The Seagate Expansion desktop drive provides extra storage for your ever-growing collection of files. Instantly add space for more files, consolidate all of your files to a single location or free up space on your computer's internal drive to help improve performance. Setup is straightforward; simply plug in the included power supply and USB cable and you are ready to go. It is automatically recognized by the Windows operating system, so there is no software to install and nothing to configure. Saving files is easy too-just drag-and-drop. Take advantage of the fast data transfer speeds with the USB 3.0 interface by connecting to a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port. USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 for additional system compatibility. System Requirements Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP3 (32-bit and 64-bit) operating system, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port (required for USB 3.0 transfer speeds or backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports at USB 2.0 transfer speeds, compatibility may vary depending on the user's hardware configuration and operating system). Terabytes More Storage Instantly add terabytes of extra storage space without compromising system performance. Plug and Play With no software to install, you'll find installation has never been easier. Just plug it in and go. Fast File Transfers Works with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 to deliver fast transfer speeds. Add Space Immediately Instantly add extra storage space without compromising performance with Seagate Expansion. Ready to Use The Expansion Desktop is ready to use, no need to install software. Simply attach the USB cable to your computer and plug in the power supply. Your computer automatically recognizes the new drive and you can begin sending files USB 3.0 and 2.0 Compatible Works with USB 3.0 to provide ultra-fast transfer speeds as well as USB 2.0, so you don't have to worry about hardware compatibility issues.
The Seagate Expansion desktop drive provides extra storage for your ever-growing collection of files. Instantly add space for more files, consolidate all of your files to a single location or free up space on your computer's internal drive to help improve performance. Setup is straightforward; simply plug in the included power supply and USB cable and you are ready to go. It is automatically recognized by the Windows operating system, so there is no software to install and nothing to configure. Saving files is easy too-just drag-and-drop. Take advantage of the fast data transfer speeds with the USB 3.0 interface by connecting to a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port. USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 for additional system compatibility. System Requirements Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP3 (32-bit and 64-bit) operating system, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port (required for USB 3.0 transfer speeds or backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports at USB 2.0 transfer speeds, compatibility may vary depending on the user's hardware configuration and operating system). Terabytes More Storage Instantly add terabytes of extra storage space without compromising system performance. Plug and Play With no software to install, you'll find installation has never been easier. Just plug it in and go. Fast File Transfers Works with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 to deliver fast transfer speeds. Add Space Immediately Instantly add extra storage space without compromising performance with Seagate Expansion. Ready to Use The Expansion Desktop is ready to use, no need to install software. Simply attach the USB cable to your computer and plug in the power supply. Your computer automatically recognizes the new drive and you can begin sending files USB 3.0 and 2.0 Compatible Works with USB 3.0 to provide ultra-fast transfer speeds as well as USB 2.0, so you don't have to worry about hardware compatibility issues.
The Seagate Expansion desktop drive provides extra storage for your ever-growing collection of files. Instantly add space for more files, consolidate all of your files to a single location or free up space on your computer's internal drive to help improve performance. Setup is straightforward; simply plug in the included power supply and USB cable and you are ready to go. It is automatically recognized by the Windows operating system, so there is no software to install and nothing to configure. Saving files is easy too-just drag-and-drop. Take advantage of the fast data transfer speeds with the USB 3.0 interface by connecting to a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port. USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 for additional system compatibility. System Requirements Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP3 (32-bit and 64-bit) operating system, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port (required for USB 3.0 transfer speeds or backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports at USB 2.0 transfer speeds, compatibility may vary depending on the user's hardware configuration and operating system). Terabytes More Storage Instantly add terabytes of extra storage space without compromising system performance. Plug and Play With no software to install, you'll find installation has never been easier. Just plug it in and go. Fast File Transfers Works with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 to deliver fast transfer speeds. Add Space Immediately Instantly add extra storage space without compromising performance with Seagate Expansion. Ready to Use The Expansion Desktop is ready to use, no need to install software. Simply attach the USB cable to your computer and plug in the power supply. Your computer automatically recognizes the new drive and you can begin sending files USB 3.0 and 2.0 Compatible Works with USB 3.0 to provide ultra-fast transfer speeds as well as USB 2.0, so you don't have to worry about hardware compatibility issues.
