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TarDisk

What is TarDisk?

TarDisk is a small solid state device which provides permanent onboard storage for MacBook Air/Pro through use of the computer’s SDXC port. Each TarDisk is constructed within a unibody aluminum enclosure, is MacBook Model Specific and can be installed without tools. 

Shipping Info 

We ship world-wide using a combination of USPS First Class mail and DHL. Domestic orders usually arrive in 3-5 days. International orders usually take 2 weeks depending on the option selected (but can take as long as 4 weeks) with the buyer responsible for local tariffs and taxes. If premium services are selected, international shipments will take around 4 days. We send shipments out 2-3 times each week.

We ship worldwide for FREE! Priority shipping is also available with rates varying by country. 

How Big is a TarDisk? Technical info.

Are we talking Storage size or Physical size? TarDisk is bigger on the inside than it may appear.

Storage:
TarDisk comes in two* sizes: 128GB or 256GB and can be used with any compatible MacBook, regardless of that computer’s original HD size. *(Older 64GB TarDisk models are still sold by some retailers).

Physical Size:
If compared to an “SD card” a TarDisk is about half the length and generally more powerful. Each TarDisk is specifically tailored for the computer it was designed for. This includes variations in length and width and allows TarDisk to live inside your computer without the danger of being lost or knocked loose. Our shortest TarDisk is 16mm and our longest is 22mm. A full product compatibility chart can be found here with representative images to show size.

All MacBooks support both the 128 and 256GB TarDisk Models. For selecting the correct model, there is no ambiguity -- we have developed a simple one-click piece of software available on the footer of this page to ensure your TarDisk fits perfectly before it is shipped! 

Can I remove my TarDisk?

Absolutely, but it depends on how you intend to use it. TarDisk works really well when it is linked to programs like iTunes, iPhoto, Dropbox etc. If you would like to do this, then no, it shouldn’t be removed too often. However, if you plan to just hold specific files, like a Time Machine Back up or a specific file, then, yes removing it, after you safe eject, is not a problem. If you Pear'ed your TarDisk however, then no, TarDisk should not be removed.

How would you like to use it?

How fast is TarDisk?

TarDisks are built around the same MLC flash memory modules found in many SSDs and powered by high capacity flash controllers developed for high definition media recording. TarDisks transfer data through the UHS-1 SDXC protocol at speed class 3 or above. The peak data transfer of the hardware alone is about 1/5th that of a high performance SSD, however Pear more than makes up for that... 

If Pear'ed, TarDisk maintains a cache on your SSD making any speed differential between TarDisk and your lighting fast SSD, almost unnoticeable. 

Will TarDisk affect my computer’s battery life?

Yes, but not significantly. TarDisk maintains a power draw of around 70 milliwatts. To put that into perspective, for a MacBook Air containing a 50 watt/hour battery and a 7-hour battery life, you’ll see less than a 5 minute loss of life.

Is TarDisk Secure? Do I need to back my data up?

Just like any storage device, it is possible for TarDisk to fail and we strongly recommend that you always backup your data with Time Machine. TarDisk uses the same MLC flash memory modules found in SSDs, where each block is rated for a minimum of 3k write cycles. (SSDs are 5k). Again, Data failure on any storage device is possible and we recommend always backing up your system data.

If you are not yet backing up to the cloud, you can receive 30-days of online Backup for free here. 

Rest assured knowing that TarDisk is water proof up to 72 hours, temperature proof from -13°F to 185°F, shock proof up to 500Gs of shock, immune to airport X-rays, and capable of up to 5000 Gauss of static magnetic field!

Will TarDisk fit in my PC laptop?

Possibly, but probably not perfectly. There is no guarantee that TarDisk will fit in your PC laptop as the SD card slot vary from computer to computer.

TarDisk

My TarDisk does not work, help!

Feel confident knowing that every TarDisk is formatted by hand before it is shipped out! If your TarDisk is not mounting when you plug it in, try shutting down your computer, and while it is off; unplugging the TarDisk and securely plugging it back in TEN-times or more. Feel free to use a credit card or other plastic tool to remove the TarDisk if your nails are short. Repeating this process helps “clean” the electrical connections inside your MacBook which sometimes get blocked with dust or dirt. Remember, never use metal objects to remove your TarDisk, or damage will occur. After this process is completed, turn your computer back on.

  •      • If further troubleshooting is needed repeat the process above and download the “TarDisk Tool” located on the footer of this page. From the File menu, select “Mount all Disks” then select “Where is my TarDisk”. 
  •      • If you prefer to use command line in terminal, you can follow this guide or type the command "diskutil mount /dev/disk1s2". (You may have to change the disk# to suit your system)  
  •      • If you're still having trouble, create a bullet point list of what you have done so far, and send an email over to us. (It may take a few days for us to get back to you, but we will get back to you!) 

My TarDisk is lost in the mail!

