Seagate Expansion STKP8000400 External Hard Drive User Manual
- October 30, 2023
- Seagate
Table of Contents
Seagate Expansion STKP8000400 External Hard Drive
Box Content
- Seagate Expansion Desktop
- 18W power adapter
- USB 3.0 cable (USB micro-B to USB-A)
- Quick start guide
Minimum system requirements
Ports
Use the included cable to connect your Seagate device to a computer with a
USB-A port. This device supports connections to computer ports that are USB
3.0 and higher.
Operating system
Go to Operating System Requirements for Seagate Hardware & Software.
Getting Started
Connect power
-
Place the adapter plug for your location into the channel on the power supply. Slide it down to lock it in place.
-
Connect the power cable to Expansion Desktop
-
Connect the power supply to a live power outlet
Connect to computer
- Connect the USB micro-B end of the cable to the USB micro-B port on Expansion Desktop.
- Connect the USB-A end of the cable to your computer’s USB-A port.
You can connect your Seagate device to a USB-C port on your computer. The USB-C port must support USB 3.0 or higher. A USB micro-B to USB-C cable is not included with this device.
Back up files
Expansion Desktop is ready for use!
- How to back up files (Windows)
- How to back up files (macOS)
Optional Formatting and Partitioning
Your device is preformatted exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) for compatibility with both Mac and Windows computers.
Choosing a file system format
When choosing a file system format, consider whether compatibility or
performance is more important in your everyday use of the drive.
- Compatibility —You need a cross-platform format because you connect your drive to both PCs and Macs.
- Performance —You connect your drive with only one type of computer, so you can optimize file copy performance by formatting the drive in the native file system for your computer operating system.
Compatibility with both Windows and Macs
exFAT is a lightweight file system compatible with all versions of Windows and
modern versions of macOS. If you use your drive with both PCs and Macs, format
your drive in exFAT. While exFAT offers cross-platform access to both
computers, keep in mind the following:
- exFAT is not compatible or recommended for built-in backup utilities such as File History (Windows) and Time Machine (macOS). If you want to use one of these backup utilities, you should format the drive in the native file system for the computer running the utility.
- exFAT is not a journaled file system, which means it can be more susceptible to data corruption when errors occur or the drive is not disconnected properly from the computer.
Optimized performance for Windows
NTFS (New Technology File System) is a proprietary journaling file system for
Windows. macOS can read NTFS volumes, but it can’t natively write to them.
This means your Mac can copy files from an NTFS-formatted drive, but it can’t
add files to or remove files from the drive. If you need more versatility than
this one-way transfer with Macs, consider exFAT.
Optimized performance for macOS
Apple offers two proprietary file systems. Mac OS Extended (also known as
Hierarchical File System Plus or HFS+) is an Apple file system used since 1998
for mechanical and hybrid internal drives. macOS Sierra (version 10.12) and
earlier use HFS+ by default.
APFS (Apple File System) is an Apple file system optimized for solid-state drives (SSDs) and flash-based storage systems, though it also works with hard disk drives (HDDs). It was first introduced with the release of macOS High Sierra (version 10.13). APFS can only be read by Macs running High Sierra or later.
When choosing between Apple file systems, consider the following:
- Windows cannot natively read or write to APFS or HFS+ volumes. If you need cross-platform compatibility, you should format the drive in exFAT.
- If you intend to use your drive with Time Machine:
- The default format for macOS Big Sur (version 11) and later is APFS.
- The default format for macOS Catalina (version 10.15) and earlier is HFS+.
- If you intend to use your drive to move files between Macs running older OS versions, consider formatting your drive in HFS+ rather than APFS.
- macOS file systems and Android: Formatting your drive for macOS may not be supported with connections to Android mobile devices.
Learn more
For additional considerations when choosing a file system format, see File
System Format Comparisons.
Formatting instructions
For instructions on formatting your drive, see How to format your drive.
Safely Remove the Device From Your Computer
Always eject a storage drive from your computer before physically
disconnecting it. Your computer must perform filing and housekeeping
operations on the drive before it is removed. Therefore, if you unplug the
drive without using the operating system’s software, your files can become
corrupt or damaged.
Windows
Use the Safely Remove tool to eject a device.
- Click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in your Windows System Tray to view the devices you can eject.
