Was this content helpful?
How could we make this article more helpful?
For help setting up and using Seagate Expansion SSD, review the frequently asked questions below. For additional support resources, go to Seagate customer support.
Q: Are both ends of the USB cable firmly attached?
A: Review troubleshooting tips for cable connections below:
Q: Is the device connected to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port on your computer or hub?
A: If your device is connected to a Hi-Speed 2.0 port or hub, the inferior performance is normal. Seagate Expansion SSD performance will improve when it is connected to a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port. Otherwise, the device operates at slower USB transfer rates.
Q: Are there other USB devices connected to the same port or hub?
A: Disconnect other USB devices and see if the device’s performance improves.
Q: Will my device’s USB 3.0 cable work with my computer’s USB 2.0 port?
A: Yes, the cable end that plugs into the computer (USB Type A) is compatible with both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. However, the transfer rates are much slower with USB 2.0.
Q: Can I use my device with a USB hub?
A: Yes, the device can be connected to a USB hub. If you use a hub and encounter detection problems, slower than normal transfer rates, random disconnection from your computer or other unusual issues, try connecting the device directly to the computer’s USB port.
Some USB hubs are less than efficient with power management, which can be problematic for connected devices. In such a case, consider trying a powered USB hub that includes a power cable.
Please note that USB 2.0 hubs limit your device’s transfer rates to USB 2.0 speeds.
Q: Can I use my device with a longer cable?
A: Yes, provided it is certified according to USB standards. However, Seagate recommends using the cable shipped with your device for the best results. If you use a longer cable and experience problems with detection, transfer rates or disconnection, use the original cable included with your device.
Q: Did you get an “Error -50” message while copying to a FAT32 volume?
A: When copying files or folders from a computer to a FAT32 volume, certain characters in the names cannot be copied. These characters include, but are not limited to: ? < > / \ :
Check your files and folders to ensure that these characters are not in the names.
If this is a recurring problem or you cannot find files with incompatible characters, consider reformatting the drive to NTFS (Windows users) or HFS+ (Mac users). See Optional Formatting and Partitioning.
Q: Did you get an error message telling you that the drive has been disconnected when coming out of sleep mode?
A: Ignore this message since the drive remounts on the desktop despite the pop-up. Seagate drives conserve power by spinning down when you set your computer to sleep mode. When the computer awakes from sleep mode, the drive may not have enough time to spin up, causing the pop-up to appear.
Q: Is the device listed in Device Manager?
A: All drives appear in at least one place in Device Manager.
Type Device Manager in Search to launch it. Look in the Disk Drives section and, if necessary, click the Plus (+) icon to view the full list of devices. If you’re uncertain that your drive is listed, safely unplug it and then reconnect it. The entry that changes is your Seagate device.
Q: Is your device listed next to an unusual icon?
A: Windows Device Manager usually provides information about failures with peripherals. While the Device Manager can assist with troubleshooting most problems, it may not display the exact cause or provide a precise solution.
An unusual icon next to the device can reveal a problem. For example, instead of the normal icon based on the type of device, it has an exclamation point, question mark or an X. Right click this icon and then choose Properties. The General tab provides a potential reason why the device is not working as expected.
Q: Is your Finder configured to hide hard drives on the desktop?
A: Go to Finder and then check Preferences > General tab > Show these items on the desktop. Confirm that Hard Disks is selected.
Q: Is your device mounting in the operating system?
A: Open Disk Utility at Go > Utilities > Disk Utility. If the device is listed in the left-hand column, check your Finder preferences to see why it is not displayed on the desktop (review the question above).
Q: Does your computer’s configuration meet the minimum system requirements for use with this device?
A: Refer to the product packaging for the list of supported operating systems.