Seagate is one of the largest manufacturers of hard disk drives in the world. Their drives are found in countless desktop computers, laptops, and servers across the globe. As with any piece of computer hardware, Seagate regularly releases firmware and software updates for their drives to fix bugs, improve performance and reliability, and add new features. But do you really need to install every update that becomes available? Let’s take a closer look.
What’s included in Seagate drive updates
Seagate provides several different kinds of updates for their drives:
- Firmware updates – These contain revised low-level software that runs directly on the drive itself. Firmware controls the mechanical operation of the drive and how it interfaces with the computer.
- Driver updates – Drive drivers allow the operating system to communicate properly with the storage device. Seagate may update drive drivers to fix compatibility issues or improve their performance.
- Utility software updates – Seagate provides free tools like SeaTools that help manage and diagnose issues with your drive. They periodically release improved versions of these tools.
- Performance enhancements – Some firmware updates specifically aim to boost select performance metrics of the drive, such as faster seek times or improved caching.
- Security patches – On rare occasions, Seagate may find it necessary to patch vulnerabilities or exploits that could impact the security of user data.
In most cases, Seagate drive updates are beneficial to install. They improve the overall functionality and health of your storage device. However, there are some caveats to consider.
Factors to consider
Here are some key points to think about when weighing the necessity of applying Seagate drive updates:
- Upgrade risk – There is always a slight chance a firmware upgrade could go wrong and render the drive inoperable. The risk is small, but worth acknowledging.
- Relevance – Determine if the update applies to your specific drive model and improves upon features you actually use.
- Necessity – Routine updates that only increment version numbers are lower priority than critical bug fixes or security patches.
- Performance impact – Some updates may negatively affect performance, especially on older drives. Check user reports.
- Drive function – Is the drive working fine currently? If so, an update may be unnecessary unless it patched a major issue.
In general, it’s smart to take a cautious approach only installing updates that seem truly applicable and important for your situation. Don’t blindly install every single optional firmware update Seagate releases.
Best practices for drive updates
When you do wish to install a new update for your Seagate drive, follow these best practices:
- Back up your data first – Always backup your drive before applying major firmware changes.
- Check release notes – Read the details on what is included in the update and what is improved.
- Update one drive at a time – If installing on multiple drives, do them individually in case of issues.
- Use the official utility – Install the update using the Seagate tool designed for the drive.
- Allow time to complete – Some updates take 10-15 minutes. Don’t interrupt the process.
- Verify drive function – After the update, check that the drive is operating normally before rebuilding RAID arrays or similar.
Following these steps will help ensure you apply Seagate drive updates safely and successfully.
Do new Seagate drives need updates?
Seagate ships all new drive models with the latest firmware pre-installed. But in some cases, they may release revised firmware even before a drive officially launches. So there can still be applicable updates even for a brand new drive.
Check the Seagate support website for your specific model number to see if any new firmware versions have been posted. The release notes should indicate if the update is recommended for new drives or only applicable for older models. For example, some updates specifically target drive reliability as they age after prolonged use.
Updates for brand new drives are less urgent. But if Seagate recommends an update for improved performance or security, it may be worthwhile applying it.
How often does Seagate release new firmware?
The frequency of firmware updates from Seagate can vary substantially. Some drive models may only receive a couple meaningful firmware revisions during their lifespan. Others may see updatesreleased every few months for years after launch.
In general, Seagate seems to average around 1-3 firmware updates per drive model per year. However, updates are not on any set schedule. They are released as needed based on internal testing, user reports, and overall competitive landscape.
Here are some examples of real firmware update frequencies across popular Seagate drive models:
| Drive Model | Years on Market | Firmware Updates |
|---|---|---|
| BarraCuda 4TB (ST4000DM004) | 4 years | 8 updates |
| IronWolf 8TB (ST8000VN004) | 3 years | 6 updates |
| FireCuda 520 1TB (ZP1000GM3A001) | 2 years | 3 updates |
For long-term drive reliability, it is smart to check for new firmware periodically even after the initial update when your drive was new. But updates generally taper off after 3-5 years as Seagate shifts focus to newer models.
Should I update drive firmware preventatively?
Updating hard drive firmware preventatively is usually not necessary. Seagate will highlight in release notes if an update is intended to proactively fix bugs or vulnerabilities. Most updates are released in reaction to issues reported from the field.
The exception could be applying updates for known reliability issues on older drives past their warranty period. As drives age, firmware updates may improve longevity. Beyond that case, updating just to stay current is overkill.
Only install new firmware releases that seem truly relevant to your drive model and operational environment based on details in the release notes. Avoid updates that provide only incremental version number increases without clear benefits.
