Bought a seagate backup plus hard drive to backup files, installed on computer but cannot backup files, problem says could not be performed because of anI/O device error.

Detailed steps to manage backup disk space

To delete old backups on Windows 7/8/10 using AOMEI Backupper, you need to set up Backup Scheme during the process of creating a backup. When your backup versions exceed the number of backup images files, AOMEI Backupper will delete older backup automatically.
Step 1: Connect your Seagate Backup Plus drive or Central hard drive to the computer and make sure it can be detected by your computer.
Step 2: Download AOMEI Backupper Professional, install and launch it.
Step 3: Click Backup and File Backup subsequently
Step 4: Choose the files and folders you want to backup and pitch on a path for it. Then, Click Schedule option and select Schedule Settingsfrom the following window.
Step 5: Click Scheme option, tick Enable Disk Space Management and select whatever Scheme you need from the drop-down menu. Then, back to the main page of File Backup and click Start
Backup. After that, your older backup will be deleted automatically when your file backups exceed the versions of backup image files.

are the files all the same size? If not there are multiple instances on your computer and the external is backing up all of them. Make sure of the one you want to save. delete the rest on both main computer and the backup.

No problem . Just partition the hard drive , and use part a for computer one and part B for computer two.

Probably, the new operating system cannot recognize your Seagate external hard drive. You can connect the Seagate external hard drive to another computer to copy data to another device. If the problem still exists, you might need to perform data recovery. You can free download the data recovery software: http://www.icare-recovery.com/seagate-recovery/seagate-external-cannot-be-recognized.html

In all probability the Seagate came with a proprietary Backup software. Look for it on the drive or on the Seagate website. Install it on your computer and see if you can configure it for a continuous backup. My Western Digital does that.
You can also open the computer maintenance folder (here I am assuming you are using Windows) and configure automatic backups.

If by "quick connect" you mean the Thunderbolt adapter, this driver link may help:
http://www.seagate.com/support/external-hard-drives/desktop-hard-drives/backup-plus-desk/thunderboltwin-master-dl
For other software and drivers for this model, see the main link:
http://www.seagate.com/support/external-hard-drives/desktop-hard-drives/backup-plus-desk/#

did you install the software included on the seagate?
if not install it and you can setup the back up/schedule.
or you can use windows backup to schedule backups to the seagate drive.

Hi,
Have you tried uninstalling your seagate free agent software, restarting your computer and installing it again?

Connect the hard drive to your PC with the USB cable, go to the 'my computer' page and click on the Seagate drive's icon to open it. Minimise the Seagate window and open the folder on your PC where the files are, then re-open the Seagate window, and then reduce it with the double square icon at top right of the page. Then you can just 'drag and drop' the files to copy the files straight onto the drive, or first make a folder on the Seagate to put them in. To copy them back to your PC, reverse the process. Hope this helps!

The only time I have seen this error, no backup was ever performed (or the program lost the information regarding existing backups). Try looking at the backup log (Seagate Manager > View Backup Log) to see what backups should exist.

I hope this gives you a starting place and wish that I could be more help.

Cindy Wells