Seagate FreeAgent Go 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive Comments?

[Ant]

Hello!

Does anyone here use this external HDD? If so, then do you like it? It
seems overall ratings and reviews on both Amazon and NewEgg are
positive/decent, but I noticed some negative ones like getting
refurbished ones when RMA'ed (also a pain in the butt to do) under its
five years warranty, dying early, reformatting cause drive to fail
(huh?), etc.

I noticed Office Depot and Amazon give free docking stations with 500 GB
models for about 100 bucks. I am thinking of buying one to use with
Windows (do they have 98 SE drivers?), Linux, and Mac OS X. I am not
planning to use its provided software, but just use Windows Explorer,
Mac OS X's Finder, etc. with TrueCrypt program for data security.

Thank you in advance. :)
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[Franc Zabkar]

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:49:18 -0800, Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> put finger
to keyboard and composed:

>I am thinking of buying one to use with Windows (do they have 98 SE drivers?

If you can't find specific Win98 drivers, you could always use Maximus
Decim's universal USB mass storage driver set:

http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php

AFAICT, it uses Win ME components to provide support for USB 2.0 and
USB 1.1 host controllers and USB mass storage devices.

Alternatively, try this universal driver:

http://www.wintricks.it/faq/usbpen98.html

http://www.wintricks.it/download/wtgenusb.zip

This Usenet post may be helpful:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion/msg/dcdfc84e7e2ce6d5

BTW, if you're like me, and you're still using a Win98SE box, then
check whether your hardware has a USB 2.0 host controller. Look for an
Enhanced Host Controller in Device Manager. At USB 1.1 speeds it will
take several days to fill up your hard drive.

- Franc Zabkar
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[Bob Willard]

Ant wrote:
> Hello!
>
> Does anyone here use this external HDD? If so, then do you like it? It
> seems overall ratings and reviews on both Amazon and NewEgg are
> positive/decent, but I noticed some negative ones like getting

> refurbished ones when RMA'ed ...

Nothing wrong with a company replacing RMA'd products with refurbs;
that is standard and acceptable business practice.
--
Cheers, Bob

[Ant]

On 11/22/2009 6:53 PM PT, Franc Zabkar typed:

>> I am thinking of buying one to use with Windows (do they have 98 SE drivers?
>
> If you can't find specific Win98 drivers, you could always use Maximus
> Decim's universal USB mass storage driver set:
>
> http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php
>
> AFAICT, it uses Win ME components to provide support for USB 2.0 and
> USB 1.1 host controllers and USB mass storage devices.
>
> Alternatively, try this universal driver:
>
> http://www.wintricks.it/faq/usbpen98.html
>
> http://www.wintricks.it/download/wtgenusb.zip
>
> This Usenet post may be helpful:
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion/msg/dcdfc84e7e2ce6d5
>
> BTW, if you're like me, and you're still using a Win98SE box, then
> check whether your hardware has a USB 2.0 host controller. Look for an
> Enhanced Host Controller in Device Manager. At USB 1.1 speeds it will
> take several days to fill up your hard drive.

Thanks Franc. It's definitely USB1.1 since all USB devices transfer very
slow, but it is not for big transfers. ;) I hope old Windows are never
used. Although my old PowerBook G4 is USB1.1 too. Ugh!
--
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industrious about?" --Henry David Thoreau

[Rod Speed]

Bob Willard wrote
> Ant wrote

Clearly an operation that doesnt do it like that is much better to deal with tho.