Please note the following requirement for USB enclosures, eSATA enclosures and Docks. 

For Enclosures:

It can vary depending on the age and type of the Enclosures.

2.5" SATA drive using USB enclosures:
The maximum capacity is 4TB or more for the current shipping model. It is maybe 2TB or less for an older enclosure if you purchased before 2015. You can also write to us for help concerning an older enclosure(s) capacity. Please write to support@vantecusa.com for further help or questions.

2.5" SATA drive using eSATA enclosures:
Please check with your system manufacturer on the eSATA port, some system eSATA port may only support 2TB drive. Our eSATA enclosure maximum capacity is 4TB or more for the current shipping model.

Please READ these Limitation: 

1)  For 2.5" SATA drive, Maximum Capacity alone is not the only thing you have to check, the other important criteria are the thickness of the drive. If your 2.5" enclosure will only fit a drive with the thickness (or height) of 7mm drive, trying to put a 9.5mm thickness drive into the enclosure will not fit.

2)  The power requirement of the drive is also very important. Most drives are designed for installing into the systems with unlimited power. If you purchase a big capacity drive with power requirements that exceed the power your USB port can provide, it will not function. This is the fault of your USB port lack of power and your power hungry drive, not the enclosure issue. The enclosure uses minimum power. Your Drive plus the enclosure MUST not exceed the power capability of your USB port.

3) Support AF or 512e drives only, do not support 4Kn drives.

 

3.5" SATA drive, USB enclosures:
The maximum capacity is 16TB or more for the current shipping model.
It is maybe 2TB or less for an older enclosure if you purchased before 2015. You can also write to us for help concerning an older enclosure(s) capacity. Please write to support@vantecusa.com for further help or questions.

3.5" SATA drive, eSATA enclosures:
Please check with your system manufacturer on the eSATA port, some system eSATA port may only support 2TB drive. Our eSATA enclosure maximum capacity is 12TB for the current shipping model.

Please READ these Limitation: 

1) The power requirement of the drive is also very important. Most drives are designed to draw less than 13 watts per drive. The enclosure uses minimum power and the ac adapter that comes with the enclosure are designed for most standard power requirement of the drives. If you purchase drives that draw too much power (greater than 13 watts) and exceed the specifications of the enclosure ac adapter, it will not function correctly. Please check the label on the drive for the power specifications. If your drives exceeded the limitation, you may have to purchase a bigger ac adapter for your needs, please contact Vantec Support for sizing the ac adapter for your needs and to purchase optional bigger ac adapter. 

2) Support AF or 512e drives only, do not support 4Kn drives.

 

Older 2.5" or 3.5" IDE drive, USB enclosures:
If you are using an older USB enclosure for IDE drive, generally for 2.5" IDE, USB enclosure it is 320GB and for 3.5" USB enclosure is 750GB. 

 

For Docks:

It can vary depending on the age and type of interface of the Dock.

Docks are designed for 2.5" or 3.5" SATA drives, for current shipping docks, 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD, the capacity ranges from 100GB to 4TB, and for 3.5" SATA drive, it is 500GB to 16TB. For older Docks purchased before 2015, it may only support 2TB or less. Please write to support@vantecusa.com for further help or questions. 

Please READ these Limitation: 

1) The power requirement of the drive is also very important. Most drives are designed to draw less than 13 watts per drive. The dock uses minimum power and the ac adapter that comes with the dock are designed for most standard power requirement of the drives. If you purchase drives that draw too much power (greater than 13 watts) and exceed the specifications of the dock ac adapter, it will not function correctly. Please check the label on the drive for the power specifications. If your drives exceeded the limitation, you may have to purchase a bigger ac adapter for your needs, please contact Vantec Support for sizing the ac adapter for your needs and to purchase optional bigger ac adapter. 

2) Support AF or 512e drives only, do not support 4Kn drives.

For ALL DISCONTINUED products, please check the specifications on the product page. If the product is not listed on the website (meaning it is very old), please write to support@vantecusa.com for further help.  

ALL Vantec's enclosures are Green Enclosures, it is designed to save power when not in use.
If it is not connected to a working system, it will not power ON.

