How To Stop ExternalHDD From Spinning Down?

[PowerRanger]

Hi all, is there any way to stop an external-HDD (USB) from spinning down/going to sleep? Its a bit annoying as it spins down every 15 minutes or so. I access the HDD intermittently, so it basically spins up/down constantly throughout its use. The HDD is a Maxtor paired with an external enclosure. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[corkyg]

I have three external HDDs and they never spin down or sleep. That is controlled in your Control Panel, power options. Set hard disks power down/sleep to NEVER. I then have power switches on them - so if I am not using them, I turn them off.

 

[PowerRanger]

My Power Settings were already set for the HDDs to not spin down, but I think that only affects the internal HDD(?). I'm on a laptop by the way.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Then you don't really have any options. Just have to live with it.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea it is an external feature, whether you can set it depends on the manufacturer.
and last i heard it was harder to find a external case that supported spin down than one that spent all its time wasting power is it really that much of a bother?

 

[PowerRanger]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

OrooOroo - its not really that much of a bother. I think I read somewhere that constant spin ups/downs is not very "healthy" to the drive, so that's why I'm trying to look for a solution to stop the spin down.

 

[corkyg]

Not all externals are the same. I have two on my laptop - one USB (Seagate FreeAgent-to-Go) and an eSATA case with a 3.5" WDC 200 GB. Neither one one ever spins down when on - but, I don't turn them on unless I want to use them. I suppose it is all tied to methodology of use.