Backup Plus and Seagate Slim

[upbull340]

When I turn my computer off and back on in the morning the external hard drive is found and its visible.  When I do a "restart" after updating software for example the drive is not found and is not visible.  Is there a way to make it visible on a restart without taking the usb cable out of my computer and putting it back in?  Its not easy to get to.  I really like Seagate but at this point I'm ready to exchange the drive with that of another manufacturer.  By the way it hasn't mattered if the power saving feature is on or off when I do the restart. 

Seagate Backup Plus, USB 3.0 (3.0 port and cable), 2TB

Firmware D8.0.1

Seagate Dashboard 2.0.34.0

Windows 7 - 64 bit

As information I also have a GoFlex Desk, USB 2.0, 2TB and it does not experience this problem.  Works as expected and is visible after a shutdown or restart using a USB 3.0 port and 2.0 cable.

Thanks, Jim

[AlanM · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your inquiry!

This probably indicates a problem with your USB 3.0 motherboard drivers.

Yes, nothing to do with the drive, but more probably a problem of drivers.

First thing I would suggest is this:

1. (Disconnect all other USB devices from the computer.)
Right-click on Computer, select Manage.

2. Open the Device Manager.

3. Within the Device Manager, find the drive under Disk Drives. 
4. Right-click on it and choose Uninstall.
5. Wait a few seconds for the icon to disappear, then disconnect the device from the computer (unplug the USB cable).
6. Reboot your computer and wait until Windows is fully started.
7. Reconnect your drive, then reboot and see if the problem recurs.

8. If it does, go back to the Device Manager.

9. Open Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Find the drive's entry there as "USB Mass Storage Device". 
If you have trouble finding which one it is, unplug the drive and look for the one that disappears. Then replug it and the one that appears is the one you need to deal with.

10. Once you know which one it is, right-click on it and choose Uninstall.

11. Wait a few seconds for the icon to disappear, then disconnect the device from the computer (unplug the USB cable).
12. Reboot your computer and wait until Windows is fully started.
13. Reconnect your drive, then reboot and see if the problem recurs.

14. If it does, check with the manufacturer of your motherboard (or the USB controller card, if applicable) to see if they have updated drivers.

[upbull340]

Alan,

Thank you for your prompt response and detailed suggestions.  Unfortunately your suggestions did not work but I now understand that this is a motherboard and/or driver issue.   I will contact Dell. 

I just realized that my other external hard drive, a GoFlex USB is really a USB 3.0 and not 2.0 - forgot that I bought it last year in anticipation of a new machine with 3.0 USB ports.   

Its funny that the GoFlex, USB 3.0 is identified on a restart while the Backup Plus, USB 3.0 fails during this sequence.  I guess its really not that big of a deal.  I do like the drive and the software keeps the backup in what I call "native" file format which I prefer to some of the software out there that makes the files impossible to see unless you open their software.

Now just give me the option to fully expand your software so I can take advantage of this 23" screen.

Again, thank you for responding to my note. 

Jim

[trader914]

I just bought the Seagate Expansion 2TB (USB 3.0). I assume this is backward compatible with USB 2.0 since my pc only has USB 2.0.  I am having the exact same issue as the OP. When I turn the computer off/on, the drive is recognized. But when I RESTART the pc, power is not going to the drive (the little blue light does not come on)  and the pc does not recognize the drive.

I have done everything given here and it still does not work.

I have 2 other external HD attached via the USB ports - a Western Digital 1.5 TB HD (3 year old) and a Samsung 2TB HD (6 months old) and they both work perfectly.

Why is your drive having this problem and how can i fix this? I have no clue where to get updated drivers for my motherboard. It is an old pc.

[AlanM]

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upbull340 wrote:

Now just give me the option to fully expand your software so I can take advantage of this 23" screen.

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Believe me, I wish I could. 

[AlanM]

trader914,

I'm sorry, I am unsure how to proceed if the steps I proposed above don't work. 

Your best bet is to contact Customer Service directly.