IoddMINIPro
Contents
- 1 iODD MINO PRO
- 2 Appearance
- 3 Functions
- 4 Specifications
- 5 Manual
- 6 Precautions
- 7 Messages
- 8 Firmware
iODD MINO PRO
Appearance
Functions
- Bootable Virtual CD-ROM Drive (DVD-ROM, Blu-ray)
- Eliminates the need to purchase physical DVD-ROMs or blank media for OS installation.
- Supports ISO (CD, DVD, Blu-ray) images.
- Bootable Virtual USB Drive and Flash Drive
- Multi-LUN Support
- Mount up to 3 VHDs, 1 ODD, and 1 Physical Drive simultaneously.
- System Monitoring
- Displays minimum voltage (VBUS), drive temperature, and health information (via
3Key).
- Displays minimum voltage (VBUS), drive temperature, and health information (via
- Hotkeys
- Supports various startup keys and hotkeys for efficient operation.
- Other Features
- Write Protection / Safe Removal / Loading State Save/Restore
- Real-time AES 256-bit XTS Military Grade Encryption
- Encryption is optional; the device can be used without it.
- Supports 4-38 digit passwords (6 digits is typically sufficient).
- Random keypad prevents fingerprint tracing.
- Supports 1 Administrator and 4 User passwords.
- Note: To login as Admin, prefix the password with '0' (e.g., if the password is '1234', enter '01234'). '0' is Admin, '1'-'4' are Users.
- Customizable permissions for each user.
- Text & Bitmap File Viewer
- Text: Supports UTF-16 (UCS-2) and ASCII.
- Bitmap (Experimental): Supports images under 128x160 (1, 16, 24-bit).
Menu
2- Moves the cursor up.8- Moves the cursor down.6,⏎- Execution / Select key.
- Mode Setting - Device configuration.
5- Toggles Write Protection On/Off. The icon will change to reflect the status.6- Toggles Fixed / Removable drive mode. The icon will change to reflect the status.3- Moves the selection up.9- Moves the selection down.- ---disabled--- - The following devices can be disabled:
- ODD - Virtual CD Drive (*.iso).
- HDD - Physical Drive.
- VHD - Virtual Drive (*.vhd, *.ima).
- AES256 encryption - Encryption settings (Administrator Mode).
- Warning: When setting or deleting the Admin password, all disk data will be erased. Please back up your data first.
- Admin
- Set 2nd P.W. - Secondary password setup. Enter a 4-38 digit password to set it. (Note: The Administrator password must be set first. The internal disk must not have an existing password).
- Set Password - Enter and set a 4-38 digit password for the Administrator. (All data will be erased, but data can be recovered if the setting is undone immediately).
- Del password - Delete the password. (This will erase all data).
- Chg password - Change the current password.
- general user
- User1 - User4
- Set Password - Enter and set a 4-38 digit password for the user.
- Del password - Delete the password.
- ☑Read-only - Enable write-protection.
- ☑User Change - Allow the user to change their own password.
- ☑User Delete - Allow the user to delete their own password.
- Save Users - Save the current user settings.
- User1 - User4
- AES256 encryption - Encryption settings (User Mode).
- Chg Password - Change the password.
- Del Password - Delete the password.
- USB Control - USB connection management.
- Keep P.W. 2min - Maintain the password in memory for 2 minutes after power-off. No password input is required if reconnected within this time.
- Write Protect - Enable Write-Protection for all drives.
- Refresh - Reconnect the USB.
- Safe Removal - Stop the spindle motor and enter power-saving mode.
- Information - Device and drive information.
- S.M.A.R.T. - Displays the status of the internal disk drive.
- HDD Health - Disk drive health status:
- << Good >> - Healthy / Clear.
- << Warning >> - Replacement is recommended.
- << Bad >> - Replacement is required.
- HDD Model - Disk drive model name.
- HDD Serial - Disk drive serial number.
- HDD Health - Disk drive health status:
- Product Info - Product information.
- Firmware Ver - Current firmware version of the IODD.
- USB Speed - Current USB connection speed:
- Full - speed - USB 1.1
- Hi - speed - USB 2.0
- Super - speed - USB 3.0
- S.M.A.R.T. - Displays the status of the internal disk drive.
- Setting - General settings.
- LCD Bright - Adjusts the LCD backlight brightness.
- Standby time - The HDD will stop spinning after the selected period of inactivity (no disk access) to reduce power consumption and wear.
- Screen Saver - Activates after 2 minutes of inactivity. The LCD dims, and if the drive is encrypted, the screen locks for security.
- Load Default - Restores all settings to their factory default values.
- Language - Select the display language.
- English - English
- 한글 - Korean
- 简体中文 - Chinese
- 日本語 - Japanese
- Русский - Russian
Basic Functions
Supported Disk Partitions
- Supports MBR and GPT partition styles.
