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[wergle]

When I installed Seagate Replica on my vista x64 computer, computer operation became so slow that it was unusable.  It could take up to a minute for anything to be displayed when I right-clicked on a folder.  Double clicking on "computer" was even worse. 

I sent a message to tech support about this.  Their reply said to install new software.  Here are the instructions:

File Version: v3.0.768.5345

File Size: 49.1MB

Supported Operating Systems:
Windows XP SP2 or Higher/Vista (both 32-bit and 64-bit Platforms)

Overview:

The Seagate Replica Software, when installed, will protect your complete system (Operating System & Data) by backing it up to the Seagate Replica Drive.

Procedure:

1. Download and extract Replica_Installation.zip to your Windows PC.

2. Browse to and extract Replica_Installation.zip directly to the Root of Seagate Replica.

First, I don't understand how you can extract a file to the pc as instructed in step 1 and then extract it again directly to the root of replica.  I tried moving the downloaded and extracted file to replica, but it doesn't appear possible to just move a file to replica.  There also doesn't appear to be a root the way I think of it.  When I double click on replica (from computer), several folders appear that are my backup folders. 

Second, when I right click on replica and search for updates, it says no updates are available.  So what was sent to me?

I was able to install and connect to a vista x32 computer and it seems to be working fine.  I just installed and it is doing initial back up as I write this.  

I installed on the 32 bit computer as more of a test than anything.  What I really need backed up is my vista 64 computer?

I hoped I would be able to install the upgrade on the xx32 computer and then move replica to the x64 and it would work.  However, now I don't understand how to install and as I said, when replica checks for updates, it says it has latest software.

So, what should I do?

[wergle · Accepted solution]

Computer operation was also slowed down on my vista 32 computer while replica created a system restore point.  Now that it has completed restore point and back up, it is not as slow, but still seems slower than before installation. 

I would appreciate input from Seagate on my questions below.

[wergle]

Are my questions too hard to answer? Does Seagate read this forum?

Latest thing I tried to safely disconnect, I got an error message along the lines of the drive could not be disconnected because it was in use.  It was not in the middle of backing up or anything, it was basically just sitting there.  I know it is contstantly backing up, but nothing of significance had changed on the computer in several hours.

[wergle]

This is not solved.  I clicked on the solution button hoping to be taken to a page that provided the solution.  Instead it said the problem was solved.  It is not.

[AlanM]

Hi:

Thanks for your participation in the our forums so far. Please remember that this is an online community where many of the responses come from other users, such as yourself. The forum is not a replacement for Customer Service. Seagate representative do from time to time come to lend a hand answering posts but not necessarily on a continual or frequent basis. If you have immediate needs, your best bet is to contact Customer Service directly whether by phone, email, or chat.
Thanks.

That said, do the instructions in this article help at all?

-AlanM
Moderator

[medristy]

I don't think this problem is solved either.  In fact, they didn't even provide a solution, so how they can call it "solved," I don't know.

I think the Seagate Replica idea is fantastic, but it is so slow it is nearly un-usable.  It took me over 72 hours to replicate my approximatey 50G of harddrive file the first time.  I thought "okay, I can deal with that one time.  Now the incremental replications will be much faster."  WRONG!

The first backup replicated over 300,000 files.  Then, on subsequent backups, the Replica would still have to replicate 25,000 - 112,000 file, even if I hardly made any changes to my harddrive.  My Seagate Replica seems to replicate about 20 files/minute, so replicating 112,000 files takes over three days!  All the while the 2.0 GHz CPU is pegged 100%, possibly overheating.  Only by actually doing stuff on the computer can you get the CPU to slow down.

Also,if you try to stop the Replica (to free up your computer CPU) and then restart it later (even using the proper shutdown techniques) you often lose everything it did before and it has to start the whole, agonizinlgy slow process over again.

Also, I've waited through at least three agonizingly slow replications, yet it has never created any "Restore Points."  What's up with that?

So there are obviously may problems that still need to be worked out.

Seagate, this is a great idea, but not ready for prime-time yet.  Hopefully you can fix the algorithms and send updates out to all the current users.

[Othello]

Has this problem been fixed yet? I've had a 250GB Replica for 6 months and have been very patient in seeing if this gets resolved.

Without fail - despite software updates - 180,000 files need to be backed up daily, despite minimal actual changes in files. I have never seen a recovery point be made either.

This *really* needs to get sorted out. And if not, can I just ask is it possible to use the Replica just as a normal external drive where you drag and drop stuff to it yourself? I'm also considering perhaps Norton Ghost.

I really want to like Replica but the software is absolutely appalling.

[JimC1702]

I have the very same problem with a Replica.  Bought it in December 2009 and it worked great for about 2 months.  After that my computer became nearly unusable.  It was freeze every time I tried to use Windows Explorer.  The Replica was running non-stop always backing up files when nothing had been changed.  I couldn't even uninstall it because it said it was in use. 

I finally just unplugged it.  My computer immediately started running fine again.  I haven't re-connected the Replica since.

Money wasted in my opinion and I'll make sure everyone knows that they are junk.  Thanks for nothing Seagate.

[dach]

Seagate engineers need to get on the ball, and do better testing and quality control. How about hire me!

The cause is poorly designed windows explorer hook that affects all OS once you have a large number of files backed up (I have >200,000 files).  This problem kills my 3 year old XP laptop, it slows down my 3 month old Windows 7 Starter netbook.

I dug out the problem and solution.  

The problem is the replica software hooks itself to windows file explorer so that whenever windows explorer is used, replica very slowly looks up its poorly designed database as to when a file was last backed up.  

2 solution I've found:

solution 1) only plug in seagate replica when you are not using the computer.  Like for overnight backups. 

solution 2) unload replica file explorer hook, the seagate replica backups will still happen and be accessible while you are using your computer:

from "cmd" prompt

cd "C:\Program Files\Seagate Replica\bin"

regsvr32 /u Seagate-Replica-Shell.dll

[randomlag]

Well, appears this hasn't been fixed YET. Running Win7 64bit, system is basically unusable using right-click. Had to uninstall since I right-click in explorer a LOT. Same problem on my XP system -even worse since it has 3x the data.

If this is not fixed I'm going to ask for a warranty claim and/or get my money back from Costco since product makes both systems useless. Too bad, I was hoping for less backup hassle, instead I get a system that becomes more unresponsive over time.

I wonder if HP system has the same problem?

I'll try the unhook solution in a bit - pretty sad. But thanks for the workaround dach. Should be standard part of a FIX. I don't need no stinkin explorer hook