TaskForce drive identification

Switch between the Source and Target mode

When connecting a drive to the system, make sure the right mode is set on the port: in the source mode, an evidence drive is automatically write-protected. It can only be changed with Source hardware switches.

Source hardware switches.

Initial drive identification

As soon as you choose a particular task or click Devices in the top bar, TaskForce starts sequentially supplying power and sending commands to identify all connected devices.

After a connected drive receives power supply and identification commands from the unit, it responds with device info including:

• device model and serial number;
• device capacity;
• limitations of the drive.

Detection of password protection and HPA/DCO/AMA restrictions

TaskForce software also immediately detects whether the drive is locked by an ATA password or the drive’s max readable address is limited via HPA/DCO/AMA. The unit indicates these restrictions and notifies a user about those with the red color indication in the device menu.

TaskForce detects ATA, HPA/DCO/AMA limitations

These indicators allow a user to make informed decisions on how to proceed with the device, whether unlocking is required to get access to the whole drive space before starting an imaging session.

The ‘Device not detected’ notification

Notification Device not detected may point to one of these issues:

• there is no device on the port;
• the cable is not properly plugged in;
• the device is connected to another port;
• the device is heavily damaged.

Device not detected

Re-identify device

You might want to re-identify a device in one of the following cases:

• A device hasn’t been detected from the first try.
• You have connected another device to the drive port.

To re-identify a single device from the Select device panel:

1. In the port with your device, click the More icon (the one with three dots).
2. Select Re-identify.

To re-identify all connected devices, use the Re-identify button in the top right corner of the Select device panel. It affects only the devices in unfolded sections of the panel.

You can also re-identify a single device from its device page by clicking the Re-identify button at the bottom.

When the drive port is unavailable

If a source drive is busy with a running operation, the port will be temporarily unavailable for selection when launching other tasks. In such a case, the fonts in the respective box will be a lighter shade of grey, making the port unclickable.

Busy source drive

When selecting a target device for wiping or imaging, source drives are also unavailable to ensure that data on an evidence drive doesn’t get overwritten by mistake.

Selecting target device

Add a device to a case

Once a drive is connected to a drive port and identified, you can add it to a new or existing case right from the Select device panel:

1. In the port with your device, click the More icon (the one with three dots), and then select Add case.
2. Choose between Create new case or Select existing case and click Next.
3. Enter details for a new case or select an existing case from a table.

Power off and power on a drive

From the Select device panel, you can power off and power on any connected device. To do that, in the port with your device, click the More icon (the one with three dots), and then select the Power on or Power off option.

Power on all devices: if this checkbox at the top right is selected, TaskForce automatically powers on all plugged drives after the sliding panel appears.

You can also power a device on and off from a device page, by clicking the respective button at the bottom of the page.

When a device is idle for 5 minutes, TaskForce automatically powers it off. This is the setting that you can disable.

However, we recommend powering off a device before disconnecting it from TaskForce.