After seeing it mentioned repeatedly on the sub recently, I decided to take the plunge and pick up a 2TB Seagate Backup Plus from Amazon. Drive arrived, and straight away I (carefully!) pulled it apart following the guide, and I eventually got the drive installed and set up, and in that regard, everything is awesome. However, ever since doing that my PS4 is making a lot more noise. Clicking noise of death. Not something you want to hear coming from a harddrive containing your baby's birth video and other backups that you weren't wanting.

• Seagate Backup Plus Making Clicking Noise Canceling
• How To Use Seagate Backup Plus
• Seagate Backup Plus Software
• Seagate Backup Plus Transfer Speed

Buying hard drives is most of the time frightening to its frequent buyers. There is a list of innovations to select from and each has its own merits as well as demerits. The selection of Seagate Backup Plus VS Seagate Expansion is the same way intimidating. Because both are solid performers and have distinctive pros whether it comes to cost or advanced features. The Backup Plus has a plethora to offer, while on the other hand, the Expansion is also worth mentioning.

In This Article

• Comparison of Seagate Backup Plus VS Seagate Expansion:

Seagate Backup Plus VS Seagate Expansion

What Seagate Backup Plus holds for you? :

It supports a 500 GB to 4 TB storage capacity, which in turn allows you to keep your mandatory data applications and digital library safe. Also, because of its Backup Plus’ 640 Mbps external data transfer rate, it enables you to read and write your ‘never to be missed’ data. The Backup Plus has a USB 3.0 interface system which lets you connect with all sorts of other compatible devices.

What Seagate Expansion holds for you? :

However, the Seagate Expansion owns a 320 GB to 4 TB storage capacity, which is a bumper prize! Moreover, with the Expansion’s 5400 RPM rotation speed, now you can load your favorite games in no time. Also, you can save your time searching through files via its 16 MB buffer size. Just like the former one, it has a 640 Mbps external data transfer rate so that you can enjoy fast access to huge data and the Expansion’s USB 3.0 interface system assuring connectivity with other devices.

Comparison of Seagate Backup Plus VS Seagate Expansion:

Below we have provided a comparison between Seagate Backup Plus and Seagate Expansion on similarities and dissimilarities basis mentioning both their features and performance. Both are well matched in some aspects yet deviating in others. In the end, you would not go wrong with your decision.

1. FEATURES:
2. Similarities:

Similarities among them are clearly detailed under:

• Brand:

Both the Seagate Expansion and Seagate Backup Plus have the same brand that is ‘Seagate.’

• Brand_enum:

Just like their brand name they have the exact brand_enum, i.e. ‘Seagate.’

• Form Factor:

They have same Form Factor that is ‘3.5” and 2.5”’.

• Hard Drive Type:

Both of the products have the same Hard Drive Type that is HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Moreover, both are portable as well.

Seagate Backup Plus Making Clicking Noise Canceling

• Hard Drives Enclosure:

The Hard Drives Enclosure of both the products is ‘External.’

1. Dissimilarities:

Some of the major dissimilarities between Seagate Backup Plus and Seagate Expansion are as follows:

• Height:

Seagate Backup Plus has the height-range of “6.22 in, 1.73 in., 1.7 in and 0.57 in”.

However, the height range of Seagate Expansion is a bit vast comparatively: 5.04 in.; 4.5 in.; 1.6 in.; 1.57 in.; 1.52 in.; 1.5 in.; 1.1 in.; 0.71in.; 0.7 in.; 0.69 in.

• Weight:

The weight of Seagate Backup Plus: 2.38 lbs; 0.44 lbs.

The weight of Seagate Expansion: 2.74 lbs; 2.73 lbs; 2.25 lbs; 2.2 lbs; 2.06 lbs; 0.68 lbs; 0.59 lbs; 0.35 lbs.

• Model:

The former has a model: Backup Plus.

The later one has a model: Expansion.

• Hard Drive Capacity:

The Hard Drive Capacity of both of the products differs greatly in the range stated as:

This is Hard Drive Capacity of Seagate Backup Plus: 500 GB; 4 TB; 3 TB; 1 TB.