- Supported File Systems: FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS.
- Multiple partitions are supported. There are no constraints on root folder names (e.g., a folder named "_ISO" is not mandatory).
Sample Folder Tree
- The following folder tree is provided as an example.
- Any file and folder names are acceptable.
J:
├─_ISO│ │ Hiren’s BootCD 15.2.iso │ │ ubuntu-14.04.4-desktop-amd64.iso │ │ Windows 10.iso │ │ Windows XP sp3.iso │ │ (max 32 files or subfolders in a folder) │ │ │ ├─IMA for Floppy│ │ Bios updater.ima │ │ MS-DOS 6.0.ima │ │ Symantec Ghost.ima │ │ │ ├─RMD Files│ │ Win 7Ent_x86_x64+8.1Pro+10Pro vol2.RMD │ │ Win7_Ult_SP1_Russian_x64.RMD │ │ Windows 10.RMD │ │ │ └─VHD Files│ │ linuxmint-17.3-cinnamon-32bit.vhd │ │ Windows 10 Win2Go.vhd │ │ Windows 7 OS Booting.vhd │ │ │ └─Nested Subfolders is allowed├─Your Folder 01├─Your Folder 02├─Your Folder 99│ Your files 01.txt │ Your files 02.txt │ Your files 99.txt
Key Definitions
- Browsing
-
2/8- Move selection up/down. -
6,⏎- Select a file or enter a folder. -
4- Go to the parent folder.
-
- Menu
-
⚙- Enter or exit the Menu.
-
- Hotkeys (Single Press)
-
1- Rescan the root folder. -
3- Display VBUS minimum voltage, drive temperature, and health information. -
5- View file information. -
7- Eject the most recently loaded virtual drive (HDD or CD).- Displays the full filename, size, and fragmentation status of the current file.
-
9- Save the current loading status. -
0- View Help.- Displays information about the current menu or active error messages.
-
- Hotkeys (Long Press - 3 Seconds)
-
1- Reconnect the device. -
3- Reconnect with Write-Protection enabled. -
4- View the partition list (Select the default partition). -
7- Reconnect with all virtual drives detached. -
9- Detach the USB connection and enter Sleep Mode. -
0- Reconnect with Write-Protection temporarily disabled.
-
- Startup Keys (Hold key while connecting)
-
1- Reset to factory settings. -
3- Start with Write-Protection enabled. -
5- Start in Standalone Mode (without connecting to a PC).- Finish settings and then reconnect or disconnect.
-
7- Start with all virtual drives unmounted. -
⚙- Enter the Menu in Standalone Mode.- Finish settings and then reconnect or disconnect.
-
0- Display startup key information in Standalone Mode.- Press and hold the corresponding key to reconnect with that specific function.
- Pressing any other key will reconnect without using a startup function.
-
Save Status and Disconnect
- To save the current loading state and enter Sleep Mode:
- Press and hold the
9key for 3 seconds.
- Press and hold the
Selecting a File
- To ensure the loading state is maintained after a file is selected, you must save the state manually.
- Please refer to the key operations in the Key Definitions section above.
Safely Remove Hardware in OS
- If the IODD partition is formatted as NTFS, using the "Safely Remove Hardware" function is mandatory before disconnecting the device from the host.
- NTFS does not always write data to the drive immediately.
- Please use Safely Remove Hardware before physical disconnection.
Initialization
- Initialize the drive using (wken:MBR) or (wken:GPT) partition styles.
- Format partitions using (NTFS | exFAT | FAT32).
- Note: FAT32 partitions have a 4GB file size limit. Please use this format with caution.
- The partition used by IODD does not necessarily have to be the first partition.
- Copy your files or folders to the IODD.
- Perform a "Safely Remove Hardware" operation (Crucial if using NTFS).
- Reconnect the IODD.
- If the file list on the screen does not match what you copied, press and hold
4for 3 seconds to refresh.- You can also select the default partition from the list.
Troubleshooting
- If an error occurs, follow these steps sequentially until the issue is resolved:
- Admin/User Login: If your password is '1234', enter '01234' for Admin (ID '0') or '11234' for User 1 (ID '1').
- The first digit represents the User ID: Admin is '0', Users are '1'–'4'.
- Temporary Reset: Press and hold
7while connecting to the PC. - Factory Reset: Press and hold
1while connecting to the PC. - Disk Check: Run a Disk Check ( chkdsk) on Windows to repair file system errors.
- Re-initialization: Back up your data and perform the Initialization process again.
- If the issue appears to be hardware-related:
- Reboot your PC.
- Try a different USB cable.
- Connect the device to a different PC.
