Seagate freeagent is not recognized by the computer and makes a beeping noise

This is a mechanical failure of the drive. You will need to get a new one. Recovering the files off of this can be very expensive.

You could try the utility program 'Seatools' which is a free download from Seagate website

ok here goes, my neighbour has the Seagate FreeAgent Desk 500GB, and in under 2 weeks it started to beep and was not reconized by any Laptop or P.C. if this is the same for you with any FreeAgent Desk series ( not GO series, different procedure for GO products). You maybe in luck click this link, you may have to register in the forums to view thread.... http://www.yo-lid.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=84 hope this helps Ytee.
Good Luck

ok here goes, my neighbour has the Seagate FreeAgent Desk 500GB, and in under 2 weeks it started to beep and was not reconized by any Laptop or P.C. if this is the same for you with any FreeAgent Desk series ( not GO series, different procedure for GO products). You maybe in luck click this link, you may have to register in the forums to view thread.... http://www.yo-lid.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=84 hope this helps Ytee. GL

Look inside your P.C. 1st to check SATA data connection type.
eSATA is a different connection from SATA so you might need an eSATA data lead if you follow the guide in the link, not sure if it just external connections only and plain SATA connection inside.
Google image 'eSATA' data lead/cable and you will see the difference between the eSATA and SATA connection if you don't already know.
My neighbour has the Seagate FreeAgent Desk 500GB (Externel HardDrive), and in under 2 weeks it started to beep and was not reconized by any Laptop or P.C. if this is the same for you with any FreeAgent Desk series ( not GO series, different procedure for GO products). You maybe in luck click this link, you may have to register in the forums to view thread.... http://www.yo-lid.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t​=84 Thread can be found in 'Technical' under 'General Technical Issues' Dont worry if your a novice like me with computers, the guide is quite easy to follow...

it sounds like the disc (inside the hard drive casing) has become jammed or what is known as "stickation". the best way to unstick the disc is usually another sharp blow. the best way to do this is to remove the drive from the external casing and, while holding it by one side, strike the other side downward onto a hard surface like a wood desk. do not strike it on metal or cement as you may cause more damage. make sure the surface is softer than the drive casing. it sounds extreme but it has worked for me on several occasions.

you say its beeping? like an error code sequence? i would search the intnet for seagate error codes and try to match the code with the problem. or call tech support.

hmm, no problem plugging in either side, just be sure to do the power cable first. What's doing the beep, beep?

Found a guy who had similar prob, here was his solution:
Go to Control Panel. Click on Device Manager.
Check to see if FreeAgent is shown as a disk drive.
If not, check the device list for any Free Agent device, double click and check driver. No driver installed? Update does not work? On the driver tab….click uninstall device.
Shut down computer. Unplug Free agent USB and power at the drive.
Reboot computer. As it is rebooting, plug in the power cord. Wait a minute or two….then plug in USB cord.

Windows will “found new device” ….. Just let the computer complete the reboot.
Then go to the device manager. Chances are you will find Free Agent in the drives….and in the USB list of devices. Open windows explorer….and you should see you Free Agent as a drive.
Windows will ask you to install manufacturer disk. You have no disk…non needed. Windows has installed the device. Just click on close. I you keep getting windows wants to install device…..ignore it. You can click on “don’t ask again”. (That is if your Free Agent drive is showing in the device manager as a disk…and in windows explorer….along with your other drive or drives.)
If at some later time….your Free Agent drive does not appear….repeat the steps as listed above.
(You may think it is not working….or that it has gone bad. Try this before you try to return.)
Seagate Tools…the new version….does not recognize to diagnose the Free Agent….
I have not tried Seagate Tools after getting the computer to recognize the drive.
I am surprised Seagate does not provide a Tool to recognize their own drives…and install and/or test Free Agent.

This does work for me with Vista. Thought I had lost the drive…. Seagate should provide a patch or a drive that Windows will recognize when you get the “found new hardware” and Windows asks you to insert manufacturer’s installation disk. I do not understand why that is not already there….a driver file for Free Agent...that Windows would install.

I did not buy Pro….because I did not need the backup software. I wonder if those who bought Pro are having these problems.

The beeping means that not enough power is being supplied to the device, and as a result, the disc will not spin up (not recognized). I suspect that the reason he was able to once make it work is perhaps he has more USB devices plugged in now...therefore, not enough power to go around. Or perhaps he has swapped cables?? I had this exact same issue when I bought a new cable for my Freeagent Go. I wanted a longer cable, but for whatever reason the cable itself didn't supply enough power; I got that ugly sounding beep (could have been a bad cable I suppose). When I plugged the drive in using my old cable, it worked flawlessly. I would first ask him if he has been plugging in more devices recently. Then I'd get a compatible USB cable that has an extra power connection (when he plugs it in, he'll have to plug into 2 USB ports).

Hope this helps.

-Paul