I didn't read the Chinese ad on DHGate.com more than 15 times (takes 25 times to understand the ad) so I ordered the DAS without the HDD since I already have a hard drive on my laptop. Turns out that they refer to a CD as an HDD so there you go!! I got no instructions whatsoever so I'm lost plus don't have the CD. Is there a DAS forum that I can go to in order to start learning about this item?

The chinese stuff has been liberated from other sources so support will be spotty. You should be able to buy a HD with the operating system on it. That op system will be locked to the SN of the HD.

Best way to run this is to get a 2nd HD carrier and swap out as this will keep your regular lap top OS clean.

And what ever you do, never let that computer hook to the internet when it is using the DAS HD ( even through a wi fi that auto connects ) it will phone home and be bricked remotely.

I just bought a system from Peter Christiansen on eBay. I don't think it is a chinese piece of gradoo, but a European knock off. The manuals are in English and he is a real live person who gives his phone number.
There is another buffoon named zyBuyz or something like that. Avoid him like the plague. I think he is a shyster since he won't give his name or address.
Anziani

Most of those deals offer either a HDD (hard drive) that has to be installed in a compatible Dell computer or they offer to sell you a complete Dell computer with the HDD already installed or they offer an external hard drive, which presumably also needs a Dell.

I have not bought one, but in reading the ads can understand your frustration. I hope you can find someone who can handhold you through to a working solution. I suspect you will need to buy an old Dell and the software, if you did not get that.

May be best to return what you have bought. Those vendors usually want to avoid trouble.

Good Luck with it.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5