- Force Firmware Recovery: Connect the device to the PC while holding both
9and⏎for 7 seconds.- This will re-flash the current firmware to recover the device.
Configure Multi Device
- Go to Menu -> Mode Setting.
- Refer to the Menu section for detailed navigation.
- You can configure up to 5 devices independently.
Using a Virtual CD Drive (DVD-ROM or Blu-ray ROM)
- An ODD device must be enabled. (See Configure Multi Device)
- Copy your ISO files to the IODD (root or subfolders).
- Use Safely Remove Hardware. (This is mandatory for NTFS partitions).
- Reconnect the device.
- Select the desired ISO file.
- To save the loading status for future use, press
9. - If the PC does not detect the boot device, reboot the PC using (Ctrl-Alt-Del).
Booting Error
- Verify that the ISO file itself is bootable.
- If your PC does not support Multi-LUN, please configure only one active drive at a time.
- Compare the behavior with a physical USB DVD-ROM to rule out ISO-related issues.
- Use a USB Y-cable to provide auxiliary power, as the IODD is a bus-powered device that may require additional voltage.
- If your laptop has an internal DVD-ROM, disable it in the BIOS settings or remove it physically.
- Older operating systems may lack the necessary drivers to boot on newer motherboards.
- Example: It is generally not possible to install a genuine version of Windows 7 on the Skylake platform using a USB DVD-ROM device.
Using a Virtual VHD Drive (Virtual Hard Disk)
- At least one VHD device must be enabled. (See Configure Multi Device)
- Important: Only fixed-size VHD files are supported. (Dynamic VHD and VHDX formats are not supported).
- Fixed-size VMDK files are also supported.
- It is highly recommended to create VHD files directly on the IODD using "VHD Tool++", as it ensures files are created without fragmentation.
- If you copy an existing VHD file, it must be unfragmented to function correctly.
- Up to 3 VHD drives can be mounted simultaneously.
- Create a VHD file using VHD Tool++.
- Reconnect the device.
- Select the VHD file from the list.
- To save the loading status, press
9. - Use an imaging tool to apply an OS image to the virtual VHD drive.
Using a Virtual USB Floppy Drive (Virtual FDD)
- Please note that not all computers support virtual floppy drives.
- Supports uncompressed floppy disk images (IMA, IMG, BIF, VFD).
- Image files with .IMG, .BIF, or .VFD extensions must be renamed to .IMA to be recognized.
- The usage process is identical to the Virtual CD/VHD methods described above.
Specifications
- External Interface: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C (Max 5Gbps)
- Internal Interface: SATA I / II / III (Backward compatible)
- Drive Compatibility: 2.5-inch SATA HDD or SSD
- Controls: 12 Tactile switches
- Display: Color LCD (128 x 160 dots)
- Material: Plastic
Manual
Precautions
- Caution: Insufficient Power Supply
- USB bus-powered devices consume significant power. Connect the device directly to the motherboard USB ports (on the rear of the PC) whenever possible.
- Using front panel USB ports or unpowered USB hubs may lead to recognition failure or data corruption due to insufficient power.
- Safe Removal Recommended
- Disconnecting the cable while data is being written can corrupt the file system. Always use the "Safely Remove Hardware" function in your operating system.
- For IODD products, it is safest to unmount the disk using the device's built-in "Safe Removal" menu or function before physical disconnection.
- Physical Shock Warning
- Do not drop the product or subject it to strong impacts during operation. For HDD-based models, there is a high risk of permanent data loss due to read/write head damage.
- Use High-Quality Cables
- It is recommended to use the original cable provided with the device. Cables that are too long or of low quality can cause voltage drops, leading to malfunctions.
- Utilize Write-Protect Mode (IODD Specific)
- When using the device on public PCs where virus infection is a concern, enable the IODD "Write Protect" feature to safeguard your data.
- Backups are Essential
- Storage devices are consumables. Please ensure that important data is backed up to a separate storage medium or cloud service.
Messages
Status Messages
- "Please Wait ..." - Operation in progress. Please wait.
- "Disconnect ..." - Please disconnect the device.
- "Saving data ..." - Saving data to the drive. Please wait until finished.
- "Updating Flash ..." - Updating fonts or firmware. Do not disconnect the cable.
- "Input Limit..." - Password retry limit exceeded. Please reconnect the device.
- "Reconnect USB" - Please disconnect and reconnect the USB cable.
- "Not Match..." - The entered password does not match.
- "NO DEVICE !!!" - Internal drive (HDD/SSD) is not detected.
- "HDD ERROR !!!" - Drive read error or excessive bad sectors detected.
- "HDD WARNING ???" - The drive contains some bad sectors.
Error Messages
"Not Match..." - The password does not match.
- To login as Admin, prefix your password with '0'. (e.g., If the password is '1234', enter '01234').
