Removing Seagate 4TB ext hdd to install in desktop

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tabes

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Dec 24, 2014
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OS: Win 8.1 64bit, I3-4130 @ 3.40ghz, 8GB RAM

My issue is simply that I have an external Seagate 4TB Backup Plus that despite all settings to the contrary goes to sleep and must be unplugged/plugged to reconnect to the desktop. I've tried all the Seagate Dashboard settings and though they work for a few days, inevitably it is undiscoverable and must be reinitialized.

I've successfully removed the DVD drive installed on my Dell desktop without any issues. I see that it is possible to remove a hdd from its enclosure and use it in a desktop.

I'm fine with formatting the Seagate drive if necessary before installation, but I want to make sure that it performed correctly. I don't know if I have to designate it as a slave drive or will that happen automatically. Basic stuff for those who do this all the time, but a huge help for folks like me.

Thanks in advance
 
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D_Know_WD

D_Know_WD

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Jul 30, 2014
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Hi there tabes,

It may be a good idea to start with testing the drive with a brand specific software tool. The results will show you whether there is something wrong with it.
Also, make sure that you back up everything that is on the drive in case you decide to take it out of the enclosure. In case it is a hardware encrypted model, you will not be able to get your data back if the drive is not in the enclosure.
Apart from that, there are some videos on youtube of how to take this drive out of the enclosure.
Also, you can check this tutorial out: http://www.wikihow.com/Add-an-Extra-Hard-Drive

Hope this will help,
D_Know_WD
 
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tabes

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Dec 24, 2014
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Seagate 4TB Backup Plus model SRD0SD0

I also remember seeing something about sector size with Seagate products and I wasn't certain if that was relevant to this install.

 
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tabes

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Dec 24, 2014
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I've used both SeaTools for Windows and Seagate Dashboard, both of which detected no errors. When I restart the drive (unplug and plug) it initializes and everything goes back to normal at least for a little while. After 1-3 days it abruptly disconnects and becomes unmappable from my desktop. I will certainly take advantage of the video walkthrough instruction before I begin.

Thanks
 
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F

fzabkar

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Sep 22, 2010
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SeaTools is a pass-or-fail diagnostic. It will tell you that your drive is OK even if it has as many as 14,000 bad sectors. Instead, I would examine the SMART report with a tool such as CrystalDiskInfo.

http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html

Look for reallocated, pending, or uncorrectable sectors.

As for installing the drive internally, you can do this, but you will not have access to your data. That's because Seagate's (and WD's) 3TB/4TB external enclosures are configured with 4KB sector sizes.
 
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T

tabes

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Dec 24, 2014
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I never had any trouble accessing the files on the external drive so long as it was awake. I copied everything over to my portable drive and existing C:/ with no issues. As D_Know_WD suggested I found a fairly simple walkthrough on Youtube of the removal from the enclosure- voiding any warranty I know- but it worked. I then installed the drive and opened up the BIOS, but I didn't see anything obvious that I needed to change. I used AOMEI partition assistant to clean up the drive and reformat- no problems there.

I'm glad you mentioned the sector size issue, but since it appears to be working normally now I'd imagine that must be resolved with reformatting the drive with the default settings -sacrificing any data in the process.I will certainly try your suggestion of the crystaldiskinfo tool to confirm that the drive is functioning normally.

Thanks to you and the others that took the time to help me with this.
 
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