Seagate Expansion Portable

Fine one day Gone the next – I inherited this from my Dad and it worked long enough to transfer his data to 2 separate drives that are not kept in the same location. I opened it up and the drive was fine, the board was gone so I can still access the data which makes the obligatory 3 separate backups for critical data. This system is almost bomb proof. Show details

Worst ever. Two different HD failed – DO NOT buy Seagate hard drives. I had two of them failed for no reason at all. One was 2TB and another one was 3TB. I had "backup" on my 2TB drive and then redundancy backup on my 3TB drive. BOTH failed within a week. Lost all data. Family friend also had one of them failed. Google is your friend, seagate has more HD failures than ALL other manufacturers combined. Show details

The worst hard drive to store important stuff – On Saturday 15th April 2023 I purchased so I could put heaps of Documents, Photos and Videos on it using my iMac. Also I can use it to backup my iMac as well. The hard drive went dead in a couple of days so I would recommend buying Western Digital. Show details

Works Great For More Than Just Backups – I've never really had issues with Seagate drives - depending on their use. I generally buy a larger unit every year when the prices come down and swap over data to the larger drive and re-purpose the smaller drives to something else. I've used this unit for about 12 months for backups and external storage as the internal drive that came with my… Read more

laptop was only 1TB. I'd write to the drive 2-3 times a week. Once for either full or partial backups, then any extra files that I couldn't fit on the laptop.

I also bought a second unit and put a few Linux packages on it to evaluate. While using it in this instance won't see lightening speeds, it was a great way of not permanently changing my laptop HDD if I didn't like Linux. But the unit seemed reasonably fast and didn't seem to lag too much unless doing extreme read write tasks (such as video encoding).

After upgrading my laptop to an SSD, I removed the old HDD. I then removed the Seagate backup drive from it's case (once I moved all files over to a larger drive) and using a CD/DVD drive caddy installed it into the laptop permanently. It's been sitting in the laptop with the occasional read/write, but mostly extra storage for over 12 months. While it's worked flawlessly, it does have a weird power down sound (which could be because of the way the laptop powers it down).

I read a few reviews saying they've had issues. While I don't dispute that (because anything can happen to HDD), I would say that with any HDD I'm very careful not to bump them if they have critical information on them. If they do (like backups), they get stored on a shelf. Any there's a backup of those too (which I check every few months or so - just to spin them up).

So while I wouldn't trust any HDD brand, the key is backups. Always have a backup and always have a backup of the backup. For my purposes, I haven't had any issues with my 2TB portable.

Xbox extended HDD – I bought this to expand my Xbox One S disk space and download more games. It works a treat, no noticeable delays from using an external HDD. I keep all my frequently used games on the internal storage, and I have set the external HDD as the default for downloads. Took some time copying over the games when I first got it, but it's been very reliable ever since. Show details

A good small harddisk – This drive is very quiet and works reliable on modern OS/USB3 ports but the write speed of max ~120MB/s is a tad slow especially for a 4TB disk - transferring big files/recordings takes a while! The included usb cable is very short maybe 1 foot long - bring a longer cable if needed.  Show details

Weak USB Connector renders drive useless – I have a 2 year old Seagate 4T external drive, S/N NAAXZDQA. It was used as a back-up drive and subjected to normal use. Recently it began having intermittent "connection problems" so I backed up the data to another drive. I took it to my local computer shop and they confirmed that the on-board USB connector was detached from the board inside the… Read more

drive box and is not repairable. This seems like inferior design and/or inferior manufacturing, considering I have a set of external drives dating back to 2005 and they are all still working 100%.

Seagate portable external hard drive – I have experienced THREE failures with Seagate external portable hard drives. The external hard drive is not recognized or detected by my computer and I can not access all my saved data. DO NOT PURCHASE SEAGATE PORTABLE EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES. I have other brands and have not experienced the same issues. Show details

Don't buy this brand - it was beeping like a wounded animal, now it rarely works – Luckily I don't have too much stored on it. It is about 8 months old. It began to beep incessantly. Now when I am trying to save to it or retrieve files from it, I can't see the drive on my laptop. I have to unplug it then reconnect it and I can use/access it again briefly. I have just started University so luckily this has happened before I… Read more

stored all my research and work there. The beeping was really annoying but at least it let me know there was something wrong. The noise has generally stopped now as has the drive. Very disappointing.

Worst Purchase I've made – No tech support provided, you end up on hold and still no answer. 10am - 7pm support is a load of crock! I've had easier more capable storage and now everything I moved into it is stuck inside it Show details

STAY AWAY - UNRELIABLE – I have had usbs that are more reliable than this hard drive. worst purchasing decision i have ever made. Not only does it not connect to MACS unless you format it but even after you have doone that you have to wait 10 mins for it to connect to any computer or mac.  Show details

worst company to contact – another faceless company that hides there tech support number were only option is email tech support. no in app customer service. this company doesn't provide technical support for their products Toshiba. this hard drive is only ones I've ever had that's failed. I recommend any other brand.

