FreeAgent for Windows
Contents
Getting Started.......................................................................................................................... 1
Installing the Software ......................................................................................... 1
Using the System Tray Icon .............................................................................. 5
Restoring the System Tray Icon ............................................................... 6
Managing Your Drives........................................................................................................ 8
Adjusting the Power Setting ............................................................................ 8
Testing Your Drive .................................................................................................11
Updating Your Software .................................................................................... 14
Reading the LED Status Indicators ............................................................. 18
Backing Up & Restoring Folders ............................................................................ 20
Creating a Backup Plan ...................................................................................... 20
Using Simple Backup .................................................................................... 20
Creating a Custom Backup ....................................................................... 22
Managing Backup Settings .............................................................................. 29
Editing Backup Settings .............................................................................. 29
Deleting a Backup Plan ................................................................................ 34
Using Scheduled Backup ............................................................................ 36
Turning Off Scheduled Backup ........................................................ 36
Backing Up Manually .................................................................................... 37
Viewing the Backup Log ............................................................................ 39
Restoring Files ......................................................................................................... 41
Restoring an Historical Version .............................................................. 43
Restoring the Most Recent Version ..................................................... 44
Index......................................................................................................................................................i
i
Getting Started
The Drive Manager software offers these features:
• Backup & Restore to protect your data
• Utilities to control power management, drive diagnosis, and software updates
Installing the Software
To install the Drive Manager software,
Step 1. Connect your drive to your computer.
The Main Menu window opens:
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 1: Main Menu
Step 2: Click Install Drive Manager.
The Welcome window opens:
Installing the Software 1
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 2: Welcome
Step 3: Click Next.
The EULA language selection window opens:
Figure 3: EULA Language Selection
Step 4: Select the language in which you want to read the License Agreement and click
Next.
The License Agreement window opens in the selected language:
Installing the Software 2
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 4: License Agreement
Step 5: Click Yes to accept the terms of the License Agreement.
The Choose Destination Location window opens:
Figure 5: Select a Destination
Step 6: Accept the default destination location or click Browse to select a different
location.
Step 7: Click Next.
A Setup Status window keeps you informed as the installation proceeds:
Installing the Software 3
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 6: Setup Status
When the installation is complete, the InstallShield Wizard Complete window
opens:
Figure 7: InstallShield Wizard Complete
Step 8: Click Finish.
A Drive Manager icon appears on your desktop:
Installing the Software 4
The Drive Manager application opens:
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 8: Drive Manager Application
Using the System Tray Icon
You can use the system tray icon to check the status of your drive and to access the drive
features.
Step 1. To check the status of your drive, roll your mouse over the system tray icon:
Figure 9: System Tray Icons
The information popup confirms the drive’s status and identifies the drive letter.
The color of the system tray icon conveys this information:
Using the System Tray Icon 5
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 10: System Tray Icon Information
Note: When a backup has failed, the red icon continues to display until the next successful
backup.
Step 2: To display the Drive Manager menu, click the system tray icon:
Figure 11: System Tray Popup Menu
Step 3: Select the feature you want to access or select Exit to close the menu (the Drive
Manager application remains open).
Tabl e 1 : Using your Mouse with the System Tray Icon
Click the system tray icon to • Launch Drive Manager
• Back Up Now
• View Backup Log
• Edit Backup Settings
• Exit
Run your mouse over the icon to show • Status Information
• Status for Multiple Events
Restoring the System Tray Icon
If you select Exit from the System Tray menu, the Drive Manager icon disappears from the
System Tray.
Using the System Tray Icon 6
Step 1. To restore the icon to the System Tray, go to
Start > Programs > Maxtor > Drive Manager Icon
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 12: Restore System Tray Icon
Using the System Tray Icon 7
Managing Your Drives
The My Drives window provides a central point from which to manage your drives. It
displays all Seagate and Maxtor drives connected to your computer:
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 1: My Drives
The Command panel across the top of the window allows you to access your drive features
and manage drive utilities.
In the My Drives window,
Step 1. Select a device.
Step 2: Click an option in the Command panel.
Note: External drives are automatically detected and listed in the My Drives window. It can take
a few seconds for the Drive Manager software to detect your devices. If a device doesn’t
appear, make sure it’s properly connected and turned on.
Adjusting the Power Setting
You can choose how long your drive should remain inactive before it goes into powersaving mode.
Adjusting the Power Setting 8
To adjust the power setting,
Step 1. In the My Drives window, click Settings.
The Settings window opens:
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 2: Settings
Step 2: Click Adjust Power Setting.
The Adjust Power Setting window opens:
Adjusting the Power Setting 9
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 3: Adjust Power Setting
Step 3: Select an interval from the dropdown menu or click Default to return to the default
power setting.
Step 4: Click Apply to save the power setting.
The Adjust Power Setting window confirms that the power setting for your drive
has been changed:
Adjusting the Power Setting 10
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 4: Adjust Power Setting Confirmation
Step 5: Click OK to return to the My Drives window.
Testing Your Drive
Test your drive to check the health of your the device. The diagnostic utility performs its
tests without affecting the data on your drive.
To test your drive,
Step 1. In the My Drives window, click Settings.
The Settings window opens:
Testing Your Drive 11
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 5: Settings
Step 2: Click Test My Drive.
The Test My Drive window opens:
Testing Your Drive 12
FreeAgent for Windows
Figure 6: Run Drive Diagnostics
Step 3: Click Test.
A progress bar indicates the progress of the test. When the test is complete, the
results are displayed:
Testing Your Drive 13