This is the Hard Drive Capacity of Seagate Expansion: 750 GB; 640 GB; 500 GB; 4 TB; 320 GB; 3 TB; 2 TB; 1.5 TB; 1 TB.

• Width:

The width of Seagate Backup Plus ranges as: 4.9 in.; 4.88 in.; 4.86 in.

While the width range of Seagate Expansion is quite broad: 5.56 in.; 5.4 in.; 5 in.; 4.96 in.; 4.6 in.; 3.51 in.; 3.3 in.; 3.15 in.

• Depth:

Similarly, the depth of both products also has a difference on its range basis:

The depth of Seagate Backup Plus:
6.2 in.; 3.19 in.; 1.73 in.; 1.7 in.

The depth of Seagate Expansion: 8.2 in.; 8.19 in.; 8.15 in.; 8.1 in.; 7.1 in.; 6 in.; 5.56 in.; 5.51 in.; 3.2 in.; 3.15 in.; 0.87 in.

• External Data Transfer Rate:

Variation among the two products on External Data Transfer Rate base also exists.

For the Seagate Backup Plus, External Data Transfer Rate: 640 Mbps; 60 Mbps.

For the Seagate Expansion, External Data Transfer Rate: 640 Mbps; 60 Mbps; 480 Mbps.

• Bonus Software:

Seagate Expansion does not come with Bonus Software. However, Seagate Backup Plus has it. It also has 200GB free OneDrive cloud storage space for at least two years. This proves to be helpful if you want to store or back up your data at any other place for safety.

• Advanced features:

Now below are some of the advanced features which are not specified for Seagate Backup Plus, therefore, making Seagate Expansion superior over Seagate Backup Plus.

• Buffer Size: 8 MB; 64 MB; 16 MB.
• Spindle Speed: 7200 RPM; 5400 RPM.
• Average Latency:56 ms
• Hot Swap: Yes it has it.
• Package Quantity: 1

1. PERFORMANCE:

No, there is no major difference in the performance of two. In terms of high speed as well as average speed both are equal. With a maximum external data rate transfer of 640 Mbps, both of them are certainly quite fast.

Final Verdict:

Keeping in mind both the above products and their provided detail, choosing the cheapest is good especially considering the similar performance, which in this case is Seagate Expansion. However, if you are looking for the bonus software, simply switch to Seagate Backup Plus. But let me tell you, it is something you can download and install yourself. If this is not crucial for you, pick Seagate Expansion! It is more compact (contrary to its name :p), easy to be bought and stored.

This is all about the comparison of Seagate Backup Plus VS Seagate Expansion. Here you go and choose whichever best suits you! Also, let us know about your decision and in case if you come up with any problem! Your comment would be highly appreciated!

Related Articles

A hard drive keeps making a clicking noise always causes panic among users who encounter this issue. Based on our experience, a clicking hard drive may result from minor connection issues or serious hard drive damages. Follow to see why your hard drive is clicking, how to fix a clicking hard drive, and how to recover data from it with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.

• Reading Duration: 3-5 minutes.
• Difficulty Level: Medium.
• Supported OS: Windows 10/8/7, Windows Vista/XP, etc.
• Applies to: Fix hard drive clicking, repair hard disk clicking sound, and make clicking internal/external hard drive work normally without losing any data.

Is your hard drive making noise once you boot up your computer? Do you hear 'click, click, click' noise once your external hard drive is connected to your computer? Don't worry.

This page covers everything that you need to know about the hard drive clicking issue and reliable fixes for this issue.

How To Use Seagate Backup Plus

Pick up a reliable solution here to fix a clicking hard drive. You can jump to the part you're most interested in a quick view:

Overview of Internal/External Hard Drive Clicking

'When I plugged my WD external hard drive into my laptop, it kept making a clicking noise. A lot of important stuff, including years worth of my kids' pictures on there, were all lost. Does anyone know how I can fix this or get my data back?'