- IDs: Admin is '0', Users are '1' through '4'.
"Check HDD" or Red Screen Popup - Drive check required.
- An error has occurred on the internal drive. Please refer to the Troubleshooting section.
"No appropriate partition" - No valid partition found.
- The drive must be initialized (MBR or GPT) and formatted with at least one NTFS, exFAT, or FAT32 partition.
- Please refer to the Initialization section.
"Drive Error" - Drive communication error.
- Unable to read the internal drive.
- Try disconnecting the drive and connecting it to a different device or USB port.
"Too Many Files" - Too many files in a single folder.
- The maximum number of files per folder has been exceeded.
- The IODD supports a maximum of 32 files or subfolders within a single folder.
- Please organize your files by splitting them into subfolders.
.. - Navigation to Parent folder.
- The current folder contains no subfolders or supported file formats.
"Disc Locked" - Drive is currently locked or in use.
- The disk is currently being accessed by another program or process. Please close the associated application or unlock the disk.
- To force an unlock, safely disconnect and reconnect the USB cable.
"DEFRAG" - File fragmentation detected.
- ISO files support a maximum of 24 fragments. VHD files must be completely unfragmented (0 fragments).
- To resolve this, use Disk Defragmenter for Disk Defragmentation.
- For SSDs, it is recommended to use specialized tools like MyDefrag or Defraggler.
"Not Use Dynamic" - Dynamic VHD not supported.
- Dynamic VHD files are not supported. Only fixed-size VHD files can be used.
"Not Use Sparse" - Sparse files not supported.
- Sparse files are not supported by the device.
"Product Mismatch" - Firmware compatibility error.
- This error occurs if an incorrect product model was selected during a previous firmware update.
- To resolve this, connect the device to your computer while holding down the
9and⏎ (Enter)keys simultaneously. - Release the keys after approximately 1 second; the device will then be recognized as a standard USB device.
- Once recognized, proceed with the firmware update again using the correct model version.
FAQ
Q: The IODD will not boot from the PC.
- Please refer to the Booting Error troubleshooting section for detailed solutions.
Q: I forgot my password. Can I remove it? I do not mind if my data is lost.
- There is no way to bypass the password. You must re-initialize the device, which will erase all data. Please refer to the Initialization section.
Q: I forgot my password. Can I recover it or restore my data?
- No. Due to the high-level AES-256 encryption, it is absolutely impossible to recover the password or data, even by the manufacturer.
Q: The LCD only displays "IODD MINO PRO" and does not progress.
- This indicates a system hang or firmware issue. Please perform a firmware update.
Q: How can I unmount the currently loaded virtual drives (VHD, RMD, IMA)?
- You can use one of the following methods:
- Unmount all drives: Press and hold
7for 3 seconds. - Unmount individual drives: Navigate the cursor to the specific drive you wish to detach and press the select key.
- Unmount the most recent drive: Press
7(single press).
Q: The firmware update fails repeatedly.
- Please ensure you are using a stable USB port (rear of the PC) and refer to the Firmware Update instructions.
Q: What should I do if a red popup with "Excep_code-" appears?
Please follow the specific instructions displayed in the last sentence on the screen:
- Excep_code- Please Reconnect
- Disconnect and reconnect the cable. This is often caused by a poor connection or insufficient power supply.
- Excep_code- Please Check Disk
- Run a disk check (chkdsk) on your PC. To prevent future file system corruption, always use the "Safely Remove Hardware" function.
- Excep_code- Please update firmware
- The system requires a firmware refresh. Please install the latest firmware version.
Firmware
How to Update
- Requirements: Windows PC, USB Port.
- Warning: Ensure only one IODD device is connected to the PC during the update.
- Please ensure you are installing the exact firmware version that matches your IODD model.
- If an incorrect firmware is installed, simply retry the process with the correct version.
- Note: The device features a "bricking-proof" design. It will remain recoverable even if an unexpected error occurs during the update process.
- Download the firmware file.
- Extract the ZIP file to a local folder. (Caution: Do not run the updater directly from within the ZIP file).
- Run the EXE file as an Administrator.
- If the "Device is Detected" message appears, click the "Update" button.
- If the device is not detected, try the following:
- Use a different USB port (preferably on the rear of the motherboard).
- Use a different USB cable.
- Try the update on another computer.
- If the device is not detected, try the following:
- The update process typically takes 2-3 minutes. If the screen flickers, please wait patiently and DO NOT disconnect the USB cable.
- If the update finishes instantly without screen activity (this can happen if the version is already current), use the following "Force Update" method:
- Disconnect the device.
- Press and hold both the
9and⏎ (Enter)buttons simultaneously while reconnecting the USB cable. - Continue holding the buttons for at least 7 seconds to force a re-flash of the firmware.