Please connect to a system that is working with OS loaded and running. Once it is connected to your working system and powered ON, it will spin up the drive and your system will acknowledge a USB storage connected.

Note: if you install a NEW hard drive for the first time, please use the OS tool to prep (initialize, partition and format) your new drive, you just need to do this once.

The Power Saving function of our enclosures assists in saving energy and at the same time helps extend the life of your drive.

 

1) Our enclosures when it is not connected to a working system, will not power ON.

If the storage enclosure is not connected to a computer, what is the point of wasting energy by spinning up the Hard Drive.

NOTE: If a user after installing their hard drive into the enclosure and without connecting to any working system, the enclosure will NOT TURN ON, this is normal by design.

You MUST have the enclosure connected to a WORKING SYSTEM (Powered ON) before turning ON the enclosure to see the drive spin up.

 

2) The enclosure is designed to follow the Power Saving function of the Operating System.

When it is connected and in usage, the enclosure will follow the Power Saving Setting of the OS to maximize usage and Power Saving.

Meaning when the system sleep, the enclosure will spin down the drive to sleep too. When the system wakes, the enclosure will wake and spin up the drive too.

 

3) Why is my enclosure NOT following the Power Saving function noted above?

For the enclosure to detect and follow the Power Saving Function listed above, the USB port on your system MUST be configured to do the same. If the USB port (either on the motherboard or an addon card is not configured correctly or do not support these function, it may prevent our enclosure from performing the Power Saving Function correctly.

   

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to write to us at support@vantecusa.com , we will do our best to answer them.
 

Download, unzip to a folder first (do not run from within the zip), right-click on the ASMTxHCI_MPTool.exe, and select run as administrator mode.

Make sure the card is in the system.

Click here to download firmware tool

 

If you are using two external monitors to connect to the CB-CU305MDSH or the CB-CU302MDSH, please check what type of connection you are using.

There are multiple ways to connect 2 monitors to this adapter.

Using HDMI#1 + VGA OR HDMI#2 + VGA OR HDMI#1 + HDMI#2

There is a difference in how it is connected per our specifications:

 

A) HDMI①+VGA          >> HDMI①+VGA: 1920x1080p@60Hz; MST-No; SST-Yes

B) HDMI②+VGA          >> HDMI②+VGA: 1920x1080p@60Hz; MST-Yes

C) HDMI①+HDMI②     >> HDMI①+HDMI②: 1920x1080p@60Hz; MST-Yes

 

As you can see above, if you are using (A) configuration, the “MST-No”, this will result in your two connected monitors showing in mirror mode ONLY.

If you are using (B) configuration, the “MST-Yes”, this will result in your two connected monitors being capable of showing in either extended or mirror mode.

If you are using (C) configuration, the “MST-Yes”, this will result in your two connected monitors being capable of showing in either extended or mirror mode.

 

If you are experiencing this issue, please unplug the HDMI cable from HDMI#1 from the CB-CU305MDSH or CB-CU302MDSH and plug it into the HDMI#2 port and you should be able to change between extended or mirror mode.

 

Please note the following requirement for USB enclosures, eSATA enclosures and Docks. 

For Enclosures:

It can vary depending on the age and type of the Enclosures.

2.5" SATA drive using USB enclosures:
The maximum capacity is 4TB or more for the current shipping model. It is maybe 2TB or less for an older enclosure if you purchased before 2015. You can also write to us for help concerning an older enclosure(s) capacity. Please write to support@vantecusa.com for further help or questions.

2.5" SATA drive using eSATA enclosures:
Please check with your system manufacturer on the eSATA port, some system eSATA port may only support 2TB drive. Our eSATA enclosure maximum capacity is 4TB or more for the current shipping model.

Please READ these Limitation: 

1)  For 2.5" SATA drive, Maximum Capacity alone is not the only thing you have to check, the other important criteria are the thickness of the drive. If your 2.5" enclosure will only fit a drive with the thickness (or height) of 7mm drive, trying to put a 9.5mm thickness drive into the enclosure will not fit.

