Explorer has to wait for HD to fire up.

[Terry Pinnell]

I installed a second Western Digital My Book external HD (2 GB) a month
ago, supplementing my 1 GB unit. Recently I've noticed that
opening and saving files from several of my applications has slowed down,
with a delay of 5-10 seconds. This seems to be while the My Book 2 GB is
'readied' (its LED flashes).

There must be some change that's occurred in my configuration that's
caused this, but I'm darned if I can understand what it might be. When I
use these applications' Open File Browse menu, why would it have to get
this HD fired up? Never happens with the 1 GB My Book. Any ideas anyone
please?

This is Win XP.

 

[Arno]

I installed a second Western Digital My Book external HD (2 GB) a month
ago, supplementing my 1 GB unit. Recently I've noticed that

Soooooo small. I feel for you... ;-)

opening and saving files from several of my applications has slowed down,
with a delay of 5-10 seconds. This seems to be while the My Book 2 GB is
'readied' (its LED flashes).

Looks like it is going to sleep.

There must be some change that's occurred in my configuration that's
caused this, but I'm darned if I can understand what it might be. When I
use these applications' Open File Browse menu, why would it have to get
this HD fired up? Never happens with the 1 GB My Book. Any ideas anyone
please?

Hmm. Some configured paths to the external disk? Maybe a shortcut
somewhere? What happens if the external disk is not plugged in?

Arno

 

[GMAN]

Soooooo small. I feel for you... ;-)


Looks like it is going to sleep.


Hmm. Some configured paths to the external disk? Maybe a shortcut
somewhere? What happens if the external disk is not plugged in?

Arno

We all just had this same discussion with the WD essential drives. Its the WD
Caviar 2TB Green drive spinning down.


Look for

WDIDLE3


http://www.storagereview.
com/how_stop_excessive_load_cycles_western_digital_2tb_caviar_green_wd20ears_w
didle3

 

[Rod Speed]

I installed a second Western Digital My Book external HD (2 GB) a
month ago, supplementing my 1 GB unit. Recently I've noticed that
opening and saving files from several of my applications has slowed
down, with a delay of 5-10 seconds. This seems to be while the My
Book 2 GB is 'readied' (its LED flashes).

There must be some change that's occurred in my configuration that's
caused this, but I'm darned if I can understand what it might be.
When I use these applications' Open File Browse menu, why would it
have to get this HD fired up? Never happens with the 1 GB My Book.
Any ideas anyone please?

Bet the 2TB drive is being spun down between uses. You should be
able to feel that by putting your hand on both drives when accessed.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

We all just had this same discussion with the WD essential drives. Its the WD
Caviar 2TB Green drive spinning down.


Look for

WDIDLE3


http://www.storagereview.
com/how_stop_excessive_load_cycles_western_digital_2tb_caviar_green_wd20ears_w
didle3

Thanks but that looks a notch or so above my confidence level!

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Bet the 2TB drive is being spun down between uses. You should be
able to feel that by putting your hand on both drives when accessed.

Thanks Rod, yes, that seems to be the case. The LED is flashing slowly.

But I'm not sure what the implications of that are on my problem? Can you
elaborate please?

 

[Arno]

(e-mail address removed) (GMAN) wrote:

Thanks but that looks a notch or so above my confidence level!

I do not think there is a different solution, except for using
th Linux port somebody made.

Arno

 

[GMAN]

Thanks but that looks a notch or so above my confidence level!

Someone here posted a few weeks ago i belive a URL to a windows based utility
that would do the same thing as the WDIDLE3 program.

 

[Rod Speed]

Terry Pinnell wrote

Thanks Rod, yes, that seems to be the case. The LED is flashing slowly.

But I'm not sure what the implications of that are on my problem?
Can you elaborate please?

Basically if you care about the delay, you can fiddle with the idle timeout using the WD ute.