SEARCH

The How-To Geek Forums Have Migrated to Discourse



Join the Discussion at discuss.howtogeek.com

How-To Geek Forums / Windows 7

How to make one drive turn off, but not the c drive?

(8 posts)
  • Started 7 months ago by barredforlife
  • Latest reply from barredforlife
  • Topic Viewed 294 times

barredforlife
Posts: 3

The situation is this: I have two physical drives, the c drive (a sdd), and a second physical drive (standard hard disk) for backup and whatnot. Is there a setting to make the second hard drive turn off when not in use, but leave the other drive running? I have my pc running 24/7 but don't need the second drive spinning all the time.

Posted 7 months ago #
Top
 
raphoenix
raphoenix
Posts: 14920

Run the computer with the Side Panel Removed.

Assign DVD Player Letter K.

Reboot.

When the machine is TURNED OFF, then just disconnect the power and data cables from the mechanical hard drive when you know you will not need it for a while.

Do NOT try "Hot Plugging" Consumer Grade mechanical hard drive when the machine power is turned on !!!!

Rick P.

Posted 7 months ago #
Top
 
whs
whs
Posts: 17584

If you have a 'balanced' power setting, it should turn off (at least mine do). But that can also be a pain because every time you reference a file on the HDD, you have to wait for the HDD to get started.

I have 1 SSD and 2 HDDs in a Dell.

Posted 7 months ago #
Top
 
Hermitt
Hermitt
Posts: 1310

barredforlife, if I were you I wouldn't worry about it. I have a Custom built XP machine (built in September 2003) with 2 physical 120GB HDD's that have been running for the past 9 years and they still run as smooth as silk.

Jim

Posted 7 months ago #
Top
 
barredforlife
Posts: 3

TY all for your input so far.

to whs: I'll try the balanced again. However, when I left a program running (folding) the entire pc went to sleep after 30 minutes if I left the PC.

Posted 7 months ago #
Top
 
whs
whs
Posts: 17584

I set my sleep and shutdown timings to 'Never'. So that has never happened.

But Hermitt has a good point. If you keep the HDDs running it may wear them less than frequent start/stop operations.

Posted 7 months ago #
Top
 
raphoenix
raphoenix
Posts: 14920

The reason for my FIRST recommendation above is that you are running an SSD.

All information I have read recommends to DISABLE System Sleep Modes Including Hibernation and to zero out the Hibernate File when running SSDs.

Also has been reported for years that machines with devices which allows Windows program to sleep them have issues and problems along the way.

Thus I prefer to just Physically Disconnect a couple of old Backup Spinners until I need them.

Rick P.

Posted 7 months ago #
Top
 
barredforlife
Posts: 3

OK, thanks folks for all the good input.

Posted 7 months ago #
Top
 



Topic Closed

This topic has been closed to new replies. Please create a new topic instead.


Create New Topic Return to Forum