2)  The power requirement of the drive is also very important. Most drives are designed for installing into the systems with unlimited power. If you purchase a big capacity drive with power requirements that exceed the power your USB port can provide, it will not function. This is the fault of your USB port lack of power and your power hungry drive, not the enclosure issue. The enclosure uses minimum power. Your Drive plus the enclosure MUST not exceed the power capability of your USB port.

3) Support AF or 512e drives only, do not support 4Kn drives.

 

3.5" SATA drive, USB enclosures:
The maximum capacity is 16TB or more for the current shipping model.
It is maybe 2TB or less for an older enclosure if you purchased before 2015. You can also write to us for help concerning an older enclosure(s) capacity. Please write to support@vantecusa.com for further help or questions.

3.5" SATA drive, eSATA enclosures:
Please check with your system manufacturer on the eSATA port, some system eSATA port may only support 2TB drive. Our eSATA enclosure maximum capacity is 12TB for the current shipping model.

Please READ these Limitation: 

1) The power requirement of the drive is also very important. Most drives are designed to draw less than 13 watts per drive. The enclosure uses minimum power and the ac adapter that comes with the enclosure are designed for most standard power requirement of the drives. If you purchase drives that draw too much power (greater than 13 watts) and exceed the specifications of the enclosure ac adapter, it will not function correctly. Please check the label on the drive for the power specifications. If your drives exceeded the limitation, you may have to purchase a bigger ac adapter for your needs, please contact Vantec Support for sizing the ac adapter for your needs and to purchase optional bigger ac adapter. 

2) Support AF or 512e drives only, do not support 4Kn drives.

 

Older 2.5" or 3.5" IDE drive, USB enclosures:
If you are using an older USB enclosure for IDE drive, generally for 2.5" IDE, USB enclosure it is 320GB and for 3.5" USB enclosure is 750GB. 

 

For Docks:

It can vary depending on the age and type of interface of the Dock.

Docks are designed for 2.5" or 3.5" SATA drives, for current shipping docks, 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD, the capacity ranges from 100GB to 4TB, and for 3.5" SATA drive, it is 500GB to 16TB. For older Docks purchased before 2015, it may only support 2TB or less. Please write to support@vantecusa.com for further help or questions. 

Please READ these Limitation: 

1) The power requirement of the drive is also very important. Most drives are designed to draw less than 13 watts per drive. The dock uses minimum power and the ac adapter that comes with the dock are designed for most standard power requirement of the drives. If you purchase drives that draw too much power (greater than 13 watts) and exceed the specifications of the dock ac adapter, it will not function correctly. Please check the label on the drive for the power specifications. If your drives exceeded the limitation, you may have to purchase a bigger ac adapter for your needs, please contact Vantec Support for sizing the ac adapter for your needs and to purchase optional bigger ac adapter. 

2) Support AF or 512e drives only, do not support 4Kn drives.

For ALL DISCONTINUED products, please check the specifications on the product page. If the product is not listed on the website (meaning it is very old), please write to support@vantecusa.com for further help.  

FAQ:

IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL references to the 3.5” SATA Drive in this product imply the use of an Optional AC adapter.

1. TO USE a 3.5” Hard Drive, you MUST use the Optional AC adapter because a 3.5” SATA drive requires more power than a USB Port can provide. USB port only provides 5VDC, and a 3.5” SATA HDD requires 12VDC.
2. Your M.2 NVMe or M.2 SATA or 2.5” Standard SATA drive power requirement MUST be less than what your USB port can put out, else it will not work. Please check before you connect and use.

 

1) Since there are three interfaces, can I connect two storage at the same time and use them?

No, the design of this adapter allows you to use ONLY one interface at a time, meaning you can only connect one storage to use at a time.

After using one storage, perform a proper eject of the USB device, power off and connect the second device, and power back on to use another storage

 

2) Do I need to prep (initialize, partition, and format) a new drive before using the drive for Storage?

If you are using this adapter for storage, AND if the drives are NEW (no existing data on it), you will need to prep the new drive before use for the first time. Please follow the FAQ on our website for help preparing (initialize, partition, and formatted) the drives. For Windows OS, use Disk Management, for Mac OS X, use Disk Utility.

 

3) There are three interfaces, why can’t I mount 3 drives?

