Solved Seagate External Hard Drive - recognition query

[LevelBest]

Hi

I have recently bought a Seagate External Hardrive, 1 TB, USB 3 - for the purpose of creating system images.

The Seagate driver loaded normally when connecting to the laptop for the first time and I have been successfully saving pictures/music/docs etc to it and transferring successfully back to the laptop, so that part is working.

I had created a system image on the Seagate and can see this listed however, a few weeks back I encountered a problem and decided to run the image. I went into the Recovery environment but the computer would not recognise the Seagate external hard drive.

I didn't actually run the image in the end as I resolved the problem but I need to know how to overcome this should I need to run an image in the future.

I saw on another forum that I need to load the USB 3 Host Controller andHub drivers at the beginning of the restore process (screenshot below) and the computer should then pick up the image. Is this correct? Is it normal to do this for any external hard drive? I've always used DVDs for system images and the computer recognises those straight away.

LevelBest

 

[Eric3742]

I don't think you need to run in Recovery environment.

Using normal Windows to restore from your backup.
It will ask you to select which Backup.file to restore from.
Windows will handle to restore, and may need to reboot, when the restore is completed.

As it is not about recovery, it mean to restore your backup (files, if any) to the state when you do the Backup.

For me, i usually do clone my hard disk as just swap the HDD.

 

[RolandJS]

I'd like to learn more; what software made what image? Full image of the OS partition? Full image of the whole hard-drive?

 

[LevelBest]

I have run a system image several times. I am not sure if there is more than one way of doing this but I have always loaded the Windows Repair Disc which then gives you a number of repair options, one of which is 'system image recovery'. I back up my files and folders separately, although a system image will capture these at the time of taking the system image.

So, my query is, why is the Seagate not being recognised when trying to run a system image in this way, when I can save documents to it and also save a system image to it? Do I just need to load the USB 3 Host Controller and Hub drivers at the beginning of the process. As I say, I've always used DVDs which are recognised by the computer no problem. I've never used an external hard drive to run a system image, so am not sure what is normal?

Can anyone clarify?

LevelBest

 

[Anak]

Some thoughts...We need to see if your machine and software are recognizing the Seagate External Hardrive (SEH).

• Are you plugging the SEH into the same USB port that you have used previously?

And,

• The USB drivers may have been corrupted during your efforts to cleanup the recent problem you had.

If the former is false plug the SEH into the regularly used USB slot turn on the SEH and see if it is being recognized.
If true or false I'd like you to run this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

Do you have the seagate/maxtor manager program? By using the disk management screenshot and manager program it will show us if Windows and the software can see the drive.
You do not have to post a screenshot of the manager program a simple yes it can see it or no it can not will suffice.


If you still can't see the SEH, it wouldn't hurt to refresh the USB drivers.

• Plug in and turn on the SEH
• Open Windows Explorer
• Right mouse click on Computer
• Left click on Manage
• Left click on Device Manager
• Expand the USB list
• Find the USB device for the SEH (it may not say SEH, but something like External Mass storage device)
• Left click - Uninstall
• Turn off the external USB hard drive
• Turn on the external USB hard drive and let it find and install the driver(s)
• Can you see and work with the SEH after the drivers are reinstalled?

I would still like to see a screenshot of your disk management, preferably one before you reinstall the USB drivers and one after the reinstall, if it is different.

 

[LevelBest]

Hi there Anak

I hadn't realised you'd posted, apologies for not getting back sooner.

The SEH works on all USBs. It is some months ago now I tried to run the system image but I do remember at that time trying all the ports thinking that one of them maybe playing up but the computer could not see the system image on the SEH no matter what port I tried. I'm pretty sure there's nothing wrong with the USB ports, they all work OK for all other devices. In fact, they work for the SEH, I can see all my docs/music etc on it and the windows image I created. It shows up in device manager too (as below).

I don't have the Seagate Maxtor programme, not sure what that is.

I'm a bit nervous about uninstalling a USB port. I looked at the USBs under disc management - with the SEH plugged in - but there was no clue as to which one it was plugged into. I've gone into device and printers and it says the drivers are up to date (I purchased the SEH about April time this year).

So, as far as I can see the computer is recognising the SEH, but is not able to see the image when I'm trying to run a system image.

I do recall when I was gearing up to run the system image, there was an option to install drivers for a device but it threw me as I've used DVDs which the computer finds immediately, so I abandoned and since have fixed the computer. But I really want to be able to create system images on the SEH rather than DVDs.

LevelBest

 

[Anak]

Hi LB,

If you can see the SEH and the files on it, hold off on reinstalling the USB drivers.

Let me ask you this...

You can see all the files including the backup,

In fact, they work for the SEH, I can see all my docs/music etc on it and the windows image I created.

• Have you tried accessing any of them?

