GoFlex, GoFlex Desk, GoFlex Pro, GoFlex Slim, & GoFlex Turbo

[Giacomo_Go]

Looks like many similar posts over several months, without a solution from Seagate, so I'll naively try again:

I have the 1 Tb Freeagent GoFlex drive, plus the upgrade eSATA cable connected to a powered-eSATA port (combo eSATA + USB port for power).

A Dell E6510 laptop with Win 7 SP1, and Seagate Manager 2.2.50 which I've been using successfully on 2 laptops with an older Freeagent Go (USB 2.0 connection).

- Win 7 recognizes the new 1 Tb drive perfectly regardless of which cable I use:

  -- USB 2.0 (original 1Tb drive package) or

  -- eSATA upgrade cable (additional purchase!)

- If I use the eSATA cable ... drive not detected by Seagate Manager, despite Win 7 and all apps having no problem!

- If I use the slow, default USB 2.0 cable ... guess what?! Seagate Manager recognizes the GoFlex drive drive.

What's the problem?!

Better yet, what's the solution?!

Please don't tell me this is some trick to force me to use new partner Memeo's backup software to benefit from the eSATA upgrade cable purchase. I don't want Memeo! I actually like the Seagate Manager software and want to continue using it on both laptops.

But I want to backup via eSATA to this 1 Tb drive.

Seems a reasonable expectation.

[ also in "cables" but no solution there either:

http://forums.seagate.com/t5/GoFlex-Cables-Modules-Memeo/My-1-Tb-Goflex-drops-connection/td-p/80564 ]

[Giacomo_Go]

Any help?

I did just spend >$100 on Seagate hardware that now does not work as advertised

[Giacomo_Go]

This is not an isolated issue:

Seagate-Manager-VS-Seagate-Memeo

Why can't Seagate respond?

[Giacomo_Go]

So for most of 2011, Seagate are ignoring these reports:

Where-is-Seagate-Manager

[Giacomo_Go]

... still no response from Seagate, despite the number of people having problems ...

http://forums.seagate.com/t5/GoFlex-Cables-Modules-Memeo/GoFlex-Pro-and-eSATA-cable-adapter/td-p/574...

Really quite surprising (and disappointing, frustrating, etc)!

[jps007]

Hey fellow,

I got the same problem with an older hard drive (Free Agent Xtreme with ESATA, USB and Firewire).
The problem is very OLD and cause of this MAJOR problem I had to pay 1700€ for recovering my broken Free Agent Xtreme at "Seagate Recovery/ i365", which never worked with Seagate Manger when the ESATA cable was connected.

This way a backup was never made :-(
On my small 2,5" FreeAgentGo just works fine, but with USB 2.0!!!
Back in 2009 I wrote an email to Seagate concerning this "major problem", but the answer was "Seagate Manager supports ESATA"...

SO you are not alone and with that I can despite your theory about Memeo.

Seagate please fix this asap!!! I would even pay you 10-20 €/$ for a Pro version of Seagate Manager (w/ ESATA support)

[Giacomo_Go]

Thanks, jps007, for confirming that Seagate are happy to leave users completely hanging with this issue! How is that possible?! For 2 years a know eSATA incompatibility with Seagate Manager. Nonetheless Seagate continue marketing these drives are universal backup solutions?! I feel robbed! What else would you call such ZERO response to a long standing issue which they actively hide in advertising?!

[AlanM]

I'm sorry, but I think there may be a misunderstanding here.

Seagate Manager was a software bundled with FreeAgent drives, not really for use with other kinds of drives.  I am not sure what you are looking for.  

[Giacomo_Go]

So is that a confirmation that Seagate have intentionally disabled Seagate Manager, my current backup solution for a 320 GB Freeagent Go, from recognizing my new 1TB GoFlex drive + upgrade eSATA cable as a valid "external drive"?!

What I'm looking for are simple answers:

1 - Why does Seagate Manager claim that "No external drives were found" when I have my new 1 TB GoFlex + upgrade eSATA cable attached and fully functional with Win 7?

2 - Why does Seagate Manager have no trouble recognizing the same 1 TB GoFlex when I'm using the default USB 2.0 cable. This simply makes no sense.

3 - Why do you have any doubt that there is something wrong with Seagate marketing my new, large capacity, ultra portable drive as the world's most upgradeable portable hard drive, when the upgrade cable then breaks basic functionality ... with Seagate's own backup solution?

I just don't get it. Is Seagate's position really that I must install a new backup app for every new backup drive?

Honestly, I'm stupefied that there is any doubt about what I'm looking for.

I'm only expecting the obvious, and getting no explanation for why the obvious is not available, or that this is even a problem ...

[AlanM]

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Giacomo_Go wrote:

So is that a confirmation that Seagate have intentionally disabled Seagate Manager, my current backup solution for a 320 GB Freeagent Go, from recognizing my new 1TB GoFlex drive + upgrade eSATA cable as a valid "external drive"?!

The Seagate Manager should work with your FreeAgent Go.  Please let me know if it doesn't. 
But it's not made to work with GoFlex drives.

1 - Why does Seagate Manager claim that "No external drives were found" when I have my new 1 TB GoFlex + upgrade eSATA cable attached and fully functional with Win 7?

Because Seagate Manager is not intended to support GoFlex drives.

2 - Why does Seagate Manager have no trouble recognizing the same 1 TB GoFlex when I'm using the default USB 2.0 cable. This simply makes no sense.

It may have to do with eSATA, to be sure.
But let me make an analogy here - let's say you were just walking along and someone gave you $20, unexpectedly.
Then you continue along your way and someone else gives you $10, unexpectedly.  
Both are unexpected blessings, but the one is not as good as the other, but you'd be foolish to complain about the $10 just because it wasn't $20. So that's what I see here.

3 - Why do you have any doubt that there is something wrong with Seagate marketing my new, large capacity, ultra portable drive as the world's most upgradeable portable hard drive, when the upgrade cable then breaks basic functionality ... with Seagate's own backup solution?

It's not the backup solution for this drive. It's the backup solution for another kind of drive - FreeAgent drives.  It's NOT the backup solution for GoFlex drives.

I just don't get it. Is Seagate's position really that I must install a new backup app for every new backup drive?

No, none of our backup drives (not even Replica) require you to install a new backup app for every new backup drive. 

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