The design of this adapter is for mounting only 1 drive. The M.2 NVMe, M.2 SATA, and the Standard SATA interface share the same channel, as a result, ONLY 1 drive is allowed to be mounted at one time.

 

4) Can I use this adapter as simple storage?

Yes, you can mount and it will see it as an individual drive letter or individual storage device.

 

5) Can I RAID them together with other storage?

Yes, you can, but it also depends on the RAIDED configuration, you can test to make sure all the storage will work together. It is not advisable to RAID storage of different speed, it will slow down the faster storage in your RAID group.

 

6) What capacity drive can I mount on this adapter?

It is (1/2/4/8TB) for M.2 NVMe or M.2 SATA, and (1TB or more) for a standard 2.5” or 3.5” SATA drive. We are constantly testing new and bigger capacity drives and will update the storage capacity as soon as it is tested. As of this writing 5/20/2024, we have tested 20TB drive.

 

7) What is the LED on this adapter?

There is only one LED for the power. It will be RED for Power OFF and White for Power ON, there are no LED for Read/Write Activity.

When the LED is RED (Powered OFF), you can swap the storage.

 

8) Can I use this adapter to do Cloning?

YES, you can Clone the following ways using a Laptop or Desktop installed with Cloning software:

 

Laptop or Desktop OS drive (SOURCE) è CB-NSC300 mounted storage (TARGET)

Other Storage (SOURCE) è CB-NSC300 mounted storage (TARGET)

CB-NSC300 mounted storage (SOURCE) è Other Storage (TARGET)

 

NOTE: the CB-NSC300 mounted storage can be M.2 NVMe, M.2 SATA, or 2.5”/3.5” Standard SATA.

Other Storage can be another enclosure Storage or Secondary Storage in a Laptop or Desktop.

We do not provide cloning software, most drive manufacturers provide free cloning software.

 

9) Can I use this adapter to perform a backup?

Yes, this adapter is very good for performing a backup of data from any source. You can perform a backup from or to this mounted storage device.

 

10) Do I need to add a heatsink for my M.2 SATA or M.2 NVMe?

It is good to mount a heatsink on your M.2, they generally run hotter due to the high speed of M.2. We designed the space around the M.2 with more space to accommodate a heatsink. There is ample space to mount M.2 NVMe with a mounted heatsink like Samsung 980 Pro with a heatsink or PNY CS3140 with a huge heatsink.

Here is the space measurement if you are using an M.2 mounted heatsink: (W) <=30mm x (L) 80mm x (BackDepth) 2.5mm (FrontDepth) >8.5mm

 

11) You mention this adapter requires an AC adapter if you are using a 3.5” SATA drive, what is the power requirement?

All 3.5” SATA III/II/I drives use 12VDC AND 5VDC, the total wattage may be more than 20watts, this amount of power is not available on USB. An AC adapter is required. This AC adapter must be able to provide at least 20 watts of power to the drive. This adapter comes with a power plug for 12VDC, 2A or better. Below is a recommended Optional AC adapter.

 

OPTIONAL AC ADAPTER requirement: Universal Auto-Switching 100-240 AC, Output, 12VDC, 2A-3A, Center Pin Positive, Outer Dia: 5.5mm, Inner Dia: 2mm, Barrel Length: 10mm.

If you are sourcing your own AC adapter, make sure it meets the specs mentioned above and has all the safety features marked (like UL, FCC, CE, and Energy efficiency) on the AC adapter.

 

12) What is the speed of the adapter?

This adapter is capable of USB 3.2 Gen2x1 (10Gbps), speed may vary due to different systems, USB Host, and devices.

 

13) How to prepare new storage for use (initialize, partition and format)?

Use this link below to help you walk thru the process.

https://www.vantecusa.com/search.php?sort=faq&keyword=33406

 

 

 

FAQ:

Q: Hold the Clone button to wait for the Four flashing LEDs, but the Four LEDs (25%, 25%, 75%, 100%) will not flash, why?

A: The Cloning will not start because the TARGET is smaller in sectors compared to SOURCE. It is not possible to clone from a Big to a small drive.
This STANDALONE CLONING function can only clone a drive with less number of sectors to one that has more sectors.

