USB Hard Drive and Power Settings

[Shane]

Greetings,
I'm using Windows XP and have attached a second hard drive through a USB
port.
The main function of this second drive is so I have a place to keep my
personal files separate from my work files, though I do use it as a work
backup.

I noticed that the disks seem to spin constantly, even when I'm not using
any programs or files on the external drive. I have my power settings to
stop the system hard disks after 3 minutes of non-use, but this one doesn't
ever stop.

I'm guessing that this is because the drive is attached via USB and is not
viewed as a 'local' hard disk.

Is there any way to make it so that my external, USB connected drive isnt's
spinning constantly??

Thanks,

Shane

 

[Rock]

Greetings,
I'm using Windows XP and have attached a second hard drive through a USB
port.
The main function of this second drive is so I have a place to keep my
personal files separate from my work files, though I do use it as a work
backup.

I noticed that the disks seem to spin constantly, even when I'm not using
any programs or files on the external drive. I have my power settings to
stop the system hard disks after 3 minutes of non-use, but this one
doesn't ever stop.

I'm guessing that this is because the drive is attached via USB and is not
viewed as a 'local' hard disk.

Is there any way to make it so that my external, USB connected drive
isnt's spinning constantly??

Not that I know of, except my manually turning it off.

 

[You Know Who ~]

in my computer, device mgr, highlight the drive, choose properties. make
sure indexing isn't turned on.
also, optimize the drive for removal, not for performance (another option
with USB drives).

 

[Dave]

Isn't causing the problem you cited, but, turn off system restore for that
hard drive. It does nothing for it.

Is the USB hard drive setup for quick disconnect?

 

[Uwe Sieber]

Greetings,
I'm using Windows XP and have attached a second hard drive through a USB
port.
The main function of this second drive is so I have a place to keep my
personal files separate from my work files, though I do use it as a work
backup.

I noticed that the disks seem to spin constantly, even when I'm not using
any programs or files on the external drive. I have my power settings to
stop the system hard disks after 3 minutes of non-use, but this one doesn't
ever stop.

I'm guessing that this is because the drive is attached via USB and is not
viewed as a 'local' hard disk.

Is there any way to make it so that my external, USB connected drive isnt's
spinning constantly??

It all depends on the USB enclosure's USB to IDE bridge controller.
There are rumors that some of them pass thru power commands to
the hard disk. I've not seen one in real live.

Some controllers send the spin down command to the disk independed
from the operating system after a fixed time of inactivity. I've
seen such.

Unfortunally the manufactures seem to think that this facts should
be a secret, so there is no other way than by and try...


Uwe

 

[Shane]

All,
Well,I combined everything and now my drive is set up with no system
restore, optimized for removal, and ready to be manually turned off (I
couldn't find a setting for indexing). I at least have a plan now!

Thanks,
Shane