Do Not Buy – I have had three Expansion Portable drives purchased at different times fail. Just not worth the hassle. If your planning on moving files from one computer to another it will probably work, but do not trust these drives with backups.  Show details

The speed – 2 months using this device and I was suffering from the transfer speed, everything backs up successfully but the problem was in the speed every time, a friend recommended me to use a copying program and he especially recommends Gs Richcopy 360 and GoodSync, I choose to try Gs RichCopy 360 to back up my files to Seagate (4TB) and it was successful… Read more

to provide me with high speed in transferring files. For those who need high speed, don't depend on the HHD only, just use a third party copying program with it. I am giving Seagate 3 stars because it still works fine with me.

Absolute piece of JUNK! – For years I have recommended Seagate drives and until recently they have always been reliable. Because I now make use of a laptop far more than in the past I needed portable drives and got s 2TB and a 4TB. I have had NOTHING BUT TROUBLE with both of them. The 2TB is out of warranty so when I (yet again) got the 'drive not ready' message I lost my… Read more

temper and smashed the damn thing into little pieces. The 4TB was already been swapped once while in warranty and all I can say is stay away from this worse than useless line of HDDs. I rely on external HDDs for backups but how can you rely on drives that constantly fail? ABSOLUTE JUNK!

Seagate Recovery Services and Seagate Disc Support Useless – On 10 February 2020, I told Seagate Disc Support that on my original external Seagate HDD all folders were functioning perfectly except for one certain folder. 1. On 20 February 2020, the original 2 TB external Seagate HDD was picked up at my address from a subcontractor of StarTrack, which Seagate Recovery Services Amsterdam (Netherlands)… Read more

received only on 6 May 2020. That could have been to the Coronavirus pandemic. 2. 13 May 2020, Seagate Recovery Services wrote as soon as “you plug your drive into the USB port, a prompt should automatically ask you for a password. Enter the password provided to you via email and click ‘UNLOCK’”. I NEVER received a password by email. 3. On 22 May 2020, I received a parcel containing a replacement external Seagate HDD from Seagate Recovery Services. I immediately replied by email to Seagate Recovery Services telling them that I had NOT received a password by email. I told them that I needed the password urgently, because I could not open the replacement external Seagate HDD. 4. On 25 May 2020, since I had not received an answer from them, I send a reminder to Seagate Recovery Services by email. I also them they should confirm that all other folders contained on the original external Seagate HDD. A courtesy copy was sent to Seagate Disc Support. 5. By 27 May 2020 I had not received an answer from Seagate Recovery Services nor from Seagate Disc Support. Therefore, I sent another reminder to Seagate Recovery Services AND to Seagate Disc Support. I told them that, if I did NOT receive an email to my email address, I would publish my NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE with Seagate on all websites. By 29 May 2020, I have not received an email from Seagate Recovery Services and Seagate Disc Support. This means that the replacement external Seagate HDD is useless, because I NEVER received a password. If I could, I would award Seagate Recovery Services and Seagate Disc Support zero points for not answering my emails sent to them after I received the replacement external Seagate HDD on 22, on 25 and on 27 May 2020.

Disappointed :( – I do weekly backups with external drives. Unfortunately I've noticed that my Toshiba and WD drives have been far more reliable. The warranty process has been really easy and accommodating but you lose trust with the "recertified" drives they send back. The drives that come from China are particularly prone to faults -- and this is all with drives… Read more

that simply sit in an air conditioned office on a desk for a small amount of data transfers every week.

4TB Seagate portable expansion drive failed with a few months – First ever review of any product. 4TB Seagate portable expansion drive failed within a few months after just one incident of power outage. Contacted Seagate and was told warranty is for the product only and does not include data recovery. Which in my opinion, such warranty is virtually useless as the sole purpose of a Hard Drive is to ensure the… Read more

safe storage and access of digital data, and not to ensure the physical "product" itself is scratch free... Whilst I am now aware of the certain data backup/rescue plans available, these plans should really be part of the product package on purchase, given its appalling built quality. And providing a "warranty" is in my opinion misleading. The immense costs and time involved in data recovery is transferred to the customer, yet the precursor and sole reason to data lost is because of a faulty product, which i my opinion is completely unreasonable. Seagate support was surprisingly contactable, yet phone operators offer no real solution, nothing you can't find on their website. Also, very importantly, Seagate don't seem to take feedback and complaints seriously. I have sent numerous emails to the operator with no response and there are no other methods to lodge feedback.

Overall, my experience with Seagate is that the product fails on Quality, Cost and Customer relations/ support.

Please do a 1 minute google search for reviews before you buy any Seagate drives.

