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

[neoprimal]

I have 2 GoFlex Desk drives. I'm currently using Windows 8 release preview. Neither of my drives have any lights on them in Windows 8 and I would at the very least like to see a power light.

I plugged the drive into a Windows 7 machine and made sure to enable lights but it doesn't carry over. I was hoping it was firmware based.

As anyone who tried it knows, Seagate Dashboard (aka Memeo Launcher) does not under any circumstance work under Windows 8. 

Is there currently any tool Seagate has to enable at least the darn lights to work in my drive? Hard drive operation isn't supposed to be OS dependent and I consider the lights on my external hard drive a part of it's operation.

Thanks.

[AlanM]

Actually, the lights are not part of the hard drive operation. The hard drive's operation is to write and read data, and that's all.

The lights and anything else is gravy. Also, you're referring to the lights on the base of the GF Desk, aren't you? Those are an approximate capacity gauge.

I'm sorry they don't appear to be supported well in Windows 8 right now, but hopefully after it has been out for a little bit we'll be able to post updated software for download.

[neoprimal]

Not to be rude but are you sure about that?

"Actually, the lights are not part of the hard drive operation. The hard drive's operation is to write and read data, and that's all.

The lights and anything else is gravy. Also, you're referring to the lights on the base of the GF Desk, aren't you? Those are an approximate capacity gauge."

Is this really Seagates stance on external hard drives? Can you show or name me a single other external hard drive without a light to at least show that the drive is powered up? This makes no sense whatsoever. And no matter what you say, I do still consider the lights a part of the operation, especially with the GoFlex desk series which are all about those lights indication how much data is on the drive but either way, I was actually refering to the light on the left of those, which indicates power. It would be very nice to at least have that work on it's own. 

So if Seagate decides never to update the Dashboard, what you're saying is that I'll never get those lights to work again and that is considered normal operation since "the lights are not part of the hard drive operation"? Wow, just wow. 

[vgrano]

My laptop died today. I purchased a new one only to find the only OS available now is Win 8. Thankfully all my data is on my Go Flex 1.5 Tb. CTC the dashboard will not work with 8. I am going to try to import the contents of the drive and see if it works without the dashboard. Leaving town in a few hours...great way to start the trip!

[kenji57_? · Accepted solution]

You really do not need Dashboard software to use an external drive. Just plug it in and use Windows File Explorer. 

Win XP, Vista, 7, 8 it doesn't matter - it is just a hard drive. I have never used Seagate Dashboard on any of my external drives so I don't know what magical experience I am missing, but I really don't care.

I just want to browse, read and write data and File Explorer does exactly that... and the best thing is that it works with any brand of external drive.

Edit: but if the Dashboard and Memeo are very important for you, try the software downloads posted by STX_Monk http://forums.seagate.com/t5/GoFlex-Net-GoFlex-Home/Windows-8-Roadmap/td-p/178352

[neoprimal]

Thanks Kenji,

For the record, it's a little sad that you're more help than a Seagate mod. I wish STX was the one to answer me initially. Alan's answer was almost infuriating.

I've used the software STX posted and my content and power lights are back along with the functionality of setting sleep times and testing the USB connected drives. Seagate isn't so terrible after all.

[AskTheLeaf]

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neoprimal wrote:

Thanks Kenji,

For the record, it's a little sad that you're more help than a Seagate mod. I wish STX was the one to answer me initially. Alan's answer was almost infuriating.

I've used the software STX posted and my content and power lights are back along with the functionality of setting sleep times and testing the USB connected drives. Seagate isn't so terrible after all.

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Thanks.

-AskTheLeaf
Moderator