The Seagate Expansion desktop drive provides extra storage for your ever-growing collection of files. Instantly add space for more files, consolidate all of your files to a single location or free up space on your computer's internal drive to help improve performance. Setup is straightforward; simply plug in the included power supply and USB cable and you are ready to go. It is automatically recognized by the Windows operating system, so there is no software to install and nothing to configure. Saving files is easy too-just drag-and-drop. Take advantage of the fast data transfer speeds with the USB 3.0 interface by connecting to a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port. USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 for additional system compatibility. System Requirements Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP3 (32-bit and 64-bit) operating system, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port (required for USB 3.0 transfer speeds or backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports at USB 2.0 transfer speeds, compatibility may vary depending on the user's hardware configuration and operating system). Terabytes More Storage Instantly add terabytes of extra storage space without compromising system performance. Plug and Play With no software to install, you'll find installation has never been easier. Just plug it in and go. Fast File Transfers Works with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 to deliver fast transfer speeds. Add Space Immediately Instantly add extra storage space without compromising performance with Seagate Expansion. Ready to Use The Expansion Desktop is ready to use, no need to install software. Simply attach the USB cable to your computer and plug in the power supply. Your computer automatically recognizes the new drive and you can begin sending files USB 3.0 and 2.0 Compatible Works with USB 3.0 to provide ultra-fast transfer speeds as well as USB 2.0, so you don't have to worry about hardware compatibility issues.
Last updated at 05/07/2026 09:17:51
Seagate Expansion 4.9Tera byte External 5900RPM (STEB5000100) HDD
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originally posted on scan.co.uk
I have nothing but praise for Scan, fair prices and great service. I have an 8tb external HDD, purchased in 2019. This is also by Seagate and it's terrific. So quiet you can barely tell it's powered on. I was expecting this Seagate 16tb external HDD to be much the same. Performance wise it seems similar but it's so much noisier. That crunchy noise you used to hear from a hard drive when seeking, which I'd almost forgotten, well that's back. It also has a background hum significantly louder than the old one. So yeah, I wouldn't recommend this I'm afraid.
originally posted on seagate.com
Bought this drive to replace an aging NAS. I didn't need the network connectivity anymore and this was a great value and an excellent drive.A warning to MacOS users, reformat the drive to APFS before using it. I learned that one the hard way. MacOS can struggle with an exFAT partition this size. Just reformat to APFS before using.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
This Seagate drive is an excellent backup drive except that if you are a PC user, it comes formated with exFat rather than the Microsoft NTFS format. While this allows MAC/Apple computers to read files on this system, it does limit certain functions on a Windows machine. Easy to change the format type IF you do this before you copy files to the drive on a PC. If you copy files first, then you will need to format the drive again and lose any data that you copied before the reformat.
Seagate Expansion 4.9Tera byte External 5900RPM (STEB5000100) HDD
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
I have nothing but praise for Scan, fair prices and great service. I have an 8tb external HDD, purchased in 2019. This is also by Seagate and it's terrific. So quiet you can barely tell it's powered on. I was expecting this Seagate 16tb external HDD to be much the same. Performance wise it seems similar but it's so much noisier. That crunchy noise you used to hear from a hard drive when seeking, which I'd almost forgotten, well that's back. It also has a background hum significantly louder than the old one. So yeah, I wouldn't recommend this I'm afraid.
Bought this drive to replace an aging NAS. I didn't need the network connectivity anymore and this was a great value and an excellent drive.A warning to MacOS users, reformat the drive to APFS before using it. I learned that one the hard way. MacOS can struggle with an exFAT partition this size. Just reformat to APFS before using.
This Seagate drive is an excellent backup drive except that if you are a PC user, it comes formated with exFat rather than the Microsoft NTFS format. While this allows MAC/Apple computers to read files on this system, it does limit certain functions on a Windows machine. Easy to change the format type IF you do this before you copy files to the drive on a PC. If you copy files first, then you will need to format the drive again and lose any data that you copied before the reformat.
Review of a 10TB Seagate Hard DriveReason for Purchase and Initial Observations• I recently acquired this hard drive to expand the storage capacity of my makeshift Plex server.• I was informed that its speed might be lacking, and my tests confirmed that it peaked at around 80mbps.• Considering that it's a physical hard disk drive rather than a solid-state drive, I find this performance to be fairly standard.• However, I noticed that it generates a noticeable amount of noise, producing a thumping sound during boot and a whirring noise while reading or writing data.• Given its size, I suppose this level of noise is to be expected, but it's significant enough that I won't be keeping it on my desk as it can cause the wooden surface to vibrate.Data Transfer ... MoreReview of a 10TB Seagate Hard DriveReason for Purchase and Initial Observations• I recently acquired this hard drive to expand the storage capacity of my makeshift Plex server.• I was informed that its speed might be lacking, and my tests confirmed that it peaked at around 80mbps.• Considering that it's a physical hard disk drive rather than a solid-state drive, I find this performance to be fairly standard.• However, I noticed that it generates a noticeable amount of noise, producing a thumping sound during boot and a whirring noise while reading or writing data.• Given its size, I suppose this level of noise is to be expected, but it's significant enough that I won't be keeping it on my desk as it can cause the wooden surface to vibrate.Data Transfer and Performance Expectations• I am currently in the process of transferring 4TB of data onto the hard drive, and the estimated completion time is 11 hours.• Based on its read speed, I anticipate that it should be able to stream multiple (2 or 3) 1080p videos simultaneously without any issues.• However, I plan to store my 4K videos on my smaller and faster 2.5-inch drive.Brand Preference and Future Purchase• I've consistently had positive experiences with Seagate hard drives and have been using them since around 2008.• On the other hand, I exclusively use Samsung for solid-state drives.• I am considering purchasing another one of these 10TB Seagate bad boys but the Plex box will certainly be locked away, closer to the router & where I can't hear it.
