How do I power save a HDD?

[Frank Martin]

I have just installed another HDD just for
ghost backups.

I do not want this disk to spin all the time,
so how can I power it down when not in use,
yet leave the main (other) HDD going?

Please help, Frank

 

[Bill in Co.]

One solution is to pull it out and put it into an external USB hard drive
enclosure, and power that on ONLY when you need to make a backup. Works
well for me (in conjunction with Acronis True Image).

 

[Anna]

One solution is to pull it out and put it into an external USB hard drive
enclosure, and power that on ONLY when you need to make a backup.
Works well for me (in conjunction with Acronis True Image).

Frank:
Another option to consider...

Assuming this is a desktop PC and you have an available (vacant) 5 1/4" bay
in your computer case...

Why not install a removable HDD in that bay? That way you can easily
disconnect that HDD from the system after you've finished backing up your
system to that drive. Just a simple turn of the switch to the OFF position
would do it. Installation of a removable HDD is no more difficult than
installing an optical drive.

Another advantage to this type of device is that the system would treat the
removable HDD as an *internal* HDD rather than a USB device so you would
gain considerable data transfer speed.
Anna

 

[Frank Martin]

"Bill in Co."
message



Frank:
Another option to consider...

Assuming this is a desktop PC and you have
an available (vacant) 5 1/4" bay in your
computer case...

Why not install a removable HDD in that
bay? That way you can easily disconnect
that HDD from the system after you've
finished backing up your system to that
drive. Just a simple turn of the switch to
the OFF position would do it. Installation
of a removable HDD is no more difficult
than installing an optical drive.

Another advantage to this type of device is
that the system would treat the removable
HDD as an *internal* HDD rather than a USB
device so you would gain considerable data
transfer speed.
Anna

Thanks, but I wonder if I could just remove
the power plug (easily accessible) from the
back of the HDD yet leave the other wires
connected. The HDD is a Seagate ST3500630A
3AAF SATA 500Gb?

Regards, Frank

 

[Anna]

Thanks, but I wonder if I could just remove the power plug (easily
accessible) from the back of the HDD yet leave the other wires connected.
The HDD is a Seagate ST3500630A 3AAF SATA 500Gb?

Regards, Frank

Frank:
I'm not really sure I understand you. Are you referring to connecting a
*bare* HDD to your system with both the SATA power cable and SATA data cable
(is that what you mean about "the other wires"?) connected to the
motherboard and then every time you want to disconnect the drive from the
system you would pull the drive's power plug? Is that what you're talking
about? Because if that's what you mean that would not be a desirable thing
to do for more reasons than I care to recount.

I really can't imagine your contemplating this so I guess I'm
misunderstanding your intent. If you want to pursue this issue please
explain clearly and in detail what you're proposing.
Anna

 

[Bill in Co.]

Thanks, but I wonder if I could just remove
the power plug (easily accessible) from the
back of the HDD yet leave the other wires
connected. The HDD is a Seagate ST3500630A
3AAF SATA 500Gb?

Regards, Frank

I wouldn't recommend it. If you're thinking along those lines, you might
reconsider the external HD enclosure idea (with its own built-in power
switch). That would be a lot safer and better. Or consider what Anna
said about the removable rack drives.

 

[Frank Martin]

message



Frank:
I'm not really sure I understand you. Are
you referring to connecting a *bare* HDD to
your system with both the SATA power cable
and SATA data cable (is that what you mean
about "the other wires"?) connected to the
motherboard and then every time you want to
disconnect the drive from the system you
would pull the drive's power plug? Is that
what you're talking about?

Yes, I put an identical HDD to the existing
one into the computer rack and connected it
up to the motherboard and power supply. I
assumed that it would be possible to turn off
the power (that is to stop the second HDD
spinning and so increase its life) by means
of software in WindowsXP but this I cannot
find. Of course I would only disconnect the
power plug after the computer was turned off.
I have already installed it now and set up
the Ghost backup procedures.

Because if that's what you mean that would
not be a desirable thing

 

[Onsokumaru]

I wouldn't recommend it. If you're thinking along those lines, you
might reconsider the external HD enclosure idea (with its own built-in
power switch). That would be a lot safer and better. Or consider what
Anna said about the removable rack drives.

What's wrong with the power saving settings under windows?

My secondary disks stop spinning using this method.

It's probably a good idea to turn off system retsore and fast find or the
windows file indexer. Any program that accesses the other disks will cause
it to remain active.

By unplugging and reconnecting drives directly from the mobo will
potentially cause other problems.

If you want to physically turn the drive on and off get an external
enclosure.

 

[Bill in Co.]

What's wrong with the power saving settings under windows?

Nothing. (But I wasn't talking about that).

My secondary disks stop spinning using this method.

It's probably a good idea to turn off system retsore and fast find or the
windows file indexer. Any program that accesses the other disks will cause
it to remain active.

By unplugging and reconnecting drives directly from the mobo will
potentially cause other problems.

Quite likely.

If you want to physically turn the drive on and off get an external
enclosure.

That's what I was getting at.