[tramahound]

ok, i just received my new firewire enclosure ( <a href="http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_Item.cfm?ID=1445&Item=OWCMFW5" target="_blank">ta-da</a> )and i had a few questions:
- i popped in a new hdd (also just arrived WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE MODEL # WD800JB), connected it to my tibook400 and it popped up a message saying something to the effect of the drive is not formatted would you like to initialize it? well i plan on using the drive almost exclusively for final cut pro 3 video use. is there any special way of formatting the drive that i should be aware of?
- also, what special rules should i follow in using this drive? do i have to power down the tibook prior to unplugging anything? does that even matter? if i yank out the 6-pin cable while the tibook is still running, will it corrupt the drive in any way?
- and, finally, where do i get rails to mount this hdd inside the firewire enclosure? as it is i have it just laying down in the enclosure. that can't be good for it. the bottom of the enclosure has two rails, but it didn't come with anything to mount onto the hdd that i can slide it onto them.
thanks for any info you can send my way <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[Paul S]

I use FireWire drives for video as well just formatted to HFS+. No problems.

You need to unmount the drive before unplugging it. Just drag it to the trash first. You can reconnect anytime and it will remount.

[tramahound]

cool, thanks for the info. so HFS+ is the standard mac hdd format i guess? just stick with that?
so, anybody know about the enclosure rails then? i'll be set if i can get this thing mounted in there. after all i have to bring it from NJ to NYC for a MWNY hands-on maclab and i'd like for it to not get all knocked around and damaged...
thanks again Paul S

[TheMosco]

Usually the hard drive will come with screws. If it doesn't, mayeb you could go to a computer store or even a hardware store and find some small screws that you could use. It doesn't sound like a good idea having that thing rattle around like that.

HFS Plus (also known as Mac OS Extended) is the way to go.

[tramahound]

oh no, the firewire enclosure and the hdd both came with screws, that isn't the problem. the problem is that the enclosure has two rails on its inside base which appear to accept some sort of chasis that can be mounted to the hdd. i just don't know where i would be able to find something like that. is that a common thing that can be found at compUSA even? thanks for the input though