Any software to manage external usb hard drives?

[Zucarita9000]

Is there any way I can set my external usb hard drive to go to sleep after a given period of time? I have a Western Digital WD400BB inside a Vantec NexStar 2 USB enclosure.

 

[corkyg]

You are probably going to have to get in to USB Power Management.

PM

Since USB devices are hot-pluggable - you might think of a way to simply unplug the drive electrically by means of a timer.

If you have the drive connected to a powered hub, the power brick goes to an A/C source. If this were interrupted by a simple timer switch, it could be set to turn off after "M" minutes or hours.

 

[Zucarita9000]

Originally posted by: corkyg
If you have the drive connected to a powered hub, the power brick goes to an A/C source. If this were interrupted by a simple timer switch, it could be set to turn off after "M" minutes or hours.

Mmm... that would power down the drive even if it's being used. I need something that will turn of the drive after 60 minutes of inactivity, but still show it Windows Explorer.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Adaptec EZ-SCSI 5.01 has some tools for SCSI HD power-management. Depending on what ASPI drivers you have installed, the USB storage devices may show up as SCSI ones, and thus be controllable via this program. I've never tried it though.

 

[corkyg]

Why not just pull the plug when you are not using it? They are hot pluggable. I have some back up external drives (Firewire) and that is what I do. I just disconnect them and only connect when I want to use them.