Disconnects randomly. Seagate "support" non existent! Useless!! – Hasn't backed up my data since I bought computer. Disconnects and reconnects randomly. tried Seagate support. Nothing to offer. Microsoft useless as well. Will buy something with quality and useful support in the future. Show details

Segate FAIL – Very sorry to say but Seagate have a real lemon on their hands. I travel extensively and photograph. I purchased 4 of these units as storage while traveling (large photo files 64MG up). Were well cared for, never dropped or mishandled yet ALL 4 crashed (unrecoverable) in 6 weeks. POOR Show Segate. Show details

Save your money and look elsewhere! – Bought a Seagate 1tb to put all my family photos on it and now it’s completely dead! Tec guy said cheap components! I said what it cost me over $100 . It will take $500 to recover your darter! I was now very disappointed! Show details

Needs More Power – The drive itself works well, but being a large 4Tb sitting on numerous glass parents. These glass platters need more power to run off a standard USB3 port. Sometimes it works, then it drops off due to a lack of power. This drive requires an external power supply (which it cannot accept), or a high power USB port. Show details

everything works – Purchased a few years ago and is still working, I only plug it every now and then. It is not the fastest option to use on daily basis but since I use it for backup purposes, it doesn't give any problem. Pros: slim nice design, USB 3, for some reason it is light (lighter than my other HDD). Cons: none  Show details

Run - Run away and look for another drive – Had this drive for around 6 months in this time I placed 70,000 + songs and hundreds of my personal photographs on this drive. Today I went to use it after a slight fall (50 cm onto a carpeted surface) and all I was getting was a slight beep and a big fat nothing else. Realizing this drive was in a poor way I decided to open the cover to see if… Read more

the connecting board had come loose - That is when I realized I had been ripped off. Cheap and nasty is the only way to describe this unit - even the cheap Chinese drives on Ebay are better quality. Because the photos on the drive were my own (storms and landscapes) and I occasionally sell some of them I did not want anyone else getting their hands on my "Art" so I decided to destroy the drive. 1 half reasonable crack with a hammer and the drive split open like a rotten banana and a million pieces of "glass" fell out of the opening - The platters of this drive are made of a glass type element that is metal coated like a mirror - This "glass" is around .5 mm thick spinning at up to 5000 rpm contained in a thin aluminum shell. 1 crack in the platter and you will have shrapnel going everywhere. These drives are not only designed to fail but could be potentially dangerous in some situations.

Didn't even work – Bought this to use with my PS4 and decided to test it on my PC first. It doesn't show up in file explorer and just makes a repetitive beeping noise every few seconds. This doesn't even deserve one star. When you pay $98 for an external hard drive, you expect it to work. Well, don't expect this one to work if you buy it.  Show details

Seagate 2nd chance – Quiet a few years back I moved away from Seagate to Western digital as there products we're not lasting under heavy data transfer usage. About 2 years ago I decided to give them another try after years of departing from their products and the 4TB portable Hard-drive has not let me down to date and still under high data transfer and usage rates. Quality seems to have got somewhat better but the real test now is time, so far so good.  Show details

Fixed the problem very well – I bought a 2tb product of Seagate brand and stopped working short after. I was very angry as on that device I had lots of importants file and I did no want to lose averything. I called their customer service and the handled the issue very well. The product was sent to Holland for repair and returned in a few weeks (as scheduled), They managed to… Read more

retrieve all the data on the same device plus they sent me a 4TB device for free. Honestly, well done

Awesome product at a great price – I use this as a external hard drive for my Xbox one. I have had no issues with any save data at all. It is a straight up plug and play unit and does the job well. I will happily buy another one for my computer when I need the storage!  Show details

Works nicely. Great unit – Like this sleek unit very much. It transfers data smoothly and quickly. Have had no hiccups yet. I always use the proper exit strategy suggested by the manufacturer in the instruction brochure prior to removing it from my Laptop. I can say I am very pleased with my data storage device bought from Officeworks in East Victoria Park.  Show details

Worst thing ever – My second one and same problem lost work data now again last one also just month or 2 old same problem with this one the whole thing is my work data is gone. All they can do is give a new one that does not solve my problem but now I see how your customer care.  Show details

Perfect. Very happy with purchase – Excellent product. The design is slim, lightweight and functional. I haven't had a single problem with mine. I have the 2TB and it still has so much space on it. It's loaded with movies, tv shows, music and documents. i've had it for over a year now and it works like brand new. Always opens files quickly and exports / imports even faster. Highly recommend this product.  Show details

Great product – Purchased and used for a year now. So far, with proper care it still functions the same as when I first bought it. It has a really nice sleek design and has proven to be reliable in storing my data. Transfer speeds are average, not too fast but not too slow.  Show details

Great! – Great product, using it currently as a replacement from my previous Seagate 2TB Expansion Desktop and have had no issues with it thus far. Loving the usb cable and not having to use a power cord as well. Very convenient for my job as well as I can just chuck it in my bag.  Show details