Question 1

Will this drive work with Windows 8?

Accepted Answer

Sure it will. If your computer was made within the last 5 years, it will 'know' about large (over 2GB) Hard Drives.

If your question really is, 'Can Windows 8 BOOT from a 3TB Hard Drive?' the answer is still yes, but it's a little more complicated.

Point 1 - When windows (7 or 8) is installed you should ONLY have 1 HDD installed. That is so your OS files AND your recovery files get installed onto the same Hard Disk. These days that is typically a fast SSD drive.

If you already have Win 8 installed, just shut down, add the 3TB disk, and format it as a GPT disk of 3TB (actually it will come out to 2.7 TB or so.) That's if you have the 64 bit version of Windows, for 32b see below.

If you insist on using a 3TB HDD as a boot drive, disconnect all other HDD's, and install, making sure to use "GPT" when the installer asks you how to format the disk. That's because 'MBR' format maxes out at 2.2 TB.

Failing that, simply create 2 MBR partitions, and format the second partition in Disk Manager after Windows installs. By the way, if you have the 32 bit version of Windows 8, this is your ONLY option. You end up with a C: drive and a D: drive this way.

Most preferred is a fast SSD boot drive, with the large drive as D: (or S: or P:, X:, whatever you like) for mass storage

Question 2

Will this work with windows 7?

Accepted Answer

Yes, just so long as you don't use MBR as your partition table. Please use GPT because with MBR there's a 2GB barrier. In other words, 2 separate NTFS partitions if you're using MBR. If you use GPT, you're good. Windows 7 DOES support GPT, so you're in luck! =)

Question 3

Does this come with an internal fan? And is it compatible with Windows 8 operating system?

Accepted Answer

It does NOT have an internal fan. It also does not have a power switch,  but it powers down when the data cable is unplugged from the computer. (it might even power down with the cable left in, but the computer turned off, don't know since my USB3 ports are powered even with my particular system off). It is compatible with Windows 8.

Question 4

will this work on a Mac?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It did on mine.

Question 5

Is this an SAT or ATA drive? Sorry, I'm an old guy.

Accepted Answer

This is SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)

Of course that only makes a difference if you plan to open the case, take out the drive and use the HDD inside a computer using the SATA connector instead of USB.

FYI, the older PATA interface is slower, and only supports drives with max size of 750GB (Compared to 3000GB for this drive)

ATA=PATA.

There was no Serial vs. Parallel back in the 'old days,' only Parallel.
So they just called it ATA for 'Advanced Technology Attachment'

Nowadays they call it PATA, so there's no question that it is the older technology, rather than the newer Serial interface.

Question 6

Mac Compatible yes or no?

Accepted Answer

Looking at the Seagate vendor page  only Windows is listed as tested/supported.
The device has a USB 3 interface which looks to have limited support on some MAC systems.

I would say NO, do not use it on a MAC.

Question 7

Will this work with USB 2.0?

Accepted Answer

Yes. This external drive (and any USB 3.0 device) can plug into and use a standard USB 2.0 port on the computer. It just slows down to the speed of USB 2.0.

Question 8

Is there a larger hard drive than 3 TB  ?????

Thanks---------Jerry

Accepted Answer

First Time buying a Terra byte hard drive keep hearing Seagate is really good for storing, Would I have to keep the power supply plugged in all the time when I use it or just when storing and how long does it last without it if it can go without it?

Question 9

I have an older computer with USB 2.0.  Can I use this drive without buying an additional USB 3.0 PCI adapter card?  Can I use this drive JUST as it comes in the package?

Accepted Answer

USB 3 is downward compatible with USB 2, so yes it will connect. You didn't say much about your computer, if it's really old it might not be able to 'see' a big 3TB drive.

If that's the case, you can use disk manager (if it's Windows) to create two 1.5TB partitions to see all the disk space

Question 10

What hard drive is enclosed inside in case I want to open it up and use it separately?

Accepted Answer

I broke the USB connector on one of mine (I have 12) so I took the drive out and put it in my hot swap bay. It showed 2 partitions and 1 TB could not be accessed. When I tried to format it in Windows it would not let me use GPT which is the only way you can get more than 2 TB. My son used a program on his Linux machine to format GPT and it gets all 3 TB now. I'm guessing there is something screwy in the firmware specially for this USB setup. I could check the firmware version on my regular Seagate drives the same model and see if I can flash it. If not I'll just have to get my kid to format if I ever want to take the drive out of another one.

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