If you see a Seagate with any glitch, my tech friends advise to remove all content from it (backup, or your choice) and try starting over with it but always mark the drive as a suspected bad drive.
I might try to remove all the partitions from it, make a new single partition, let it format quick then run a disk test again. This on USB takes a few days on some setups so you can see why some just replace the drive.
-> I need to cover the backup topic. Never drive your last copy of a file down to one place. That's unsafe.
Seagate - Model Number: ST500DM002-1BD142
Dell desktop - Inspiron 3647 – windows 10
Maybe about a month ago started noticing that I had to reboot from time to time in order for the external hard drive to be listed in windows explorer.
Device Manager = Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)
First “Restart your computer” - maybe this will fix it.
Recently backed up important stuff to “DVD”. So we're good there.
Within the past few days issue became more acute. Found something on Google to try – Shutdown and unplug power to computer and unplug power and disconnect USB cable to external drive. Hold power button down for ten seconds to remove reserve power from computer. Reconnect power cord to computer, boot up and wait till “normal” status is achieved. Plug power cord to USB device and then connect USB device cord – check to ensure that the USB device is working as normal. Worked initially, but then the problem returned several hours later.
Found something on Google that suggested I go to Device Manager and uninstall all USB controllers. Did that – rebooted – no luck.
Maybe not an issue but booted into 'safemode' and ran – sfc /scannow – no effect
Changed USB “cable”, rebooted, currently external drive is working. Downloaded and ran a program from Seagate to test external hard drive, results below, came out good.
--------------- SeaTools for Windows v1.4.0.4 ---------------
8/7/2016 9:00:59 AM
Model Number: ST500DM002-1BD142
Serial Number: S2ANE3J7
Firmware Revision: KC47
SMART - Started 8/7/2016 9:00:59 AM
SMART - Pass 8/7/2016 9:01:04 AM
Short DST - Started 8/7/2016 9:01:23 AM
Short DST - Pass 8/7/2016 9:02:26 AM
Fix All Long - Started 8/7/2016 9:03:58 AM
Fix All Long - Pass 8/7/2016 10:25:06 AM
Looking for any suggestions going forward in case I continue to have issues with this external hard drive. I assume last step is to buy a new external hard drive. If I need to buy a new one, maybe some "basic" info I need before I go shopping.
Thanks in advance,
Eddie

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