Can Seagate drives self-initiate firmware updates?
Seagate drives cannot self-initiate firmware update installation. The process always requires the user to download the firmware package and run the update manually via a bootable tool like SeaTools for Windows.
Some Seagate drive utilities like SeaTools will check online for new drive firmware versions and alert you if an update is available. But the actual installation must be started by the user.
Allowing drives to autonomously install major firmware revisions in the background would be too risky for data integrity. User control is important both to initiate the update and verify normal operation before relying on the drive after reboot.
Should I update drive firmware if performance is slow?
Sluggish performance is one of the top reasons users consider applying a firmware update for their Seagate drive. Faster speeds are an appealing upgrade.
However, slow performance is not always the fault of drive firmware. Issues like a nearly full drive, fragmented files, malware, or even normal aging can reduce speed. So updating the firmware may provide no benefit.
Check release notes to confirm if the new firmware version specifically targets boosting performance. Compare your current firmware version to the newest to determine the potential gain.
Also diagnose the full computer system to isolate the slowdown cause. Updating should only be done after firmware seems the likely culprit based on your model and symptoms.
How long does a firmware update take?
The time required to complete a hard drive firmware update can range from 5 minutes to over an hour in some cases. The duration depends on several factors:
- Update size – Larger capacity drives with bigger firmware codes take longer.
- Drive type – SSD updates tend to be faster than traditional HDDs.
- Connection – External USB drives have slower update times than internal SATA drives.
- Computer speed – Faster processors can program firmware code quicker.
- Update process – Some updates have extra erase and verification steps.
As a general guideline, internal SATA hard drives take 10-20 minutes for a firmware update. Busy external hard drives on USB may require 30-60 minutes. SSDs are usually faster while mammoth drives like the 20TB models creep toward an hour long.
Have patience and allow the update to complete without interruption. Rushing the process risks corrupting the firmware and destroying drive function.
Can firmware updates brick a drive?
Yes, there is always a small risk that applying a firmware update can “brick” a hard drive – rendering it inoperable. The chances are low, but firmware updates rewrite fundamental low-level code controlling drive behavior. If an error occurs during the update, the drive can be left unusable.
Some reasons an update might brick a Seagate drive include:
- Power interruption during the update
- Unexpected computer reboot or crash
- Removal of the drive before the update completes
- Faulty update file or corrupted download
- Incompatible drive firmware and computer hardware
- Unrelated drive hardware failure during the update
The risk of bricking can be minimized by following all best practices. But there is no way to entirely eliminate the chance of an update rendering the drive dead. This small level of risk must be accepted when upgrading drive firmware.
Can a firmware update recover a failed drive?
In most cases, updating firmware will not resurrect a failed Seagate drive. If the drive is not detected at all, has severe read/write issues, or starts making abnormal clicking noises, a firmware update is unlikely to help.
The reasons hard drives fail are usually physical – worn out motors, failed read/write heads, scratched platters, etc. Firmware cannot repair physical damage. However, some exceptions exist:
- Logical failure recovery – Some firmware failures like corruption might be repairable via update.
- Stuck heads – Firmware tweaks could potentially unstick heads touching platters.
- Overheated components – An update may reduce heat production and stabilize function.
So while rare, a firmware update could perhaps fix a drivet that is misbehaving but not completely dead. It offers a last ditch troubleshooting step before replacement.
Should I update an old drive or buy a new one?
As hard drives age past 3-5 years, the question arises whether to update the firmware for continued use or simply purchase a new modern drive. There are pros and cons to each approach.
Benefits of updating old drive firmware:
- Free if drive update is available
- avoids reinstalling software and migrating data to new drive
- extends use of still functional older drive
Benefits of buying new hard drive:
- Reset to full warranty period
- Improved performance and reliability
- Larger capacity options available
- New features supported
For moderately aged drives under 5 years old, updating firmware may provide some renewed life. But for mechanical drives over 5 years old, replacement is often advisable for long term viability. SSDs tend to have a shorter viable lifespan of 3-4 years before performance drops.
Conclusion
Seagate drive firmware updates provide a range of benefits from bug fixes and security improvements to enhanced performance and reliability. However, not every update is necessary for every user. Review what an update offers and check that it applies well to your specific model and usage before installing.
When applying updates, always follow best practices like backing up data and installing on one drive at a time. Allow ample time for the update to complete without system interruption. Understand that while rare, a firmware update does carry a small risk of rendering a drive inoperable.
In general, updating drive firmware periodically according to Seagate’s recommendations for your model is wise to maximize reliability and lifespan. But updates should be carefully evaluated rather than blindly installed as general maintenance.