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View Full Version : Seagate 4GB Photo Drive + EOS20D = Poor Perfromance

FlyingPete
13th of January 2006 (Fri), 21:14
I have just had the chance to test a new 4GB Seagate Photo Hard Disk on my 20D.

If you are also considering these, don't until further investigation. It took 20 minutes to format the drive, and it takes around 10 minutes to clear a full buffer. Now I have heard of slow, but that is just plain stupid.

I have had a quick look up on the issue and found that the 20D firmware 2.0.3 or later requires the drive firmware to be 3.0.2, mine is 3.0.1. I am wondering if that is to solve that particular issue. Unfortunalty there is no way to upgrade the drive firmware at home, so either way it is going back.

I will dig further into this issue to see if the later firmware actually resolves this issue, in the mean time if you are considering a 20D/Seagate Photo Hard Disk (Microdrive) combination, make sure you can return it if it doesn't work for you.
FlyingPete
15th of January 2006 (Sun), 15:55
UPDATE: Spoke to Seagate, this is a known issue with the 20D running 2.0.3 Firmware (earlier seems to be OK). The fix is to update the drive firmware to the latest version. Unfortunately you cannot do this yourself and the drive needs to be exchanged at a Seagate Service Centre.

I am about to go through the motions to get this drive swapped, and will update on progress.

In the meantime if you have a 20D and are considering the Seagate Photo Drive, make sure it has firmware 3.0.2 or later.
Bozric
19th of January 2006 (Thu), 11:36
I'm definitely interested in the turn around time for you, as I have the 4GB Seagate card and really would prefer not to be without my largest card for an extended period.
FlyingPete
19th of January 2006 (Thu), 13:49
I'm definitely interested in the turn around time for you, as I have the 4GB Seagate card and really would prefer not to be without my largest card for an extended period.

Well it has been a week and I have still heard nothing from the local supplier, I will chase them for the forth time today. I am thinking refund time for me.
Bozric
19th of January 2006 (Thu), 14:00
That's what I was afraid of - the email I received from Seagate made it sound like it would be greater than a month turnaround time... grrrrrrr!