FreeAgent Products

[xlurker]

XP does not launch on my Compaq Presario when power is on to my 1.5TB FreeAgent Desk external drive. My Compaq usually shows a Compaq logo screen for a fraction of one second at the beginning of start up or restart. When power is on to my FreeAgent, that logo remains on my screen and XP load does not occur. This does not occur when power is on to my BusLink brand external drive. I do not notice any other deficiency in my FreeAgent. I intuit that there is something that SeaGate wrote to my FreeAgent that makes my Compaq expect further instructions from FreeAgent at start up. Is there a cure for this quirk?

[MrButkus]

The title is incorrect... PC won't BOOT when USB device attached !

This is not a software, Segate or Maxtor problem.  I bet if you plug in a USB memory stick, the PC won't start either.

I just happen to see this in a new HP computers at work.  My USB stick was preventing that PC from booting correctly.

If you are good in the BIOS, there are settings to make sure that the startup goes from CD, then to the HD.

You can "google.com" the problem, but most suggestions are BIOS related.  BIOS setup screens are different in almost every different computer.  The BIOS is getting fancier allowing you toBOOT from a USB stick.  WHY there is no timeout, so it will go to the next device.  I don't know.

The ONE Setting that always works... in the BIOS, removed the setting for "legacy USB devices"

MAKE SURE you have a PS2 keyboard as the computer will not recognize ANY USB device until Windows starts.

That means no USB keyboard (or wireless keyboard) until Windows start, so you can't get back into the BIOS without a PS2 keyboard connection.

Every different computer has it's own fix, some just won't work.

Someone should invent a USB hub that's only recognized after windows starts.

One response from the web.

When you're in the Boot menu, ensure that the C drive boots first, then the CD/DVD ROM, and then the USB drive (note that your external USB drive will need to be plugged in and turned on in order for it to show up in the list of bootable options). For some PCs you can adjust the boot sequence in a hierarchy by moving the cursor over top of an item and then by pressing the + or - key.

Message Edited by MrButkus on 10-03-2009 11:11 PM

Message Edited by MrButkus on 10-03-2009 11:11 PM

[AlanM]

Thanks MrButkus!

I added this to the Common Issues post at the top of this board.

[Nickji]

I've NEVER had a problem with my notebook booting while ANY OTHER USB device is plugged in to it, but my 1TB Expansion ext.drive prevents windows from booting up. Model No.  ST310005EXD101-RK, Win XP Pro SP3

I am not happy about messing around with the bios - what do I do now?

[smith1978]

Iam having the same problem. I finally put the drive power on a separate power bar, I leave it shutoff until my computer is done powering up. 

 I thing seagate should come up with fix for this. 

[smokefree]

Thanks for the info Mrbutkus SeaGuru.  However, I have a new 64bit win7 machine that DOES NOT have PS2 keyboard connection.  so this is not an option for me.  I will attempt to change the power on sequence for the external USB drive that is giveing me trouble. 

I have NEVER had problems booting ANY machine I have owned (Win2000, XP Professional, XP Media Center, XP Home, Windows 7 64bit both Intel and AMD motherboards) with a USb drive attached until I attempted to re-boot with 1 TB USB external Seagate model ST310005EXA101. 

On the Windows 7 (64 bit, AMD board, 8 gig Ram) I get the " READ DISC ERROR PRESS CTRL+ALT+DEL TO RESTART" message.  I must unplug theSeagate model ST310005EXA101 USB drive, then RESET the BIOS to factory defaults (as the boot order is somehow being changed when this drive is attached!!).  On the windows XP Media Center machine, (P4 Intel, 4 gig ram), the computer locked up at the flash screen and must be "hard reset".

curious...I will now attempt to change the power on settings.

[smokefree]

OK, i found a fix that works for me.  In BIOS, I disabled this device in the boot menu.  Now seagate external ST310005EXA101 device does not power on until after windows 7 starts.  Problem solved (for me).  Of course this means that I can not ever boot from this device, however at least I can re-start the computer without having to remember to un-plug the external Seagate drive first.

[Cantbecanit]

Try this also as you are 64'ing on 7

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=freeagent-downloads&vgnextoid=3723b5b59b7d51...

[spoolin01]

Just installed the 1.5TB FA Desk USB drive.  Having same problem with P4 Intel D865PERC MOBO - boot freezes during POST when the Seagate drive is connected and powered at PC power-on.  I have been using (for 3 yrs, and still do) an Iomega 500GB USB drive that is always powered on when the PC boots up and have never encountered the frozen boot before.  The BIOS settings for that period are:

all USB support enabled (4 levels to configure)

USB boot enabled (though no USB devices are selected in the boot sequence setup)

and yet the PC booted w/o a single issue for > 3 yrs.  Now and then, I've had flash drives, card readers, printers, and other non-HDD USB devices attached during PC power cycling, without ever freezing the boot.

Upon installing the Seagate drive, the boot problem began.  Detaching or unplugging the Seagate drive restores boot at power-up, even with Iomega drive installed and powered on.  I've now disabled USB legacy support, and the USB boot support, with no improvement.

The USB drivers are whatever installed with XP Pro, currently running SP3.  I've uninstalled the Enhanced USB Support driver/device, and allowed it to auto-reinstall.  MOBO BIOS is current, per Intel, as are chipset drivers.

I can move the Seagate power supply to a separate switched power strip, so I can wait for XP to launch before powering up the drive, but it would be nice to have this problem fixed at the source.

[spoolin01]

Should mention, the viewable sequence during POST is

initiation

RAM check

keyboard and mouse recognition

HDD recognition (I think, this flashes by very quickly)

dual boot selection (two internal HDDs running XP Pro)

XP launch

The freeze occurs after keyboard and mouse recognition, but before any acknowledgement of the internal HDDs.