Solved HITACHI LifeStudio Desk Plus - External HDD issue

[maranello]

I just bought this great 1TB external hdd about a month ago and I'm very excited about it, except for a small issues that is starting to ruin that experience for me...

This hdd has preinstalled the "LifeStudio" software, a piece of soft that can organize all your media files (cooliris style) and its also used for backing up your files to an encrypted Hitachi online server, that's the feature I'm most interested about. This soft its not written on the actual hdd, its part of its internal firmware, so it can't be removed in any way.


But, it can be disabled... and that's what i did... here we go:

The LifeStudio soft appears as a VCD (VirtualCD) when you plug in your external hdd, I have install it on the first use and after that i checked an option to hide the VCD so it no longer appears in Windows Explorer

After a while, my PC crashed and i lost a bunch of programs installed, among with the LifeStudio soft. And now, when i connect my external hdd, the VCD image with the soft its no longer showing in My Computer... that means that i don't have the option to turn it back on anymore...

I have contacted the Hitachi Support and after a long exchange of email, they finally gave up and told me to send hdd to warranty, a thing that i don't want to do because i have a lot of sensitive data on it and i don't want those IT guys to look into it.


Here's my request: If someone has or will ever buy this kind of hdd, any hdd from the Life Studio series should work, i want to ask you to make an image of that VCD and to please share it with me, so i can install it and re-activate that stupid option... that's the only way that i can get the soft back.

thx in advance @ anyone that can help me solve this annoying issue

 

[vanilla]

274meg LS_SOFTWARE-vcd.zip file available for you

I think I have for you to download a 274meg zip file containing LS_SOFTARE.ISO of the LS_SOFTWARE virtual cd. I'll wanted to leave you a "visitors" message with details, but do not see how to do this.

 

[vanilla]

Uploaded with description "ISO of Hitachi LifeStudio virtual-cd in 274meg LS_SOFTWARE-vcd.zip" to MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service Let me know if you can get it and if it works for you. Should be able to burn the ISO to a real cd (or use free Virtual Clone sw to mount, or win7 built-in iso mounter).

 

[maranello]

hey man, thanks a lot for taking the time to read this topic, i didn't have any hope for this soft no more, but guess i was wrong

and sorry for the delayed answer, i was away in vacation for a few days

but, when i click that megaupload link, i don't get any file to download... just the homepage of them


edit/ after a long time of research, i finally got a small piece of soft that can active the VCD, if anybody, anytime will need it, just PM me

 

[rtexcs]

hey man, thanks a lot for taking the time to read this topic, i didn't have any hope for this soft no more, but guess i was wrong

and sorry for the delayed answer, i was away in vacation for a few days

but, when i click that megaupload link, i don't get any file to download... just the homepage of them


edit/ after a long time of research, i finally got a small piece of soft that can active the VCD, if anybody, anytime will need it, just PM me

Hi,can you send me please that small piece of soft that can activate the VCD.I've the same problem with Hitachi LifeStudio.My email DELETED Thank you in advance.

 

[maranello]

here you go man, PM sent

 

[Trolo]

Thanks for the file

 

[Shongi]

hey man, thanks a lot for taking the time to read this topic, i didn't have any hope for this soft no more, but guess i was wrong :d

and sorry for the delayed answer, i was away in vacation for a few days

but, when i click that megaupload link, i don't get any file to download... Just the homepage of them


edit/ after a long time of research, i finally got a small piece of soft that can active the vcd, if anybody, anytime will need it, just pm me

hi,can you send me please that small piece of soft that can activate the vcd.i've the same problem with hitachi lifestudio.my email DELETED thank you in advance.

hi! It sounds like i have the same problem, could you please send me the same thing? my email DELETED Thanks!!

 

[csantiago]

hey man, thanks a lot for taking the time to read this topic, i didn't have any hope for this soft no more, but guess i was wrong

and sorry for the delayed answer, i was away in vacation for a few days

but, when i click that megaupload link, i don't get any file to download... just the homepage of them


edit/ after a long time of research, i finally got a small piece of soft that can active the VCD, if anybody, anytime will need it, just PM me

Please, I have the EXACT same problem.

 

[maranello]

i have sent you an email guys, hope it will solve your issue

 

[Dwarf]

Please DO NOT include your email address in your posts.

 

[jmfowlkes]

LifeStudio

Maranello, could you upload the file again as megaupload is no more? I ask cause I don't have PM privileges yet! Thanks!

Question, I installed my old HDD into the Lifestudio enclosure and it pops up as an un-openable CD drive. Would I be correct in assuming that I won't be able to access my files until I install the drivers/program? Please say I don't have to reformat!

Justin

 

[maranello]

this file is created strictly for the LifeStudio Desk Plus hdd, unless you are using it to activate the vcd function of an original Hitachi drive, it's kinda useless to you, this file is not a driver!

i don't know what's inside the casing, but as far as i know the Hitachi drives have a custom firmware and also some hardware modifications designed to work just with the original hdd, so i really don't know what it will happen if you put in another hdd...

anyways, here's the file: vcd

 

[jmfowlkes]

LifeStudio

Is there any way you could compress/upload the entire LifeStudio folder or make an iso so I can fiddle around with it please?
I'd be very grateful!

Justin

 

[maranello]

i have tried to make an image of the vcd, but the estimated time to complete is around 3 days (write on ssd), so i decided to make an archive instead of all its contents, divided in 2 parts (mediafire limit is 200mb)

please let me know after you download the files and maybe post here your experiences for other users with this issue

 

[Trolo]

Hello, thanks for sharing. The software wasnt the problem, though. The problem is that the hitachi can`t be used like a external hdd case, because every time i swap hdds from the case it cant see them, I have tu initialize it (and erase the data sic!). Once you initialize the hdd which wasnt detected before as a physical drive, it will be seen. You can do it via administrator tools on your system.

 

[woronczak]

Same problem

Is it possible to get a copy of this image / files please? (the mediafile file is set to private and I cannot access).

Cheers

 

[Tagging Angel]

hi i bought same hdd and i have wiped the virtual cd rom.......so mine wont work............i refuse to inilize it cos i will loss all my data on it i have messaged the lifestudio staff and they told me to take the hdd apart and use it as a normal hdd formatting it ....they say there is no hardware on the drive..........and there is nothing to help me warantys gone and so no help for me............;0(

 

[maranello]

i have re-uploaded the file, give it a try, maybe it will work

http://www.**************/?vz4p47aae7g7qd2


/le

it seems that links get blocked automatically, just send me a PM and i will send it to you, don't reply in this topic because i rarely check this forum!

 

[Tagging Angel]

hi i cant pm anyone the forum wont let me...........;0(