FreeAgent Products

[samarkand]

Just adding another data point: Purchased 1.5TB FreeAgent in May, it worked fine for 2 months, then after tipping over once (onto deep-pile shag carpet) when it wasn't even doing anything (it was plugged in, but it wasn't in use), I'm down to just the beeping noise and it not being recognised by the computer. It doens't spin up, it doesn't light up, it just sits there... beeping. About 40GB of data, lost. Fortunately, none of it is irreplacable, but it will be a pain to re-rip our entire music collection, re-back-up our DVDs and the like. I'm tempted to see if, instead of returning it to SeaGate, I can return it to Staples where we purchased it so I can get a different brand. I have an external drive so I can keep my media around without it slowing down my computer. I don't want to have to constantly be worrying that one day I'm going to wake up and it's all going to be mysteriously gone, replaced by a doorstop that beeps.

[Caurry]

Hello everyone! No surprise that I have the same problem. I just wanted someone to tell me the official diagnosis. The truth is my 1 month-drive tipped over 5-8 inches from the ground but kept on working after that for 1 day. Then it died with all the symptons you discribed. So I'm not sure now whether it is still in warranty.  I'm really afraid that they can tell me the drive is dead because of the damage.  

Like everyone here I sure need my data (or at least money) back. At first I was surprised that such a short fall killed it but I couldn't believe Seagate can die out of a sudden. Now I'm bewildered. So I ask you for your diagnoses and advice. 

Thank you.

[JayZ_WA]

No diagnosis here - just a forum for people to exchange stories of drive death.  I had 3 of 4 (1 still going!) die within just a couple months of purchasing them.

You're just joined a not-so-elite group that is holding onto a pile of p**p!  Your data goes on the drive but without $1500+ it doesn't come back off!

They are covered under warranty should you decide you want a replacement and the thought of relying on another Seagate drive!  I replace 3 of these with 3 Western Digital in my HP MediaSmart Server - backing up to another external drive and have been very happy so far, great performance, reliability and peace of mind!

Good luck in the next steps with this...

[Blueline29]

I can't believe how many other people have experienced this problem. When I was shopping for drives, I bought a Seagate because it was a well-known brand and seemed to offer a great bargain for such a large amount of storage. What it has actually delivered is a whirring, beeping nervous breakdown. I can't afford to pay over $1000 for data that is lost due to horrible design by the manufacturer! I trusted them to back up all of my family photos, music, movies, work for school (and work), iTunes purchases--basically, my entire LIFE, and when it all mysteriously disappears, they claim there's no problem?! This is the most asinine situation I have ever heard of. I can't believe a public company this large feels that this is an acceptable way to do business.

I'll doubtlessly end up paying someone to help recover my data, but it darn sure won't be Seagate! They will never get another penny of mine, and I'll do everything in my power to spread the word to everyone I know to ensure that they don't get any of their money, either.

[Caurry]

I just thought that some of us have tried to find out what exactly happened to the drive, I mean mayby someone contacted a non-seagate specialist. On some sites there are comments where people affirm that they soluted the problem (acually none of their ideas worked in my case at least). Anyway I hoped there is someone here who colsulted with an expert.

[JayZ_WA]

When I called support - I said the drive was just clicking, they said ok it's defective and you will need to send it back for replacement.  I asked for ways to resolve, troubleshoot ... it seemed like a run of the mill, 'yup, you got one of those ...'

There was no servicing the drive, only replacement - but first, I had a few options to try and recover my data (either paying i365 or a local service provider).  

You can find some common 'home remedies' to see what you can do, but Seagate certainly wouldn't recommend them (freeze, bang flat on surface, heat ... you can find a list of these online).  The drive did nothing different for me, just remained a pile of crud!

I have it sitting on a shelf waiting for someday when I am less frustrated to try some other things.

Lesson 1) Always have your files backed up to more than one media or at the very least, at least 2 drives.

Lesson 2) Don't rely on Seagate!  I purchased 4 and 3 died in months, that isn't a coincidence - that's a 75% failure rate for me.  Seagate doesn't seem to be bothered by this - it took them a very long time and a huge loss of customer confidence for them to admit an issue with the internal drives, we'll see if they do anything here one day ... but doubt it!

[Servertch]

I completely agree with you! This is my 4th drive from Seagate and I will not be buying a 5th. I do back my file up so their problems did not hurt me but I do feel for others that lose their files.  I am however upset that I am wasting my money on these Seagate hard drives. The only advice that I can give to people that ask me “what to look for” is fide computers without Seagate hard drives and NEVER buy an External Seagate hard drive for any reason.  If any one does have a solution for this problem please let everyone know.

  -MikeNew Western Digital hard drive owner

[recipe7]

Through my sources, I was able to find someone to take a look at my Freeagent Pro 500gb External and have them tell me what happened.

Like many of you, mine dropped from a foot to a carpet, and then the 10-second beep came to be.

I will be shipping it off soon, and I will be getting a quote on the price. From what I was told, it would be around 300-400 dollars.

Small price to pay for years of pictures and vacation videos.

Wish me luck you guys, I know my problem is your problem too!

[AminoAcids]

:::sigh:::

Add me to the list of Seagate FreeAgent XTreme 1.5T users who heard the beep of death and lost everything.  My entire life's photography portolio worth seven figures (!!!) gone in the blink of an eye.  Why didn't I have them backed up?  Because the PC that had all the originals died recently, too, and I was right in the middle of converting to a Mac and had not transfered them yet...so they were temporarily only in one place.  Great timing, huh?  :-/        

[hvafaen]

hi there, i just wanted to say that im very disappointed at seagate. they are a bunch of money draining people who doesnt give a **bleep** about the costumers. their products are just really bad in general terms and the support is awfull.

i see no reason for anyone to buy their products.

i got several replacements which all have crashed, the latest one i had crashed after just 1 week.......... what is this, i mean how bad can it be. they put cheap harddrives and sell it for loads of money trying to be smart.

i lost a total of 4 gigabytes of valuable content and as dumb as I was, I didnt save it anywhere else.

now im using western digital instead and iw had no problems what so ever with it, I suggest you do the same.