Data drive takes a while to "spin up" when I access it "cold"

[Adam8281]

In my machine I have a 1TB hard drive which I just use for storing data, like music and movies. It's a recent-model Toshiba. I've noticed that even if my computer has been turned on for a while and I've been actively using it, if I try to access the Data Drive (through Windows Explorer, e.g.), it takes 5-10 seconds to "spin up" before I can access files on it. During this time, I see a green "bar graph" traveling across the address bar in Windows Explorer (I'm on Win 7). It only does this when I'm accessing the drive "cold," that is, for the first time in several hours. Once it's "spun up," I can continue to access it without any delay.

Is there a way to improve this "spin up" time? Is there some setting where I can keep the drive always spinning? If so, is it undesirable to do so, since I guess it would use more power?

 

[CurseTheSky]

I'm not 100% sure if it's in the same place on Windows 7 as it is on Vista, but...

Right click on a blank space on your desktop -> Personalize
Screen Saver -> Change Power Settings
Under whichever plan you're currently using, select Change Plan Settings
Change Advanced Power Settings -> Make sure the active plan is selected in the drop down at the top
Hard Disk -> Turn off hard disk after -> change to 0 minutes (never)
Save all settings and enjoy.

 

[Zensal]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
I'm not 100% sure if it's in the same place on Windows 7 as it is on Vista, but...

Right click on a blank space on your desktop -> Personalize
Screen Saver -> Change Power Settings
Under whichever plan you're currently using, select Change Plan Settings
Change Advanced Power Settings -> Make sure the active plan is selected in the drop down at the top
Hard Disk -> Turn off hard disk after -> change to 0 minutes (never)
Save all settings and enjoy.

/thread

 

[Adam8281]

Beautiful - thanks so much; I'll try this out tonight. So just to confirm, this setting applies to ALL hard drives, not just the OS drive?

 

[Nothinman]

Yea, last I checked there was no way to selectively tell Windows which drives you like power management enabled for.

 

[Emulex]

i could have swore the seagate drive had its own power settings so it could do its own thing, which in turn could cause all heck to your o/s since the o/s expects to do its OWN thing

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: Emulex
i could have swore the seagate drive had its own power settings so it could do its own thing, which in turn could cause all heck to your o/s since the o/s expects to do its OWN thing

I think you're thinking of Active Acoustic Management.

 

[Jumpem]

I have the same problem.

Read the thread... thanks to CurseTheSky and Nothinman.