Forensic Air-Lite VI MK III User Guide

1.  Forensic Air Lite VI MK III (FAL VI MK III) 

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The Forensic Air Lite VI MK III (FAL VI MK III) is the latest addition to Forensic Computers' line of high quality powerful forensic workstations.

2.  How to Use This Manual 

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This manual has two main sections:  Quick Start and Useful Information.

The Quick Start section of the manual will give the user enough information about the Forensic Air Lite VI MK III (FAL VI MK III) and its accessories to get started.  There is an overview of the additional components that come with the FAL VI MK III and their use.  The Useful Information section goes into more detail about specific components of the Forensic Air Lite VI MK III (FAL VI MK III).

3.  Quick Start 

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3.1 Unpacking Your Forensic Air Lite VI MK III (FAL VI MK III) 

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The Forensic Air Lite VI MK III (FAL VI MK III) system has the following items:  the Forensic Air Lite VI MK III (FAL VI MK III), the wireless mouse, the Antec External Hard Drive Enclosure, the Manual Bag, the CD Wallet, the external USB Floppy Drive, the 34mm 2-port eSATA card, the 34mm 2-port FW 800 card, the two screwdrivers, the flashlight and the Forensic Write Protection Kit

When you first receive your FAL VI MK III, please familiarize yourself with all of its contents.  The following table lists each of the items found in the kit.

Photo

Description

Forensic Air Lite VI MK III (FAL VI MK III) is equipped with a 17" wide screen display, a Core 2 Duo P9500 2.53Ghz processor and 4GB of RAM.

Pelican 1650, which is considered the World's Most Toughest Watertight Equipment Cases', comes with an unconditional lifetime guarantee. The case itself comes with double-throw latches, an O-ring seal, 2-inch quiet heavy-duty quad wheels, metal padlock protectors, an automatic purge valve, and pick and pluck foam for cushioning.

The Targus carrying case has several zippers, so use the top semi-latching handles as a guide to where the following compartments are. There are two wheels on this case to help ease the weary traveler port his FAL VI MK III around whether in the airport or just around the block. Towards the rear of the case is a zipper enclosed handle that will extend and thus ease the travel burden. Just pull the handle up to extend. To return the handle to its hidden compartment, press the button on the middle of the handle and push lightly downwards. There is also a clip on strap with cushion to attach to the two metal rings that are on opposite sides of the Targus bag.  Inside the Targus carrying case is the FAL VI MK III laptop (compartment 2); the Forensic Write Protection Kit (compartment 3) and more accessories (compartment 1).

Wireless Mouse: The mouse requires batteries in order to run, so if you do have a problem later on, check the batteries.

Antec MX-1 Actively Cooled Hard Drive Enclosure with a 1 TB SATA Hard Drive with eSATA and USB 2.0 interfaces

External USB Floppy Drive

Manual Bag

CD Wallet

Two 34mm ExpressCards: 2-port eSATA and 2-port FireWire 800 Card. The FireWire card supports “hot swapping” and “plug and play”.

Screwdrivers:

Flashlight

Surge Protector

3.3 Imaging the OS Drive 

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Over time, an investigator will need to image and re-image their OS hard drive. As of December 2007 three types of software have been used to create the initial OS hard drive images sent out with Forensic Computers' line of systems:  Norton Ghost,  Acronis TrueImage version 10 and Image for Windows.

3.3.1 Re-Installing the image for the OS Hard Drive (Image for Windows) 

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 (Your username and SN for IMAGE FOR WINDOWS will be located in your CD wallet.  If it is not, call us with the serial number of your system and we will locate your IMAGE FOR WINDOWS serial number.)

  • Enter the BIOS and ensure that the DVD_RW is set to boot before the hard drive
  • Insert the DVD into the DVDRW
  • The program will automatically start up and ask you to "press <space> for menu or wait for the restore to start"
  • Wait for the restore to start as it will select the first hard disk (HD0) which is your OS drive
  • The program will then ask if you want to continue with the restore on HD0 (this will erase everything on the drive and restore it to factory defaults.)
  • Once the restore has completed and has been rebooted, the machine will be ready for use.
  • For more advance and detailed instructions please refer to the PDF included on your Image for Windows CD

3.3.2 Re-Imaging the OS Hard Drive (Image for Windows) 

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  • Start Image From Windows from desktop shortcut/start menu
  • Choose operation to perform:  Backup (next)
  • Select Partition:  HD0 / specific hard drive  (next)
  • Select Destination:  DVDRW  (next)
  • Backup Options (default settings)  (Finish)

Image for Windows will burn an image of the drive to the disk and then proceed to automatically validate the disk.  If errors occur during validation, one must start completely over with a fresh DVDRW.

4. Useful Information 

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4.1 FAL VI MK III Ports 

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The following image shows the available ports of the FAL VI MK III.

On one side there are the following ports:  54mm/34mm ExpressCard slot, 4 IN 1 Card reader, USB 2.0 port, an eSATA port a FireWire 400 port and a set of sound ports.  On the opposing side are:  the modem, the network port and two more USB 2.0 ports.  In the rear of the FAL VI MK III is a HDMI port and a VGA port. 

The 54mm/34mm ExpressCard slot is capable of reading either a 54mm ExpressCard or a 34mm ExpressCard.  The 4-in-1 Card Reader is capable of reading the following:  SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro.   

4.2 ExpressCards (54mm and 34mm) 

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The card that has replaced the PCMCIA card is the ExpressCard.  ExpressCards, which are NOT bootable devices, provide extra interfaces for laptops (additional memory, wired and wireless networking, security devices, as well as multimedia devices).  ExpressCards have two form factors:  54mm and 34mm.  The 54mm card form has an 'L' shape with a 34mm connection and the 34mm card has a rectangular shape with a 34mm connection.  A 34mm card will fit into a 54mm slot as well as a 34mm card slot, whereas a 54mm card will only fit in a 54mm slot. 

4.2.1 Installing an ExpressCard (34mm) 

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Installation of an ExpressCard can be done while the laptop is ON and running.  There is a triangle or arrow on the card to indicate the proper end to insert. 

The two cards included with the FAL VI MK III are the 34mm 2-port eSATA Card and the 34mm 2-port FireWire Card.  The laptop has a 54mm/34mm slot which can take a 54mm or a 34mm card.

  1. Remove the 54mm/34mm slot protector.  Note the side that is longer and thinner.  The side that is longer is for the placement of 34mm cards.
  2. Hold the 34mm card in the upright position.
  3. Insert the 34mm card into the side where the longer portion of the slot protector was.
  4. DO NOT FORCE THE CARD.  If there is any resistance, check the card orientation and try again.
  5. Auto-detection will occur.