Actually, this user had a drive that uses a Prolific chipset, which is notorious for failing under load (as is the Initio one). For all users, again, please try to get a drive with a real Oxford chipset. They're much more compatible with OSX!

It would be nice to tell users where to get that information (in case somebody is looking for new drives).

I don't see the chispet of the drives listed nowhere in system profiler.

:p

Often, Prolific and Initio devices list the fact that's what they are in System Profiler. I do suggest a number of drives in the User's Guide that have proven to have Oxford chipsets...