If you need to clone from a Big SOURCE to a small TARGET, you must use the software cloning method.

Steps:
1) Connect via USB cable to your system
2) Install cloning software from the drive manufacturer
3) start the cloning software to clone from the selected SOURCE to the TARGET drive.

 

Q: Cloning stayed at 25%, 50%, or 75% and did not finish for many hours, why?

A: if it is stuck at 25% or 50% or 75% and does not finish, it is saying the dock encounters bad sectors on the SOURCE or TARGET drive and cannot continue.
Please check your SOURCE and TARGET drive for bad sectors. Use other drive tools to check and resolve the errors before continuing.

If it is still not possible to use STANDALONE Clone, please use the software cloning method.

Steps:
1) Connect via USB cable to your system
2) Install cloning software from the drive manufacturer
3) start the cloning software to clone from the selected SOURCE to the TARGET drive.

 

Here is the link to firmware files.

Download, unzip to a folder and follow the steps in the provided instruction.

https://www.vantecusa.com/CKEdit/files/NST-211C3-RGB_FirmwareUpdate12912011122_RTL9210Bx.zip

Dear User,

Thank you for purchasing this USB Host controller PCIe Addon card.

These products DO NOT require any drivers if you are installing them into a system using Windows 8.1/10/11 or newer.

Microsoft Windows 8.1/10/11 or newer Operating Systems has included the necessary drivers (built-in, native drivers) in the OS.

 

Do not use the provided CD drivers, it is ONLY needed if you are using Windows 7 or older OS.

If you are using Windows 7 or older Operating Systems AND this card support the older OS, you may use the provided CD drivers or access the product page for your card to download the older drivers.

If you are not sure and run into a problem, please write to support@vantecusa.com for further assistance.

 

About Windows 7 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Some Firewire device may have a problem talking to the Firewire Host card due to the Microsoft Firewire drivers issue.

A simple correction is to use the Legacy drivers. See below for help.

 

Below is the step by step instructions on how to install the Legacy driver so you won‘t have any problems either: 

Click Start
Then click on Control Panel
Click on Device Manager
Note: If you don’t see Device Manager listed, click on View By Category on the top right side of the
Control Panel Window.
Then Click on Large Icons
You should now have a list of items in the Control Panel and click on Device Manager.
Under the Device Manager, look down the list for IEEE 1394 Bus Host Controllers and Double Click on it.
It should display something like - 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller
Note: If it has the word (Legacy) behind it, you are already setup and you can just exit out.
Next, double-click on the 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller
A window will popup saying 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller Properties
Click on the Driver Tab
Then look down in the window and click on Update Driver
Then select - Browse my computer for driver software
Next select - Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
It will bring up a list of drivers.
Click on 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy)

NOTE: It is important that you select the one with (Legacy) after it, just like shown above.
Then click next
once it installs the 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy),
it will say Windows has successfully updated your driver software.
Click on the Close button and exit out of all of the other windows.
Then Reboot your computer.
You will now be able to import video via the Firewire port on your computer.

NOTE:  We have noticed that when Microsoft has issued certain updates, it can cause Windows 7 to switch back to use the original 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller driver.  If you notice the Firewire device is not working again just repeat the above steps and reinstall the Legacy driver.

 

Click on this link below to get the latest firmware.

Click Here

Download and unzip to a folder and follow the install guide to step thru the firmware update. After it is updated, restart your system for the new firmware to take effect to see if it runs any better.

 

Here are some common questions about this Optical Drive Enclosure (NST-540S3-BK)

1) After installing my optical drive into the enclosure AND I DID NOT connect to a computer, can I test to see if the unit is working?

You can see your optical drive LED will briefly come ON and then OFF. You can eject the tray to open and close.

2) Once it is connected to my WORKING computer via USB, connect the power and turn ON the enclosure what will happen?

If you are using Windows 10, your system will see your optical drive as a USB storage device. See attached picture.

