onto a virtual CD and tried to install the system. As I expected, everything went well.

The instructions that come with the kit are very sparse. All you can learn from it is where to attach the bolts and how to install backup software. On the Internet there are instructions in electronic form, even translated into Russian, but in essence they are no different from the paper version. According to rumors, complete documentation is available in Korean, but this is unlikely to be of any help. So you'll have to be content with what you have.

Zalman.ZM.VE300.Manual.RUS.zip (546,663 bytes)

Zalman.ZM.VE300.Manual.ENG.zip (492,463 bytes)

Because the instructions are quite brief, and they do not describe all the capabilities of the Zalman ZM-VE300. In preparing this review, I collected from various sources and organized useful tips and undocumented functions. All other possible problems were discussed in detail at the IXBT conference.

• If you hold down the "Backup" button while connecting the device, write protection will turn on.
• If you hold down the joystick wheel while connecting, the write protection is removed and the device goes into “Dual Mode”.
• If you hold the joystick wheel up while connecting, the “ODD Mode” is set.
• If you hold the joystick wheel down while connecting, the “HDD Mode” mode is set.
• If you turn down and hold the joystick wheel during operation, the device will be safely turned off. The same thing happens if you press and hold the "Backup" button.
• If you turn up and hold the joystick wheel while working, the “_ISO” folder will be rescanned and the list of images contained in it will be updated. This is very convenient if new images were recorded on the device in “Dual Mode” or “HDD Mode”.
• In order for Zalman VE-300 to remember the last mounted image, it must be safely disabled. Install the desired image, press and hold the "Backup" button or scroll down, wait for the "Data Saving..." message and disconnect the disk from the computer. After this, Zalman VE-300 will start with the selected image.
• To unmount a floppy disk image or drive from a "Virtual HDD", you need to go to the "End Of List" item and hold down the wheel for 3 seconds.
• When connecting to a desktop computer, it is better to use USB ports that are located on the back of the system unit rather than on the front panel.
• If the hard drive installed in the case is divided into several partitions, then the partition with the "_ISO" folder should be Primary.
• It is not recommended to install SSD drives in the Zalman ZM-VE300, as they are more sensitive to insufficient power supplied via USB and may fail.

In some cases, when trying to mount an image, the Zalman ZM-VE300 displays the message "DEFRAG" and refuses to mount the file. This message means that the image file is highly fragmented.

To defragment files and directories, it is most convenient to use the free program WinContig. Its main feature is the fast defragmentation of individual files without the need to defragment the entire disk. Just launch WinContig, select one or more image files and defragment, after which the Zalman ZM-VE300 quietly mounts everything.

What can I say to sum it up? Zalman ZM-VE300 is a very cool thing that justifies its cost to the penny. Now the problem with preparing installation flash drives and a stack of CD/DVD disks with different distributions has been solved once and for all; all this remains a thing of the past. The Zalman ZM-VE300 will be an excellent assistant for system administrators and advanced users who often have to rearrange the system or use different boot disks.

Despite all the advantages, there are some disadvantages. Neither the instructions nor the website contains a list of recommended hard drive models that work with the Zalman ZM-VE300. As a last resort, it would be possible to indicate the recommended characteristics, type of amperage and rotation speed, so that you can independently select the right model, but this information is not available anywhere. The USB cable included in the kit is short and VERY stiff, which is why there is a risk of damaging the housing connector with frequent use. It would not hurt to provide additional power so that the Zalman ZM-VE300 can be connected to older computers. Of course, no one bothers you to find and purchase the right cable yourself, but it’s strange that the manufacturer made such a wonderful device and saved on a cheap cable. Judging by the reviews, for some hard drives you have to add an additional seal to the case so that the drive does not hang around inside. In my case this was not necessary, but in general I agree that the fastening system could have been thought out better. Otherwise, I am very pleased with the purchase.

UPD. After the untimely death of the Zalman ZM-VE300 (connected it to a problematic system unit, and there was a breakdown of electricity on the USB port), I purchased the original iODD-2531. So, there are no problems with seals described there. They are of sufficient length and have “horns” at the end, which are tucked under the side plugs and hold perfectly. Zalman also has these “horns”, but the seal itself is shorter, as a result they are useless. The cable is also long and flexible. The only thing is that the iODD case is uncomfortable - soft. I replaced it with a vacant case from Zalman. So it makes sense to purchase original iODD devices, rather than crookedly copied replicas.

External box for 2.5-inch drives with USB 3.0 interface and with virtual optical drive function. An interesting and no less useful gadget from Zalman. An excellent alternative to Chinese “boxes” for 2.5 inch HDDs.

Specifications

Interface: USB 3.0 (compatible with USB 2.0/1.11)

Form factor/drive interface: 2.5″/SATA 1.2

Supported OS: Windows 98.ME, 2000, XP, Vista. 7/Mac OS/Linux

Additionally: text display, Backup button, virtual optical drive function

Dimensions: 135.3×78.6×13.1 mm

Weight: 96g

Advantages and disadvantages of Zalman ZM-VE300 V

Advantages

• Aluminum alloy body
• Compact dimensions
• Hi-Speed ​​USB 3.0 Interface
• Virtual optical drive feature
• Rich equipment

Flaws

• High price

Design and ergonomics

As you have noticed, the device looks very impressive. Its body is made of durable and lightweight aluminum alloy, making the gadget thin (slightly thicker than 1 cm) and ensuring effective heat removal from the drive. At the top is a small text-based LCD display that shows the device's status and settings menu, which is navigated using the three-way joystick on the left side of the device. On top there is a Backup button and a micro-USB 3.0 connector for connecting to a computer.

Gadget functionality

Zalman ZM-VE300 V It is distinguished by extremely high functionality for devices of this kind. The most interesting thing is that to use its capabilities in practice, you do not need to install special drivers or utilities on your computer (besides the proprietary backup utility). You can control the device using your own menu: change the brightness of the screen and the idle time of the drive to go into sleep mode, analyze the current parameters (temperature, disk condition - S.M.A.R.T., supply voltage, etc.), as well as perform reconnection and safe shutdown, and even activate write protection.

Virtual optical drive emulation

The “chip” of the device is virtual optical drive emulation. By activating this “ODD Mode” in the corresponding section of the “Mode Select” menu, the device is detected by the computer not as an external hard drive (HDD Mode), but as an optical drive. The usual ISO files (images) are used as optical discs, which must be placed in a folder called “iso”. If you place several files with images in it, you can quickly switch between them using the screen and joystick without disconnecting the external box from the PC. And of course, it is possible to boot your computer from a virtual optical disk by selecting its image. The main thing is that the BIOS supports booting from a USB optical drive. Besides everything else, boxing from Zalman can simultaneously work both as an external HDD and as an optical drive - Dual Mode. Accordingly, the computer sees it as two separate devices.

Those wishing to use this external box for an SSD drive with SATA 3 will be disappointed with the performance and the unjustified purchase of this type of hard drive. SATA 2 media works great.

Equipment

Fans of the included accessories will also like the device. They will find there a USB 3.0 cable, a high-quality case to protect against scratches, screws for securing the drive inside the box and a small screwdriver. There is also a disk with a proprietary backup utility and a user manual in English.