- If you don’t see the Safely Remove Hardware icon, click the Show hidden icons arrow in the system tray to display all icons in the notification area.
- In the list of devices, choose the device you want to eject. Windows displays a notification when it is safe to remove the device.
- Disconnect the device from the computer.
Mac
There are several ways you can eject your device from a Mac. See below for two
options.
Eject via Finder window
- Open a Finder window.
- On the sidebar, go to Devices and locate the drive you want to eject. Click the eject symbol to the right of the drive name.
- Once the device disappears from the sidebar or, the Finder window closes, you can disconnect the interface cable from your Mac.
Eject via Desktop
- Select the desktop icon for your device and drag it to the Trash.
- When the device icon is no longer visible on your desktop, you can physically disconnect the device from your Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
For help setting up and using your Seagate hard drive, review the frequently asked questions below. For additional support resources, go to Seagate customer support.
All users
Problem: My file transfers are too slow
Q: Are both ends of the USB cable firmly attached?
A: Review troubleshooting tips for cable connections below:
- Check both ends of the USB cable and make sure that they are fully seated in their respective ports.
- Safely eject the drive from your computer, disconnect the cable, wait 10 seconds, and then reconnect the cable.
- Try a different USB cable.
Q: Is the hard drive connected to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port on your computer or
hub?
A: If your hard drive is connected to a Hi-Speed 2.0 port or hub, the inferior
performance is normal. Seagate Expansion Desktop performance will improve when
it is connected to a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port. Otherwise, the device operates
at slower USB transfer rates.
Q: Are there other USB devices connected to the same port or hub?
A: Disconnect other USB devices and see if the hard drive’s performance
improves.
Problem: My computer only has USB-C ports
Q: My computer has smaller, USB-C ports. How do I connect the drive to my
computer?
A: A USB-C cable is not included with this drive. You have two options: 1) Use
a cable with a USB micro-B end and a USB-C end. This cable must support USB
3.0 and higher. 2) Use an adapter with a female USB Type-A port and a male
USB-C end.
Problem: I must use a USB hub for my USB devices
Q: Can I use my hard drive with a USB hub?
A: Yes, the hard drive can be connected to a USB hub. If you use a hub and
encounter detection problems, slower than normal transfer rates, random
disconnection from your computer, or other unusual issues, try connecting the
hard drive directly to the computer’s USB port.
Some USB hubs are less than efficient with power management, which can be problematic for connected devices. In such a case, consider trying a powered USB hub that includes a power cable.
Please note that USB 2.0 hubs limit your hard drive’s transfer rates to USB 2.0 speeds.
Problem: The provided USB cables are too short
Q: Can I use my hard drive with a longer cable?
A: Yes, provided it is a cable that meets USB standards. However, Seagate
recommends using the cable shipped with your hard drive for the best results.
If you use a longer cable and experience problems with detection, transfer
rates or disconnection, use the original cable included with your hard
Problem: I’m receiving file transfer error messages
Q: Did you get an “Error -50” message while copying to a FAT32 volume?
A: When copying files or folders from a computer to a FAT32 volume, certain
characters in the names cannot be copied. These characters include, but are
not limited to: ? < > / \ :
Check your files and folders to ensure that these characters are not in the
names.
If this is a recurring problem or you cannot find files with incompatible
characters, consider reformatting the drive to NTFS (Windows users) or HFS+
(Mac users). See Optional Formatting and Partitioning.
Q: Did you get an error message telling you that the drive has been
disconnected when coming out of sleep mode?
A: Ignore this message since the drive remounts on the desktop despite the
pop-up. Seagate drives conserve power by spinning down when you set your
computer to sleep mode. When the computer awakes from sleep mode, the drive
may not have enough time to spin up, causing the pop-up to appear.
Windows
Problem: The hard drive icon doesn’t appear in Computer
Q: Is the hard drive listed in Device Manager?
A: All drives appear in at least one place in Device Manager.
Type Device Manager in Search to launch it. Look in the Disk Drives section
and, if necessary, click the Plus (+) icon to view the full list of devices.
If you’re uncertain that your drive is listed, safely unplug it and then
reconnect it. The entry that changes is your Seagate hard drive.
Q: Is your hard drive listed next to an unusual icon?