• On the TaskBar (bottom right) it will list as USB to ATA/ATAPI Bridge (gray out) if there are no media in the CD tray.
• It will list in Windows Explorer as an Optical Drive and a drive letter will be assigned to it.
• It will show in the device manager of the DVD/CD-ROM drives section with your optical drive.
• It will also add an entry in the USB controller section as a USB Mass Storage device.
• if you look in Devices and Printers, it will show as USB ATA/ATAPI bridge.

If you are using Windows 10, AND you have CD media in your optical drive it will show within Windows Explorer under Device and Drives as an optical drive with a media and drive letter assigned to it. On the TaskBar (bottom right) it will list as an Ejectable USB device.

3) What happens when my system goes to sleep mode?

When that happens, the optical enclosure will also put the optical drive to sleep.

4) There is no LED, how can I know if the enclosure is working?

The NST-540S3-BK serves as a USB enclosure for your optical drive, any LED activity on your optical drive will serve as the LED for the whole unit. The LED on your optical drive will function just like when your optical drive is installed inside your desktop computer via the internal SATA port. If your optical drive is working, the enclosure will too.

5) How much power is the enclosure with my optical drive using when it is in sleep mode?

We test using a Watt meter and it shows as less than 2 Watts during sleep mode with the enclosure and a common Optical drive.

6) Can I use a longer USB cable and Is this cable a USB standard cable?

It is not a good idea to use a longer cable, USB 3.0 cables are very susceptible to signal strength loss and interference. The USB cable that we provided is good, Yes, it is a standard USB 3.0 cable with Type A to Type B.

7) Do you have the Specs of the ac adapter, USB cable length, and what depth of my optical drive can I put into the unit.

Fit Optical Drive Max Depth: 7.2 inches / 185 mm; AC Adapter: Universal Switching AC adapter, 12VDC/3A, center pin positive, outer diameter: 5.45mm, inner diameter: 1.75mm, length: 10mm; USB Cable: USB 3.0 Type A to Type B cable, length 100 cm

 

 

Sometime problems may occur during first installation or use, we at VantecUSA like to help you get it working to resolve the problem. We have a team of support staff that is here to help you. Please write to us first before you return the product back to the place of purchase. We are committed to help you get the product setup and working correctly. You can reach us via email at support@vantecusa.com. We will reply to you very quickly to assist you.

Why after cloning my SATA boot device, to a new M.2 NVMe drive, it will not boot and error out?

This is a common problem with cloning when you clone dissimilar interfaces like SATA to NVMe (PCIe). The SATA drive is managed by the SATA controller and M.2 NVMe is managed by the PCIe controller. These two dissimilar controller uses different OS drivers. After you clone the SATA drive to your M.2 NVMe (PCIe), the OS on your boot drive will try to boot via the SATA on an NVMe controller. This will often give you an error or a blue screen or hang during boot.

As you can see, it is not a problem with the cloning process or the cloning device. It is how the OS interprets the boot process and boots from the right controller.

Here is how to get around this common problem.

The process is simple, all you need to do is to boot your OS into safe mode. Safe mode uses a generic boot device without any reference to SATA or NVMe, it will boot correctly and prepare the OS to boot using the NVMe (PCIe) on your next boot. Once that is done, it will remember to boot correctly for the rest of the time.

 

Here is the step by step to correct the problem (picture below follow the steps listed here):

1) During the initial boot, the OS will report an error message and enter into the “Automatic Repair” Process.

2) Choose “Advanced Options”

3) Choose “Troubleshoot”

4) Choose “Advanced Options”

5) Choose “Startup Settings”

6) In this Startup Settings, click restart.

7) In the Startup Settings, you will be given a selection to press a number to choose the option. Press “4” to select Enable Safe Mode. The PC will restart into Safe Mode. Your screen will show a normal Desktop with Safe Mode showing on 4 corners.

8) You may notice your system runs slower in safe mode, this is normal. Now restart your computer again. It will restart in normal mode and you are done.

VantecUSA support is available via email or phone (during normal business hours, PST – California, Mon – Fri 9 am - 6 pm).
You can reach them easily via VantecUSA.com website contact form OR email support@vantecusa.com  OR phone at 510 668 0368 and ask for support.