Not again… on behalf of shipping carriers everywhere we apologize for any delays and pledge to do everything in our power to help! To deal with this problem as effectively and efficiently as possible please visit this page. 

TarDisk is stuck!?!

Hold on, it should slide right out! TarDisk is precision machined to within .005 inch accuracy, but between that range and the range on your MacBook’s machining, some TarDisks are especially snug. Don’t worry!

  1. Make sure you’ve ejected your TarDisk first (and of course that it is not Pear'ed).
  2. Then, use the edge of a credit card to gently pull it out. Push down on TarDisk to engage the spring mechanism built into your MacBook’s SD port. Do not use anything metal, like scissors or a paperclip, which will damage your TarDisk and SD port.
  3. If you would like a "Guitar-Pick" tool mailed to you, send a self-addressed envelope to us and we will get one in the mail to you! 

We also made a video of our TIGHTEST fitting TarDisk to demonstrate how to remove it with a credit card! Remember to never use a metal object when removing your TarDisk or damage will occur!  

TarDisk is ejecting randomly.

If your find that you have run your computer down to 0% battery, TarDisk will be ejected by OS X, and after a simple re-start TarDisk should appear again.

If you have not run your computer down to 0% battery, but the TarDisk has still ejected, the first thing to try is shutting your computer down and with the computer off unplugging and plugging your TarDisk back in TEN-Times. It is possible that if you rarely used your SDxc port prior to using your TarDisk, the pins in your computer’s slot are dirty and not making good electrical contact with the TarDisk. The act of pushing your TarDisk in and out may fix the problem. (Remember never use metal objects to remove your TarDisk)

If your TarDisk is involuntarily unmounting from your MacBook upon sleep, there are software fixes for you here that will help as this is a setting in OS X. 

“Error 50 Code” — What does this mean?!

This is actually a defect in Apple’s drivers and/or OS X which is a problem not unique to TarDisk. We pre-format all TarDisks into MacOS Extended Journaled, which provides the highest performance experience, however this format may show this error when files are accessed across separate drives when those files contains special characters (? / < > " | > *) in their names. This even more commonly occurs if the file was created on a Windows computer. Luckily, it’s an easy fix;

  1. Format TarDisk into ExFat. You can use DiskUtility to format the Drive; here is a tutorial.   
  2. SMC & Pram Reset. You can follow our tutorial here.
  3. Delete/Rename files.  Especially for files created on a windows computer, make sure to delete special characters from file names; (? / < > " | > *)

My TarDisk does not fit flush.

Remember when inserting TarDisk into your MacBook that the gold contact pins should face the floor and should be inserted into your computer first. 

If your TarDisk is not sitting completely flush, it is likely that you received the wrong model or your are not inserting it correctly. We are happy to replace your TarDisk with the correct model, just ship it back and explain what is going on with a hand-written note and a copy of your original receipt! In the event that you confirmed that you did in fact order the correct model (using the selector software in the footer of this page) and your TarDisk is still not fitting correctly, please get in touch with us: help@TarDisk.com. Please include; 

  1. Your MacBook model number as specifically listed in the TarDisk MacBook Selector (Link to the software is in the footer of this webpage
  2. Your TarDisk model number and receipt
  3. A description of the problem.  

TarDisk

How do I put my Dropbox onto my TarDisk?

    1. Click on the Dropbox icon on the top menu bar.
    2. Click on the gear icon and select "Preferences..."
    3. Click the "Account" tab under the dropdown menu labeled: "Dropbox location" select your TarDisk.

    How do I set up Time Machine to back up to my  TarDisk?

    1. Plug TarDisk into your MacBook. Open Time Machine in Systems Preferences on your Mac.
    2. Click the "select disk" / "select backup disk" button.
    3. In the popup dialogue box, click on the TarDisk icon and then click "use disk”.
    4. If Time Machine asks to reformat the disk, select yes, but be aware that this will delete any data you currently have on your TarDisk. Note: If you want to back up part of your computer, rather than the whole of it on your TarDisk, you can exclude folders from the backup by pressing the "Options..." button in the bottom right hand corner of the Time Machine dialogue box from step 2 above.

    How do I set up iTunes to my TarDisk?

    Setup:

    1. Create a folder in your TarDisk called iTunes_TarDisk
    2. In iTunes, go to iTunes -> Preferences (in the settings bar). In the popup menu choose Advanced tab.
    3. Locate “iTunes Media folder location” & click on the “change” button.
    4. Select the folder you created on your TarDisk iTunes_TarDisk in the finder window and press OK.

    Copy Files to TarDisk:

    1. In the settings bar go to File -> Library -> Organize Library and a popup window will appear.
    2. Select the option “Consolidate Library”. Check this box and hit OK. This may take anywhere between a few minutes and an hour depending on the size of your library.
    3. After you confirmed that everything transferred properly, delete your old iTunes Media folder (/Users/Your-Name/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media).