A: Windows Device Manager usually provides information about failures with
peripherals. While the Device Manager can assist with troubleshooting most
problems, it may not display the exact cause or provide a precise solution.
An unusual icon next to the hard drive can reveal a problem. For example,
instead of the normal icon based on the type of device, it has an exclamation
point, question mark or an X. Right click this icon and then choose
Properties. The General tab provides a potential reason why the device is not
working as expected.
Mac
Problem: The hard drive icon does not appear on my desktop
Q: Is your Finder configured to hide hard drives on the desktop?
A: Go to Finder and then check Preferences | General tab | Show these items on
the desktop. Confirm that Hard Disks is selected.
Q: Is your hard drive mounting in the operating system?
A: Open Disk Utility at Go | Utilities | Disk Utility. If the hard drive is
listed in the left-hand column, check your Finder preferences to see why it is
not displayed on the desktop (review the question above). If it is grayed out,
it is not mounted. Click on the Mount button in Disk Utility.
Q: Does your computer’s configuration meet the minimum system requirements for
use with this hard drive?
A: Refer to the product packaging for the list of supported operating systems.
Q: Did you follow the correct installation steps for your operating system?
Review the installation steps in Getting Started
Regulatory Compliance
- Product Name: Seagate Expansion Desktop
- Regulatory Model Number: SRD0NF2
China RoHS
China RoHS 2 refers to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Order No. 32, effective July 1, 2016, titled Management Methods for the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products. To comply with China RoHS 2, we determined this product’s Environmental Protection Use Period (EPUP) to be 20 years in accordance with the Marking for the Restricted Use of Hazardous Substances in Electronic and Electrical Products, SJT 11364-2014.
Taiwan RoHS
Taiwan RoHS refers to the Taiwan Bureau of Standards, Metrology and
Inspection’s (BSMI’s) requirements in standard CNS 15663, Guidance to the
reduction of the restricted chemical substances in electrical and electronic
equipment. Beginning on January 1, 2018, Seagate products must comply with the
“Marking of presence” requirements in Section 5 of CNS 15663. This product is
Taiwan RoHS compliant. The following table meets the Section 5 “Marking of
presence” requirements.
FAQS
What is an external hard drive?
An external hard drive is a portable storage device that connects to your computer or other devices externally, usually through a USB or Thunderbolt connection. It provides additional storage space for storing files, documents, photos, videos, and other data.
How do I connect an external hard drive to my computer?
Most external hard drives can be connected to your computer using a USB cable. Simply plug one end of the cable into the external hard drive and the other end into an available USB port on your computer. Some drives may also support other interfaces like Thunderbolt or eSATA.
Is the Seagate Expansion STKP8000400 compatible with my operating system?
It's important to check the compatibility of the external hard drive with your operating system. The Seagate Expansion series generally supports both Windows and macOS systems, but it's always a good idea to verify compatibility with the specific model you have.
How do I format the external hard drive?
Depending on your needs, you may need to format the external hard drive before using it. This process will erase any existing data on the drive, so make sure to back up any important files beforehand. Formatting options can usually be accessed through your operating system's disk management utility.
Can I use the Seagate Expansion drive with gaming consoles?
Depending on the compatibility and the supported file system of your gaming console, you may be able to use the Seagate Expansion drive to expand the storage capacity of your console. Some consoles, like the PlayStation and Xbox, have specific guidelines for using external hard drives, so it's advisable to check the console's documentation or the manufacturer's website for compatibility information.
How do I safely disconnect the external hard drive?
Is the Seagate external hard drive good?
The Seagate Backup Plus wins our pick for the best external hard drive overall. The device is ultra portable for easy carry, and it offers a straightforward design that works with both Windows and Mac.
Is Seagate Expansion 2TB good?
The 2TB Seagate Expansion Portable USB 3.0 hard drive is an excellent expansion storage choice in an attractive package. This basic drive has a lot in common with other USB 3.0 compact drives including a similar price.
Is Seagate Expansion a SSD?
The Seagate Expansion SSD is Bus Powered and includes a 20cm long USB 3.0 cable and a start-up guide for added convenience. Not only is Expansion SSD ready, but it's also boosted by solid-state performance reaching up to 400 MB/s for seamless video streaming from your drive to your laptop and quick photo transfers.
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