# IODD Drive Initialization

Before using your IODD, the internal drive must be initialized and formatted correctly. Selecting the right file system ensures that your virtual drives and ISO files work perfectly across different platforms.

### 1. Initialize the Disk

Connect the IODD to your PC and initialize the drive using your operating system's disk management tool.

* **Modern Models (ST, MINI PRO, LK100):** Supports both **MBR** and **GPT**. GPT is recommended for drives over 2TB.
* **Legacy Models (2531, 2541, MINI Legacy):** Supports **MBR only**. GPT is **not supported** (Legacy models have a hardware limit that only recognizes the first **2TB** of a drive).

#### Partition Styles:

* **MBR (Master Boot Record)**: Best for maximum compatibility with legacy BIOS systems. Required for all legacy IODD models.
* **GPT (GUID Partition Table)**: Recommended for modern UEFI-based systems and drives larger than 2TB (Modern models only).

{% hint style="info" %}
**Fixing Initialization Failures (MBR → GPT → MBR Trick)** If the drive fails to initialize or displays errors, try this cycle:

1. Connect the HDD/SSD directly to a PC (if possible) or via IODD.
2. Initialize it as **GPT**.
3. Then, immediately re-initialize it back to **MBR**. This process can often clear corrupted partition table metadata that simple formatting cannot fix.
   {% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
**For Encryption Users** If you plan to use AES256 encryption, you must first **\[Set a New 2nd Password]** via the Admin menu. After setting the password, you **must repeat the initialization process**, as the hardware encryption changes the disk structure.

* Refer to: [2nd Password Setup Guide](https://help.iodd.kr/aes256-encryption-mini-pro-st-lk/admin/2nd-password)
  {% endhint %}

***

### 2. Formatting Partitions (Recommended File Systems)

For the best experience with IODD, we highly recommend using either **NTFS** or **exFAT**. Both support large files (over 4GB) and are fully compatible with IODD tools.

| File System | Best For                         | Key Advantages                                                                         |
| ----------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **NTFS**    | **Windows-centric environments** | Highly stable, supports journaling (error recovery), and is the native Windows format. |
| **exFAT**   | **Cross-platform use (Mac/Win)** | Excellent compatibility between macOS and Windows without file size restrictions.      |
| **FAT32**   | ❌ **Not Recommended**            | **4GB file size limit** and **Incompatible with VHD Tool++**.                          |

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Comparison: NTFS vs. exFAT**

* Both file systems are **fully supported by VHD Tool++** and IODD's virtual drive functions.
* Choose **NTFS** if you primarily work on Windows and need robust data recovery features.
* Choose **exFAT** if you frequently move the IODD between Windows and Mac computers.
  {% endhint %}

***

### 3. File Transfer and Safe Removal

1. **Copy Files**: Transfer your ISO, VHD, or document files to the IODD drive.
2. **Safely Remove**: This is **essential** for both NTFS and exFAT to prevent filesystem corruption.
   * Use the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in your system tray before physical disconnection.

***

### 4. Reconnection and Refreshing

After reconnecting the IODD, the screen should display your updated file list.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Manual Refresh (Force Scan)** If the file list on the IODD screen does not match what you copied:

* **Modern Models (ST, MINI PRO, LK100):** **Hold the \[4] key for 3 seconds**. This forces a re-scan and allows you to manually select the correct partition if multiple are present.
* **Legacy Models (2531, 2541, MINI Legacy):** Manual partition selection via hotkey is **not supported**.
  * For **2541/MINI**, long-pressing **\[4]** only rescans the current folder.
  * For **2531**, long-press **Jog Up** to rescan.
    {% endhint %}

***

### Technical Verification

You can check the partition status and file system type using the following command:

```bash
    # On Windows (PowerShell), check partition and filesystem info
    $ Get-Volume | Where-Object {$_.DriveLetter -ne $null} | Select-Object DriveLetter, FileSystem, Size, HealthStatus
```