Maxtor OneTouch USB2/Firewire

[Keith]

Hi All

I recently purchased a 300GB Maxtor OneTouch USB2/Firewire drive.

I have noticed one thing though that I hope someone else with one of these
drives can confirm.

If I use USB2 to connect to the drive, when I select "Safely Remove
Hardware" in XP to disconnect the drive I hear the drive spin down and
'clunk' as the heads are 'parked' I guess.

However, if I use Firewire to connect, this does not happen when I "Safely
Remove Hardware". Not spin-down, no clunk. It does remove itself from "My
Computer" but I have to use the power switch on the hard disk to spin it
down, which I am concerned could damage the drive.

Is this normal using firewire or should I report to Maxtor as a problem?

Thanks

 

[kony]

Hi All

I recently purchased a 300GB Maxtor OneTouch USB2/Firewire drive.

I have noticed one thing though that I hope someone else with one of these
drives can confirm.

If I use USB2 to connect to the drive, when I select "Safely Remove
Hardware" in XP to disconnect the drive I hear the drive spin down and
'clunk' as the heads are 'parked' I guess.

However, if I use Firewire to connect, this does not happen when I "Safely
Remove Hardware". Not spin-down, no clunk. It does remove itself from "My
Computer" but I have to use the power switch on the hard disk to spin it
down, which I am concerned could damage the drive.

Is this normal using firewire or should I report to Maxtor as a problem?

Thanks

The heads on any semi-modern drive auto-park. I have at
least two USB2 enclosures that do not spin-down the drive,
and it still works over a year (maybe two now) later... no
guarantee for your drive but consider that it is typical for
a system to turn off and not issue a spin-down to the
drives, they just get their power cut in a similar fashion
as what you'd be doing.