External Hard drive Questions.

R2D2 · 16-12-2005, 06:11 PM

Hi,

I've just attached an 80gb hard drive to my laptop by usb2. The drive is mains powered with an on off switch.

There were no instructions with regarding the order for turning the laptop and drive on /off or tips on how to treat it kindly. Should only turn it on when its needed or leave it on all the time????

Any tips welcome

jukie · 16-12-2005, 06:24 PM

I would say you run more risk of failure/damage by turning the drive on and off as and when you need to as opposed to turning it on with you laptop and leaving it on until you power the lappy off. If it were me, I'd leave it on for the length of time you may need to access the drive.

However, I'm quite happy to be corrected by anyone with greater knowledge than myself.

Cheers, David

AJTHOMAS · 16-12-2005, 06:54 PM

As above, recommend leave the drive powered on until you finish with the laptop.

Always unmount or safe disconnect the drive before unplugging the data cable. Shouldn't matter then if you power of the laptop or drive first.

BUT...
I read somewhere (as you do) something about the order of disconnecting power supply units to low voltage devices (external drives, ipods, mobile phones, etc..)

Do you switch of the 240v before disconnecting the device or is it the otherway around, unplug the device before unplugging / switching off 240v ??

Can't remember what it was important but it was quite a length article...

W210 Fan · 16-12-2005, 07:15 PM

once the drive has been dis-mounted by the OS, like win XP down near the clock it is safe to turn the external drive off as the USB port it is connected to has had its 5volt supply disconnected to it, otherwise there is the remote chance that you could short something out and blow up a port, I have seen it happen. Once it is disconnected safely it then doesnt matter whether the lappy is switched off before or after the drive as it is all safe. Ine thing I noticed with those drives a few years back is they do get a bit hot, the newer ones are a lot better though.

BTB 500 · 17-12-2005, 05:46 PM

I have an external hard drive for my desktop machine that I use solely for backups (no more burning CDs!). It's always powered off except when I need to use it, as above you need to 'stop' the drive in the OS before turning it off.

16-12-2005, 06:11 PM	#1
R2D2 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,892	External Hard drive Questions. Hi, I've just attached an 80gb hard drive to my laptop by usb2. The drive is mains powered with an on off switch. There were no instructions with regarding the order for turning the laptop and drive on /off or tips on how to treat it kindly. Should only turn it on when its needed or leave it on all the time???? Any tips welcome

16-12-2005, 06:54 PM	#3
AJTHOMAS Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Herts Car: A160 Posts: 95	As above, recommend leave the drive powered on until you finish with the laptop. Always unmount or safe disconnect the drive before unplugging the data cable. Shouldn't matter then if you power of the laptop or drive first. BUT... I read somewhere (as you do) something about the order of disconnecting power supply units to low voltage devices (external drives, ipods, mobile phones, etc..) Do you switch of the 240v before disconnecting the device or is it the otherway around, unplug the device before unplugging / switching off 240v ?? Can't remember what it was important but it was quite a length article... Last edited by AJTHOMAS; 16-12-2005 at 06:57 PM.

16-12-2005, 07:15 PM	#4
W210 Fan Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,308	once the drive has been dis-mounted by the OS, like win XP down near the clock it is safe to turn the external drive off as the USB port it is connected to has had its 5volt supply disconnected to it, otherwise there is the remote chance that you could short something out and blow up a port, I have seen it happen. Once it is disconnected safely it then doesnt matter whether the lappy is switched off before or after the drive as it is all safe. Ine thing I noticed with those drives a few years back is they do get a bit hot, the newer ones are a lot better though. __________________ has left the building

16-12-2005, 06:24 PM	#2
jukie Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NE Cumbria Car: W124 '95 E220 Posts: 757	I would say you run more risk of failure/damage by turning the drive on and off as and when you need to as opposed to turning it on with you laptop and leaving it on until you power the lappy off. If it were me, I'd leave it on for the length of time you may need to access the drive. However, I'm quite happy to be corrected by anyone with greater knowledge than myself. Cheers, David

17-12-2005, 05:46 PM	#5
BTB 500 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berks Car: '97 R129 SL500, '07 Vito 120 Dualiner Long, '96 Audi A4 TDi 110 SE Avant Posts: 10,175	I have an external hard drive for my desktop machine that I use solely for backups (no more burning CDs!). It's always powered off except when I need to use it, as above you need to 'stop' the drive in the OS before turning it off.

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