FreeAgent Products

[MrT]

I am doing this for selfish reasons. I have read a lot of posts that seem to have similar issues to my FreeAgent Drive. I want to see the steps I took "fixes" anyone elses drive.

So I do not post my problem again click here to read the issue I have (had?).

Sum it up, these are the issues I had

• Write delay failures
• Loss of access to file structure after a few write delay failures
• Does not turn off (need to unplug from mains, otherwise after reboot drive is not picked up)
• Constant Loud Clicking sounds when starting up and accessing files.

Steps I took to fix it.

1. I set the Hard Disk "Policies"  on Windows XP to "Optimize for Performance". Forgot to mention that in the inital post.
2. Unpluged it and let it rest for a day. A few hours should do it.
3. I changed the USB port I used, but it does not make a difference as I plugged it in to old port and it still functions.
4. Pluged it back in but placed it on its bottom (before it was on it was standing up using its stand). Tried it at different positions angles until it just suddenly stopped making clicks. I did not do this in one boot, a few times I got loss of access and I had to unplug and replug the drive as it wouldn't turn off even after shutting down the PC. It took over half an hour to get it to work.  Final resting position was on its bottom. Though after removing everything from it, I now have it on its stand and it seems to be functionning fine.

That is all I did. The main step is the way you let the drive rest on your desk. It now works fine as though nothing happened. No noise and it turns off when I shut down the system. Formatted it and now doing a chkdsk and planning to do a Seatools long test tomorrow. I will post the test results here for those who might be interested.

I have no desire to send it back to Seagate to get a refurbished one, so I want to also see if others can fix there drive through this method. I know the steps I took seem trivial but they worked.

Thanks for taking time to read this. If you try the method post your results here

Message Edited by MrT on 09-11-2009 07:43 AM

[MrT · Accepted solution]

Finished the chkdsk and Seatools Long Generic Test and both passed without errors

[BradC]

Hey MrT! Thanks for taking the time to post your findings. This is much appreciated and will surely help others that experienced the same issues. =)

[lithops]

I had a bad delayed write failure on my terabyte, three quarter filled drive. I tried everything in the posts, except changing the registry, to no avail. For example, in command prompt, my drive F: would not even show up, even though in Windows it appeared to be there. Some of the files and folders showed up, but nothing could be read or moved.

I found the EASIEST possible solution. I had another 750 megabyte drive from Seagate. I plugged it in, and ran it for a while, checking that everything on it would open. Then I did the "safely remove hardware" option and unplugged it. I then plugged in the terabyte drive with the delayed write failure.

Everything now worked perfectly!

[WarrenLong]

I am on my second 1.5 TB FreeAgent drive.  First one ran fine while I backed up 160k photos onto it.  Then on the 3rd day, it just started clicking.  Sounded like the heads being reset against the stop.  Happened every 5 or 10 seconds.  I put the drive on its stand (on its side) and it stopped clicking.  I continued using it for a week, not intensively, just updating my backups.  Today I took it and plugged it into a different machine.  Yes, I was able to get my data off, but it was SLOW.  I noticed the ticking once again, so put the drive on its side, and things seemed to go much faster.

But, I no longer trusted the drive, so I returned it to Costco, and got a new, identical one.  And the same thing happened as soon as I plugged it into my computer.  Clicking about once a second, while I was doing the backup.  And this also really slowed down the backup, it was only copying about 1 file per second.  Once again, I put the drive on its side, and was rewarded with a 10 fold increase in speed.  The backup is going on as I type, but I think I will return this drive as well....

[MrT]

Hello Warren,
Lots of people seem to have the same problem. I also found out this is an issue with internal drives I have.

It has been about 10 months now and my external 1TB drive is still working fine, though it is somewhat worrisome that I got it fixed is by placing it differently. Now I can place it in any position and it works. I really can't help but think that there are some loose components within the drive that just need to fall back in place.. it doesn't make sense but neither does the clicking sounds that stop after a few movements, sometimes jerking it when the drive is unplugged (worked with internal drive).

Good luck on the drive

[weavcare]

MrT,

I have had a very similar experience with a FreeAgent External USB 1TB drive on a Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit system.  Suddenly it started making the clicking sounds and I immediately did the various disk checks  and tests (Seatools for Windows) that I could find.  Howver, everytime the drive passed the tests.  I chatted online with a technician and they recommended returning the drive so I filled out the necessary forms online. 
By chance, I took it off of the drive stand and laid it flat on the desk and the clicking sounds went away.  A little comforting yet a little skeptical on reliability.  If the clicking sounds are truly related to the drive read/write mechanism I get the sense that it's only a matter of time until drive failure, but it appears to be working and no clicks.  My delima is whether to continue to store information (music archives, photos, etc.) with the risk of losing it or to replace the drive.

I really don't want to go thru the hassle of returning the drive when it appears OK now and if I may have the same issue with the replacement.  I'm going to wait a week or so before I move forward with this.  Thank you for your post though as it does confirm my experience.

[MrT]

Your welcome weavcare,

       There is always the risk of it dying if you do not return it. I never returned my FreeAgent in the end, and it is still working fine without a noise. And I can place it in any positon and it works without noise. If still clicks in certain positions I would consider returning it, though I can understand the hassel. There is no guarantee of getting a functioning drive. I once had to return an internal drive 4 times before I got a functioning one (return almost as soon as I got it). FOUR TIMES!

[TONYC01]

Hi  iVE GOT AN SEATGATE 1.5TB EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE...MINE KEPT CLICKING FOR WEEEKS THEN I DECIDED TO TURN IT ONTO ITS BACK i.e upside down so rubber feet are showing and the clicking has stoped and now the drive works great. I have NO CLICKS..the light just flashes the odd time...ive also changed my usb cable to a really short one, so by doing this it could be the CORRECT answer.....TRY IT !!1

[samcatluth]

My solution is to remove the drive from the case.  The case is held together with clips.  The top (gray in my case) separates from the bottom.  You will need a flat screwdriver and some patience.  If you are not mechanically inclined have someone who is do it.  This exposes the HD.  Underneath the shock supports are screws.  Remove the drive and unclip the status light from the top.  Place is on a plastic sheet or other non-conductive surface.  Making sure you are grounded remove and insert the circuit board from the drive a few times.  Reinsert it.  Plug in the usb and power.  You won't hear any more clicking.  Now you need to get another enclosure to hold all the parts.  Make sure it is secure...I use a plastic storage box.  Not a great way to have a drive but at least you can use it and save your data.

Jeff B.