The Seagate Diagnostic software has produced an 8 digit error code. What should I do?

Seagate and Maxtor Manager and SeaTools have diagnostic software built into the program that can test the functionally of the drive. This article explains.

Seagate Manager, Maxtor Manager, OneTouch Manager, and SeaTools have diagnostic software built into the program that can test the functionally of the drive.  If that software has produced a diagnostic code, see the steps below.

Internal drives:
SeaTools will often provide suggestions based on the type of failure diagnostic during testing, follow those suggestions.  If the suggestion is to exchange the drive, please see the warranty services page to determine if the drive is within the warranty period and start the return process.

External drives:
If you are testing a drive in a Windows based computer, be sure the drive is connected to the system via USB.  Some eSATA and Firewire ports can block the diagnostic test and report a false failure.  If the drive continues to report a failure on the USB port then see the warranty services page to determine if the drive is within the warranty period and start the return process.

If you are testing a drive on MacOS then Firewire and USB tests should be reliable, but eSATA errors should be retested on FireWire or USB.  If the drive continues to report a failure on the USB or Firewire port then refer the warranty services page to determine if the drive is within the warranty period and start the return process.

FreeAgent Pro drives can give false diagnostic failures when tested using the FreeAgent Tools and connected via the eSATA interface. 

There is no interpretation of the failure codes as they do not indicate a type of failure, just that the drive has failed to complete the diagnostic successfully.

  1. ⁺ For a limited time of March 25, 2024, 10:00AM Pacific Time ("PT") to April 1, 2024 9:59AM PT, all orders placed at the Seagate store at Seagate.com will receive free ground shipping to addresses located within the United States.