• Can you open any files on the SEH? Such as; You can open the docs/music, but not the backup image?

• Or is it? You can not open any file on the SEH.

Are you getting any read-only errors?


The seagate/maxtor manager program may have been factory installed on the SEH, do you see any Folders other than your Folders/Files?
By the way; It would help if you can supply a model and/or product number for the SEH, is it an UltraSlim, just a Slim, or?

http://Find Your Model and Serial Numbers | www.seagate.com/support

 

[Eric3742]

I am not sure on this, as i had done so in the past. Currently, i do it by clone HDD partition.

When you do a system image backup, there is a need to create system repair disc.
This repair disc is to boot up with several function.

I assume that you do not have this repair disc.
So the PC do not able to read the SEH on the USB port.

For the clone, i am using O&O DiskImage 4 for Windows, like boot to Windows.
This O&O DiskImage version 4 is CD type.
It is bootable and able to use both keyboard and mouse, including USB, if any.
This mean that all relevant drivers are include.

So, LeveBest, if you can create this 'bootable' System Repair disc for system image, should be included with USB drivers.
What you are doing currently, it may not have any USB drivers.

Using Windows OS, all the generic drivers are already included.

 

[LevelBest]

Hi Anak

Just to begin with answering Eric's post, yes I do have a windows repair disc. I have run system images several times successfully with no problem from DVDs. I want to move to saving them every month as I've recently had a major problem and had to download six years of windows downloads and I don't want to be in that position again.

Anak, yes I can see all word documents, music, photos and windows image backups on the SEH. I've transferred documents etc to it and from it. I can access them with no problem.

I'm not getting any read-only errors. In fact last night I created another system image and the computer immediately found the SEH (screenshot below), so I don't understand why it can't detect when I'm attempting to run the system image (from the repair disc).

It was purchased in April 2016. Backup Plus Slim Portable 1 TB. Model SRD00F1.

I might leave any further experimenting until the weekend and try to run an image again and see what happens.

LevelBest

 

[Anak]

LB, You may have mentioned it earlier, but I can't find it; What program do you use to do your images? If it is the native windows backup program, would you be up to trying something different?

Some members use this: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

Meanwhile I'm going to see if I can round up some extra help so you may see some different names.

 

[DavidE]

Here is a tutorial for using the Windows built-in utility to restore an image:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html
Read through it, it might help.

I don't use the Windows built-in utility, i use Macrium Reflect free.

 

[Anak]

LB, go over the tutorial that David linked to and see if you can use either Step.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello LB my small two cents worth mate I like David and Anak use Macrium for images and set that to be done on a weekly basis and luckily I have never had to resort to an image for any problems.

What I am unsure about is why do you need to use these images if they can be seen on that drive then the tutorial David linked should just let you restore from any particular image. Personally I never keep more than four for any length of time because it is just duplicating what you have and a bit more I see no advantage in having an image that may be over 12 months old for example.

 

[LevelBest]

Hi All

Thanks for your input. I think the key to resolving this is going to be in Step 2. 6 of David's tutorial "install a driver..... that is attached to the computer but is not in the list of available images."

I'd like to get this working as Windows system image has worked in the past for me. I will leave this now until the weekend as work is hard graft at the moment. I'll report back how I get on.

Thanks to all.

LB

 

[LevelBest]

Hi

I've run the system image this morning from the Control Panel, Back up and Restore method and the Seagate was detected immediately with the backup I'd created on 25 July. I'm wondering now whether it being unrecognised initially when trying to access system restore was to do with my previous problem of 'preparing security options' error and now I've fixed that, the computer is recognising the Seagate. So I can now start to create monthly system images. Happy days ........ thanks to everyone for their help.

LevelBest

 

[Anak]

You're welcome LB, that is great news that you have everything sorted out!

The SEH could have had security/permission protocols that needed addressed and fixing your security options error may have touched on them.
You could check the security tab in properties for the SEH to see what group/user permissions you have for it, but it would have helped if you knew what permissions you had before you fixed the security options error.

Take a break and enjoy what's left of your weekend...

Steve

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep good going mate and if you don't mind losing a little of the "bling" like transparency this is a great tutorial for speeding up and making your machine/s more efficiency - a bit OT but worth the effort
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[LevelBest]

Hi both

Thanks for that, I had done a couple of the things on the list but I'm pretty much happy with the speed of the computer.

I must admit, one thing that puzzles me about the Seagate, I wonder if it would have been recognised if I'd accessed system restore via the usual way I do it and that is to use the system repair disc and get to it that way (even though the last part of the process is the same). I wonder by booting the computer and attaching the Seagate, and getting into System Restore via the Control Panel for some reason made the difference in it being recognised. I guess the lesson there is to run future System Images via the Control Panel, although I hope I won't have to re-visit that scenario any time soon!

Thanks to all.

LevelBest