I purchased the 12TB model, but received the 16TB model. Although I am happy with this upgrade, I am concerned of potential issues if I needed to file a warranty claim. It works well and benchmarks are decent. This is my offline NAS backup and am happy it was shipped double boxed for improved longevity. More filling between the boxes may have helped reduce impacts during shipping.
I purchased a bunch of these over the past two years and they've been running nearly 24/7 with no issues. Hard drive failures do happen from defects, but this is rare. Far more often heat is the killer. If you do not have an active cooling solution for this drive while writing to it for an extended period of time, then it will either disconnect from your system and require a restart or the drive will fry itself. I highly recommend doing the following before writing any important data onto the drive: 1. Hook up the drive and turn on disk write caching in Windows disk management. 2. Place the drive on its side and point a fan into the bottom vents. 3. Do a FULL format on the drive with the highest allocation unit size. If disk write caching is off then your write ... MoreI purchased a bunch of these over the past two years and they've been running nearly 24/7 with no issues. Hard drive failures do happen from defects, but this is rare. Far more often heat is the killer. If you do not have an active cooling solution for this drive while writing to it for an extended period of time, then it will either disconnect from your system and require a restart or the drive will fry itself. I highly recommend doing the following before writing any important data onto the drive: 1. Hook up the drive and turn on disk write caching in Windows disk management. 2. Place the drive on its side and point a fan into the bottom vents. 3. Do a FULL format on the drive with the highest allocation unit size. If disk write caching is off then your write speeds can plummet to 10 MB/s or worse. The full format will take nearly an entire day to complete, but if the hard drive is defective then there's a good chance it will fail the full format or your subsequent file transfer, in which case you return it and get a new one. Having a fan blowing into the vents while writing to the disk all day is MANDATORY. Make sure the disk is reporting temperatures no higher than 50C or you will have problems. These enclosures used to come with Seagate Archive drives in them, but that changed to Seagate Barracuda Compute drives in the summer of 2017. Both drives use SMR technology rather than traditional PMR, which is why the random write speeds are so awful. The newer Barracuda Compute drives have improved SMR with additional caching that allows them to sustain longer "burst" write speeds to help offset the poor random write performance, but this only lasts a few minutes at best. In short, sequential writes to the drive are nice and speedy (100+ MB/s) provided you have active cooling. Random writes should only be done in short bursts or avoided altogether. The drive is also a good economical choice for mining hard drive based cryptocurrencies like Burstcoin.
This drive is true PnP but in my case needs formatting to NTFS. No problem. It comes with adapters for maybe 8 or so power mains - a significant effort from Seagate but it does not come with a USB-C to drive cable. It claims to be a USB-C but the cable that communicates from the drive to the computer is USB-A. The manual says if I want a USB-C connector I need to buy one. Good grief! As a minor issue, the drive stepper motor is loud to the point is shakes my desk some.
I was very disappointed when I received my product because it did not work. First, the external hard drive would not be recognized as plugged in regardless of what USB port I used on my desktop. I tried it on a laptop and it was the same issue. Secondly, the external hard drive itself kept making a beeping noise when it was plugged in and powered on, Overall I had the product for 1 day and did not get to use it at all.
These 18TB's are my second pair of large Seagate Expansion drives. Just bought a pair of 14TB's a few months ago. I've been using Seagate drives...many of them, for many years. A few have failed, but there is no such thing as an immortal hard drive. That's why we back them up!!! Anyway, I've been a Seagate guy for years and until they decide to make crap drives, I'll continue to store my valuable assets on them. One of the reasons I've started to buy such large drives is because of my Panasonic GH6. That lovely camera ONLY shoots minimum 10bit video files...no more 8bit...thus the files have become larger than life in short order.
I have terabytes of g-drives which are fast and utterly dependable. Thought I'd save some money buying this drive.It erratically mounted; now doesn't mount at all (I've tried all online solutions including the NTSF app); I can see it through system info, but it simply will not mountif you are moving around 16 terabytes of data -- don't do it with an old usb connector. It takes a lifetime.Save yourself time, get a reliable drive with a USB 3 connector. I now own an expensive doorstop.
