Seagate FreeAgent - Explanation for Problems and Potential Fix

[redman042]

Just came across these articles this morning giving technical information on why Seagate FreeAgent drives do not work right with Linux (and hence the 622/722 DVRs, since they are based on Linux). There is also a workaround, though I do not know Linux so I can't understand these commands. Anyway, if this fix were to be implemented on our DVRs, Dish would have to do it in their next update, obviously.

Seagate FreeAgent drives not down with Linux? - Engadget

Diane Trout - FreeAgent Drives

I know you can just disable the auto shutdown in the drive, but I have been avoiding this, because I want the drive to last.

 

[JEFFinINDY]

Just came across these articles this morning giving technical information on why Seagate FreeAgent drives do not work right with Linux (and hence the 622/722 DVRs, since they are based on Linux). There is also a workaround, though I do not know Linux so I can't understand these commands. Anyway, if this fix were to be implemented on our DVRs, Dish would have to do it in their next update, obviously.

Seagate FreeAgent drives not down with Linux? - Engadget

Diane Trout - FreeAgent Drives

I know you can just disable the auto shutdown in the drive, but I have been avoiding this, because I want the drive to last.

And it's funny that Dish brought in Seagate to one of their Charlie Chats earlier this year, and theirs are the only drives that don't work!

 

[MikeD-C05]

And of course, I bought two of them based on what I saw on the Charlie chat.

 

[KAB]

Just came across these articles this morning giving technical information on why Seagate FreeAgent drives do not work right with Linux (and hence the 622/722 DVRs, since they are based on Linux). There is also a workaround, though I do not know Linux so I can't understand these commands. Anyway, if this fix were to be implemented on our DVRs, Dish would have to do it in their next update, obviously.

Seagate FreeAgent drives not down with Linux? - Engadget

Diane Trout - FreeAgent Drives

I know you can just disable the auto shutdown in the drive, but I have been avoiding this, because I want the drive to last.

Just turn it off when not in use. When you turn it back on it will be awake and ready to go. That's the best way to make it last. And don't assume there is going to be a fix real soon. The Linux factor is not a isolated problem just with Dish.

 

[Foxbat]

I downloaded the FreeAgent utility from Seagate and disabled the Sleep feature before I plugged it in to my ViP622. It's been working great ever since. I don't see what the big deal about letting the drive spin is anyway. It comes with a 5 year warranty, so I expect it to last at least that long, whether it's spun up 100% or shuts itself off every 15 minutes.

I don't think the FreeAgent enclosure is the problem, BTW. I have a 500GB Seagate drive in a IO Magic case and it spins down after 15 minutes or so. It exhibits the same issue on my Mac that the people were mentioning on the Engadget site with the FreeAgent drive. Now that I have the Seagate software, I'm going to try disabling the Sleep on the piecemeal 500GB EHD and see if that makes the drive more useful.

 

[MikeD-C05]

I did the same thing and disabled my sleep interval on both of my hard drives. I keep them plugged into a plug on my back tv that can be turned off and on when I want to use it. On my main 722 it is plugged into an extension cord with my lights behind my tv and it is all plugged into my a/v receiver. When it goes off , the lights and the hard drive go off too. They have worked just fine with very little if any problems.

 

[ekilgus]

These problems and others (such as passive cooling) are the reasons I elected to go with the Apricorn EZ BUS Desktop SATA enclosure. It has a 3.5 inch cooling fan so it can run slower to get the cooling necessary with almost no noise at all. Really, I can't hear anything when i'm standing 2 feet from it. It's made of aluminum (no plastic here) and is silver which matches my 622 very well. It's been running for over 3 months now with zero problems.

I don't like the freeagent stuff but I do like the Seagate drives which is why I put one (ST3500641AS) in this enclosure.