I am now back to UP and OPERATIONAL.
i lost some seriously headache inducing amount of personal/financial data, but fresh install always feel like fresh computer.
anyway, .. I never had Seagate fail on me prior to this. I usually get Samsung or Maxter HDD though.. i think this is like,.. my 3rd seagate ever.
hopefully it will last.
Thanks for all the sympathies before, eh!
take care.