Our take
Consider the Pushbutton Backup only when you need to read or maintain a known legacy 400GB USB 2.0 desktop drive and can verify the specific unit and its adapter. Its exact capacity and USB-only model are clear; its age, small capacity by current expectations, and slow interface make it a poor default for a new primary backup purchase.
Retrieving or maintaining a known legacy archive on a compatible desktop setup.
Buyers seeking a current high-capacity portable drive, bus power, modern USB performance, or a confirmed new unit with active support.
Pros & cons
What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.
What works in its favor
- Seagate's support entry maps exact model ST3400601U2-RK to its documented 400GB capacity, 7200rpm and 16MB cache.
- USB 2.0 is a clearly identified connection for a buyer maintaining a compatible legacy computer and cable setup.
- The exact model listing describes 3.5-inch desktop hardware with its external adapter and cord in the original package.
What to weigh up
- The 400GB capacity gives little room for a large modern media archive or repeated whole-system copies.
- USB 2.0 is an older interface, making it a poor match for frequent large current file transfers.
- A desktop body and external supply limit portability, and the state of any individual used unit is unknown.
The key details
| Model covered | ST3400601U2-RK |
|---|---|
| Advertised capacity | 400GB |
| Drive configuration | 3.5-inch desktop HDD |
| Host connection | USB 2.0 |
Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 6, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.
What the features mean for you
A specific legacy desktop model
ST3400601U2-RK is a populated external hard disk in Seagate's 3.5-inch Pushbutton Backup family. Seagate's support listing maps this exact code to 400GB, 7200rpm, and 16MB cache, while an exact-model retailer listing confirms the USB 2.0 and 3.5-inch configuration. This is more useful for maintaining a known archive or a compatible older workstation than for shopping by broad phrases such as “Seagate external drive.” The product code matters: Seagate also sold a similarly named 400GB USB-and-FireWire version with a different code, and the interface should not be transferred from that sibling.
What USB 2.0 means for the workflow
The U2 version connects over USB 2.0. The interface is widely recognizable on older computers, but it is an older, slower path than later USB generations. Seagate's product page does not provide a buyer-specific transfer guarantee, and an interface ceiling is not the same as a measured copy speed. Large photo, video, or disk-image transfers can therefore take substantially longer than with newer drives. If the task is simply to retrieve or retain a modest legacy archive, broad compatibility may matter more than speed. If the task is frequent work with large current files, this connection is a meaningful limitation rather than a minor spec-sheet detail.
Capacity and physical setup
The listed 400GB capacity is fixed for this model. That may be enough for a narrowly defined older collection, but it leaves less room than current multi-terabyte external products. The drive is a 3.5-inch desktop unit, and the exact-model package record includes a power adapter and cord, so it does not operate as a one-cable pocket drive. Check that the particular used unit still has the correct adapter and that your workspace can keep it plugged in. The sources describe the original package, not the contents or working state of a unit offered today.
Old software is not a current feature promise
Retail copy mentions BounceBack Express backup software and automatic backup functions. Those are historical bundle descriptions, not evidence that the software can still be downloaded, installed, or supported on a present-day system. For an ongoing backup plan, choose a supported backup application independently and confirm that the host can communicate with the drive. More importantly, one old external disk should not be the only copy of irreplaceable data. A second independent copy and a restore plan matter more than a button or software name printed in a legacy listing.
Assess the individual unit, not just the model number
The model specification does not tell us whether a particular drive has been heavily used, dropped, stored poorly, or developed errors. It does not establish current reliability. Before relying on a used unit, check its health with suitable diagnostics, make a test copy, and confirm that files can be read back; those are buyer checks, not tests we performed. Also verify the port, cable, power adapter, return terms, and operating-system recognition. Because the Amazon page could not be inspected and no present exact offer is verified, use the model-specific search link as a search destination only.
Who should consider it
This is a narrow-fit choice for a buyer who already has a need for this exact legacy capacity and interface: for example, accessing a known archive or keeping an older system's media accessible. It should not lead a fresh shortlist for someone who wants portable backup, large headroom, fast transfers, or a current direct product listing. The Seagate Expansion SSD in this batch is smaller and bus-powered with a newer USB interface; the LaCie is a different, powered Thunderbolt workstation array. Those distinctions help locate the Pushbutton Backup's place without claiming it is better or worse in reliability.
What else to compare
Before you buy
Is the USB-only model the same as the FireWire version?
No. ST3400601U2-RK and ST3400601CB-RK are different models; the latter is the USB/FireWire sibling. Confirm the exact code and required host ports before relying on an older unit.
Can I use its original backup software on a current computer?
The sources describe historical bundled software but do not establish current support. Verify separately and plan around supported software. The drive itself is distinct from whether that utility will run on your computer today.
Is it suitable as my only backup?
No single drive should be the sole copy of important data. Keep another independent copy and check the actual unit's condition. A restore test is a buyer check, not one performed here.
Where can I check the current price?
Use the Amazon link for current offers. Check the exact model, seller, product condition, delivery, and return terms. This page does not display a live price or confirm stock.
Sources & review basis
We use the following manufacturer documentation for the product features above. Our suitability notes and buying advice are editorial judgments based on those features, not measured performance results.
- Seagate Pushbutton Backup support page, exact model entry ↗ — checked October 6, 2026.
- Seagate Pushbutton Backup support page ↗ — checked October 6, 2026.
- Newegg exact-model Pushbutton Backup listing ↗ — checked October 6, 2026.
The decision
Consider the Pushbutton Backup only when you need to read or maintain a known legacy 400GB USB 2.0 desktop drive and can verify the specific unit and its adapter. Its exact capacity and USB-only model are clear; its age, small capacity by current expectations, and slow interface make it a poor default for a new primary backup purchase.
Is it the right fit?
Check the exact model and today’s offers on Amazon.