Are you having a similar issue as the case shown here? If your hard drive keeps clicking or making clicking noise on your computer, don't worry.

In this part, you'll learn:

1. 1. What does it mean if your hard drive is clicking
2. 2. Is hard drive clicking normal
3. 3. What causes hard drive clicking

Normally, hard drive clicking is regarded as a sign of a failing hard drive. So is it normal that a hard drive or an external hard drive keeps clicking? No, it's not normal.

When you install a hard drive or connect an external hard drive, you should only be able to see its light blinking without any clicking noises. Check out what does it mean when your hard drive is clicking:

• Hard disk light is on, having an extremely low running sound: the disk is all right.
• Hard drive clicks slowly with a small sound: it means it has some connection issue.
• Hard drive clicks fast, making a loud noise: it could be a 'click of death'.

How does the clicking sound come into being? Actually, the clicking hard drive can either caused by minor issues or severe hardware damages, including:

• Power supply issue: Insufficient power supply, hard drive spin error.
• Problematic connection: Incompatible or problematic connection cable.
• Physical damages: Fire burned, water drowned, high temperature, etc.
• Hardware issues: Worn/misplaced disk head, damaged service area, damaged PCB, etc.

So how to fix this issue when your (external) hard drive is clicking? Continue reading and check out what to do with a clicking hard drive.

Also Read: How to fix external hard drive blinking but not working issue.

Fix (External) Hard Drive Clicking: Repair Hard Drive Clicking, No Data Loss (5 Fixes)

Seagate Backup Plus Software

So how do I fix my clicking sound on my hard drive? If you are having the same question in your mind, check out the state of your hard drive:

And follow to repair the clicking hard drive on your own, with no data loss issue.

Note that if your clicking hard drive is still working and accessible, follow Method 1 or 2 to get data out of your drive first. If the drive is not detected or not recognized at all, jump to Method 3 to start fixing this issue.

Method 1. Recover Data from the Clicking Hard Drive That Still Works

Applies to: Bring data out of clicking hard drive, rescue vital data.

If your hard drive is still detectable and openable, go ahead to back up all your files with free backup software to another secure device immediately. The drive may fail anytime.

However, if the clicking hard drive is detectable but you see no files shown up, you need to recover data from the clicking hard drive. Reliable hard drive recovery software - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can help.

As long as your clicking hard drive can be recognized by the computer, you can restore data with the following 3 steps. It will fully scan and recover all found data from the clicking drive at once:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS hard drive recovery software.

Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your PC and select the drive on your hard disk where you lost or deleted files. Click 'Scan' and let this program scan all lost data and files on the selected hard drive.

Step 2. Check and preview all lost hard drive data.

Find lost hard drive data from 'Deleted Files', 'Lost Files' or use 'Filter' to quickly navigate the lost data. Check and double-click to preview these found files.

Step 3. Restore lost hard drive data to a safe location.

After the preview, select wanted files that you lost on the drive and click 'Recover' to save them. Browse to choose a safe location on your PC or other external storage devices to store these restored hard drive data.

With EaseUS data recovery software, you can also recover data from other file loss issues, such as recover data from failed hard drive.

If data recovery software fails to restore data from your clicking but detectable hard drive, you can turn to a reliable data recovery service in Method 2 for help.

Seagate Backup Plus Transfer Speed

Extended Tips: Data Recovery Software vs. Manual Data Recovery Service

If you don't know how to pick up a data recovery solution for your clicking hard drive, watch this video to learn the differences.

Method 2. Turn to Manual Data Recovery Service

Applies to: Restore vital data from a clicking or problematic hard drive that could not be restored using data recovery software.

If both Method 1 and Method 2 failed to restore your data, your hard drive will need a manual repair. Follow the fixes below one by one, you may get your clicking hard drive work again.

The following fixes also work to fix hard drive is not showing up, SD card not detected, USB not recognized issue.

Method 3. Change Hard Drive Connection to Fix Clicking Drive

Applies to: Check and fix problematic hard drive connection cable to fix hard drive clicking issue.

