Is there a way of disabling a hard drive while the
computer is active? I have a removable hard drive rack to
allow me to switch storage drives but every time I want to
swap it I need to switch the computer off.

Does anyone know of software of hardware to allow me to do
this?

Windows does allow for USB devices and certain other external conections to
be controlled via the 'Safely Remove Hardware' button on the system tray.

Unless this device is specifically designed as Hot Swappable DO NOT attempt
to remove it or insert it whilst the system is powered on.

The resultant electrical surge may cause untold damage to motherboard or
other components or the power supply itself.

In the least the sudden connection of a device to the power supply of the
PC, with the attendant surge, may cause the system to shutdown: just as if it
exeprienced a brownout.



"Chris Wilson" wrote:

> Is there a way of disabling a hard drive while the
> computer is active? I have a removable hard drive rack to
> allow me to switch storage drives but every time I want to
> swap it I need to switch the computer off.
>
> Does anyone know of software of hardware to allow me to do
> this?
>
>

The short answer is you must not disconnect a fixed drive while the machine
is running. A drive mounted in a rack is a fixed drive. It is not
comparable to a removeable drive such as a external USD HDD. USB HDD can
be safely removed and connected while the machine is operating.


"Chris Wilson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:602a01c481f2$f7ae23b0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is there a way of disabling a hard drive while the
> computer is active? I have a removable hard drive rack to
> allow me to switch storage drives but every time I want to
> swap it I need to switch the computer off.
>
> Does anyone know of software of hardware to allow me to do
> this?
>

The only Drive Mounted Rack that you can remove while Windows is running
is one that is connected using SATA. Normal IDE will cause data loss,
possible hardware damage, and God knows what else. I highly recommend
looking at either using a SATA Drive Rack or use a USB/FireWire drive
instead.

----
Nathan McNulty


Edward W. Thompson wrote:
> The short answer is you must not disconnect a fixed drive while the machine
> is running. A drive mounted in a rack is a fixed drive. It is not
> comparable to a removeable drive such as a external USD HDD. USB HDD can
> be safely removed and connected while the machine is operating.
>
>
> "Chris Wilson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:602a01c481f2$f7ae23b0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>Is there a way of disabling a hard drive while the
>>computer is active? I have a removable hard drive rack to
>>allow me to switch storage drives but every time I want to
>>swap it I need to switch the computer off.
>>
>>Does anyone know of software of hardware to allow me to do
>>this?
>>
>
>
>