1. Why is my Optical Drive Enclosure not powering up?
   This is one of the most common questions, this enclosure is designed to save energy, when it detects no connection to a working system, it will go into a sleep mode and not power ON. The right way to use this enclosure is to make sure all the necessary cables are connected AND your system is powered ON before turning ON the enclosure.
   If you just install an Optical Drive into the DX enclosure and try powering ON without connecting to a working computer, it will stay in sleep mode and not wake up.

2. Will the NST-540S3-BK / NST-536S3-BK works with any 5.25” Optical Drive?
   Yes, as long as the measurement fit and the optical do not consume too much power. This enclosure is designed to fit a 5.25” standard optical drive with a depth of 185mm. The power requirement of your optical drive is also important, if your optical drive (power requirement info on your optical drive label) power requirement exceeds the capability of our provided ac adapter, your optical drive may not function correctly.

3. Do you need any drivers to install?
   No, drivers are not required, it is plug_and_play. Once installed and powered ON, the system will see the USB optical drive instantly.

4. What type of optical drive do I need?
   This enclosure is using a SATA interface inside to connect to a SATA optical drive. It will work with any standard SATA optical drive. It will not work with an IDE optical drive.

5. I have an optical drive that requires more power than what a normal optical drive uses, what can I do to make it work?
   You just need to get a bigger ac adapter. Any bigger ac adapter for this enclosure MUST be 12VDC, but the current (Amp) can be from 3A to 5A is fine. Another important thing is the plug size. It is using a single-pin plug. See dimension below with a picture showing the plug size.

6. Do I need any software for burning CD/DVD/Blu-ray with my optical drive in this enclosure?
   No, you do not need any additional software, your OS built-in software will enable you to burn CD/DVD/Blu-ray, but if you prefer, you may use other 3rd parties Optical drive software to do more.

7. Can I connect this USB 3.0 optical drive to a USB 2.0 or faster USB 3.1/3.2 ports?
   Yes, if you are using USB 2.0, it will be slower doing read, but it may not be able to write correctly due to the slow USB 2.0 speed. If you are using a faster USB 3.1/3.2 port, the enclosure will still function at USB 3.0 speed and perform correctly and reading/writing.

8. My new system does not have a USB Type-A port, it is all USB C, can I still use this enclosure?
   Yes, you just need a USB C to USB Type-A adapter. The adapter should have a USB female Type-A on one side and a USB C male on the other end to plug into your system.

9. Will this enclosure fit an optical drive from my laptop?
   Sorry, it will not fit. The laptop optical drive comes in 2 sizes, they are slim in design and it is only 9.5mm or 12.7mm in thickness, the interface is different, they are using a Slim SATA interface that will not fit into a standard SATA interface.

10. I am trying to play a Blu-ray movie disc on my Blu-ray optical drive mounted in the DX/DX2 enclosure and it is not working, why?
    Blu-ray movie may be encoded using special copy protection, follow the instruction that comes with the Blu-ray disk to install the necessary software/player before you can watch the movie. This has nothing to do with our enclosure, it is the requirement of the Blu-ray optical drive and the movie producer.

11. I lost my USB 3.0 cable that comes with this NST-540S3-BK / NST-536S3-BK, where can I get a replacement cable?
    This is using a common USB 3.0 cable with Type A on one side (to plug into your system) and type B on the other to the enclosure. Just search google (search USB 3.0 Type-A to B cable) for them or the local store should have them. This is a standard USB cable. This is how it looks. Generally, it is 3ft or shorter is good.
    
    
     

12. I lost my ac adapter for this DX / DX2 enclosure, what size of an ac adapter do I need?
    The DX enclosure comes with an 12VDC, 2A ac adapter.  The DX2 enclosure comes with 12VDC, 3A ac adapter. if you need to purchase a replacement ac adapter, you can just search online (google search) for them or the local store should have them too. Beside the power requirement of the ac adapter, you also need to know the plug size to fit into the DX /DX2 enclosure. Not all ac adapter are made the same, I would suggest a slightly bigger ac adapter. Any bigger ac adapter for this enclosure MUST be 12VDC, but the current (Amp) can be from 3A to 5A is fine. This is using a single pin plug.