The clicking sound could be an indication of underpowering. Mostly, the insufficient power supply is likely to result in a clicking hard drive, changing the USB port is helpful in some cases. Also, a broken or an incompatible connection cable may also cause a disk clicking error.

Here are the troubleshooting steps for you to try:

Step 1. Check if the connection cable is broken.

If yes, purchase a new cable and reconnect the clicking (external) hard drive to your computer.

Step 2. Check if the power cable is loosened.

If yes, unplug and replug the power cable, connect it to your computer and the drive tightly.

Step 3. Check if you are using a compatible drive.

If you connected a USB.30 external drive via a USB 2.0 cable, the drive may not be recognized and even making clicking noises.

Step 4. Connect the clicking (external) hard drive to another computer.

If the drive still keeps clicking on your computer, try to connect it to another computer.

Step 5. Take the hard drive out of the disk enclosure and connect it as an external disk.

These tips can exclude all the connection issues that may exist. If the clicking noise remains, continue to try other fixes detailed below.

Method 4. Freeze or Cool Down the Hard Drive

Applies to: Fix hard drive clicking issue caused by the overheat or high temperature on disk.

When the hard drive is overheating, you may hear a clicking sound coming out of your computer. Freezing your hard drive can, on one hand, cool down your device, and on the other hand, shrink the components inside to free up the stuck or trapped ones.

To freeze your hard drive, there are several steps that you can follow:

Step 1. Open your computer case or laptop case, check if the fan is covered with dust.

If yes, clear all the dust on the fan.

Step 2. Add an extra fan to your computer and cool down the drive.

Step 3. Stop using the computer and wait for the drive to cool down.

Once the hard drive works again, back up your data or recover data from the hard drive immediately.

Step 4. If the hard drive is too old, replace the old drive with a new one.

Fix 5. Send Clicking Hard Drive for Repair

Applies to: Send clicking hard drive for repair due to physical damage, like a broken head reader, components, etc.

If the clicking sound persists, I'm afraid there are significant hardware issues on your hard drive. In this case, you may need help from specialists to fix the clicking hard drive and recover data from it.

To do so, you have two options for clicking hard drive repair:

1. #1. Contact the support team of your hard drive manufacturer for help.
2. #2. Take clicking hard drive to a local hard disk repair center.

The specialists can replace the control board if there is an electrical failure or replace the disk head if it is weak or damaged. Or you can directly send the defective hard drive for a replacement if it's still under warranty.

If the clicking hard drive is beyond repair, switching to a new one is the only choice for you.

The Bottom line

On this page, we explained why is your hard drive clicking, guided you to recover data from a clicking hard drive, and offered 3 fixes for hard drive/external hard disk clicking issue.

Once again, don't ignore the clicking sound on your hard drive. It may be a serious problem. You should first restore data from your drive with reliable EaseUS data recovery software.

Later, you can try to change its connection cables, cool down the drive, or take it for repair based on the causes of the clicking disks. If you still have questions about this issue, check out the questions and answers below for help.

Hard Drive Clicking FAQs

1. What are signs of a failing hard drive?

Here are some signs of impending or failing hard drive:

• Strange noises, like clicking or humming.
• Repeated program or disk errors.
• Frequently popping up error messages.
• Device not detectable, not recognized, not working.
• Unable to load data nor system.

2. Why is my pc making a clicking sound?

• Low clicking sound: computer is reading and writing data to the hard drive.
• Loud clicking sound: hard drive is clicking with malfunctioned hard drive head.
• The computer and hard drive are overheated.

3. What to do with a failing or dying hard drive?

If your hard drive is failing or dying, making a clicking noise, there are some fixes for you to try:

• Recover data from failing hard drive if it's bootable.
• Back up data from failing hard drive if it's unbootable.
• Review dying hard drive by changing power cable, update disk driver, etc.
• Send drive for repair if it's under warranty.

For a step-by-step guide, you may refer to: What To Do with A Dying Drive.