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

[johnollie]

I just tried reformatting the disk as FAT32 (I was formatting it as HFS extended (journaled)).  That seems to have fixed it, although it would be nice to have a modern file system.

John

[johnollie]

I retract my last post.  After reformatting with a FAT32 file system, I tried to transfer data and it dismounted after copying about 400MB.  Here is the error message:

rsync: mkdir "/Volumes/OLL_BACKUP/jmo" failed: No such file or directory (2)
rsync error: error in file IO (code 11) at /SourceCache/rsync/rsync-40/rsync/main.c(544) [receiver=2.6.9]
rsync: connection unexpectedly closed (8 bytes received so far) [sender]
rsync error: error in rsync protocol data stream (code 12) at /SourceCache/rsync/rsync-40/rsync/io.c(452) [sender=2.6.9]

This occurred while running  a script with consecutive rsync commands. 

I reformatted it as HFS extended (journaled) but for the sake of doing something different, I selected a GUID Partition table.  One again it mounts and apparently works.  It looks to me like the disk is OK but the firmware just doesn't play well with macs.

[nicspa]

I am also having issues with the Go Flex Desk 2TB Drive.  I have a 21.5in iMac running 10.6.8 and 12GB of RAM (my mac never had a software issue until I connected this drive).

It appears that the drive is causing several programs to crash (the most important being finder).  The drive will still appear to be mounted, but when I try to click on any of the files or folders, the drive is unresponsive, and will cause finder and any other program trying to open the file to crash (ie quicktime, etc).

I started out with the seagate software installed, and this issue was happening.  I made sure that the energy saver preferences did not turn off hard disks.  I was forced countless times to shut down my computer by pressing and holding the power button.  I uninstalled the seagate software and any remnants of it, but my drive still becomes unresponsive.

I am currently in the process of copying all my files to another external drive I have so I can return this drive.  Clearly this is a widespread problem with mac users, and it has not been addressed.

[Hanuman]

It pains me to see this trouble continue and continue.
I got to a point with seagate where they were willing to exchange the usb3 doc for a FireWire/usb2 dock to eliminate the incompatibility. I opted to spend $20 at best buy and purchase the FireWire/usb2 dock and have been very happy with no further problems of any kind.

[nicspa]

@Hanuman

I went to Best Buy and purchased the USB/Firewire dock like you did.  Thanks for the info.  So far so good, I will make sure to keep everyone up to date.

On the other hand, we shouldn't have to spend extra money to make a 2TB drive work.  Seagate should offer some sort of remedy for the mac users, but maybe that's too much to ask.

[nicspa]

Just wanted to give you guys an update:

Since I went to Best Buy and picked up the Firewire800/USB 2.0 Desktop Adapter for the external drive I have not had one issue with the drive becoming unresponsive.  I did not install any of the seagate software and the drive works perfectly fine.  I decided to connect the drive using the FireWire cable instead of USB (I don't know if this made a difference at all, but I figured I would let you guys know my exact set up without having any issues).

Good luck to all those who are having issues, I hope this post helps.

[merlynwylld]

Well I think you have nailed the problem of getting these drives into service, but I do think that Seagate should be contacting us as registered end users and offering to send us the Docks. Better yet since I gave them my name and address when I registered a firewire, usb 2.0 dock should just arrive in the next week or so. Yes I know, I never hold my breath!

I've watched this happen over and over with companies getting fat and sloppy then when another company takes their market they get back to making quality product then it repeats.

[merlynwylld]

Alan,

Not seen any input in a while, guess that means you don't have any news to pass on to us but I'm just checking to see if from your past experience what are we looking at for a firmware update? Fall?

Any input would be appreciated. Are these drives update capable, is big question, without being sent in.

[johnollie]

As a last gasp effort I reformatted the drive as HFS extended (journaled) with a GUID partition table.  The drive ran without problems for two weeks and I was able to backup 1.5 TB of data before I packed it up for a move across the country.  I don't know why the type of partition table would fix the problem, but it went from repeatable going offline after 500 MB  or so of data were backed up to working consistently.   I still don't trust it so, so I bought a Western digital disk and am using the Seagate as a second backup.

[dreamvx]

Hi all,

I have the exact problem with the USB3.0 model that I bought for about 2 weeks. I have followed the instructions on installing the latest Mac software, reformatted the drive to Mac formation, installed the latest Mac software, and even use a WinXP in VMWare to set the sleep time to None. 

It stills doesn't work for me! The finder hangs from time to time and the drive icon is there but it will no longer accessable. I have to disconnect and reconnect the usb cable to make it work. Given that I plan to use it for Time Machine, it is really unaccepatable. I called the support and all they asked me to do is to test the cable...

Now I am hearing that people have good successes with the Fireware/usb2 adapter. I would like to know whether buying it will really solve the problem. Could those who bought the adaper post an updates. If it works than I will go and buy one to solve this pain! And hopefully the adapter will be my last Seagate purchase.