ShinRa is a very unhappy camper...

[ShinRa]

His external harddrive never wants to be safely unplugged from the power outlet, and it's making him very angry. I'm running NOTHING from the harddrive. It's completely idle.

What gives?

 

[Asus]

Is something running in the background still trying to access it?

 

[ShinRa]

That's a negative sir.

 

[ShinRa]

http://img82.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img82&image=p3nuntitled.jpg

see? nothin fishy here.

 

[ShinRa]

Anyone? I dont wanna **** up my external harddrive by unplugging the power without it being "safelt removed" first.

 

[The Hulk]

I have an external drive (using USB 2.0 with Windows 2000 Pro), and I need to turn it on/off when Windows is up and running. Windows 2000 gives me a fit and says I shouldn't turn it on/off liek that, but never had a problem. Before unplugging it, can you turn it off with a on/off switch?

 

[The Dark Elf]

I can't see how any HDD can be safely pulled from the system while its running.. this USB thing is a load of old cobblers to me, I've yet to see a USB device not eventually break from being removed while the machine is switched on.

 

[The Hulk]

Ouch. Wasn't USB initially hot-swappable parts? Years ago... I know PS/2 and serial/parallel port are not hot-swappable.

How about when I plug in my MP3 player to download songs... shouldn't I be able to just plug it in with the PC already on?

 

[ShinRa]

No it doesnt have an on/off switch which is kinda weird. I end up pulling the electrical (not the usb plug) plug out after i shut my actual comp off. I really dont wanna see my 50 gigs of data lost.

 

[StinkyMojo]

yea thats really weird. speaking of external HD's I have a WD 120gig external and even though my comp is off the HD still spins and is pretty audible. I just got it so i dunno if its normal.

 

[DSDchemE]

1) Make sure that you don't have any of the page file located on that drive. Its always recommended to have the page file on a separate drive than Windows, PROVIDED that the drive is always connected. Unplugging the drive in this case probably wouldn't damage the drive, but would immediately crash windows = bad.

2) Try switching the drive to "optimize for quick removal" through the Device Manager. This will slow down the drive a bit, but should let you unplug it at any time.

3) Even if you can't "safety remove" it, your data should be fine if you unplug it (at least mine is). The only thing that will be corrupted is whatever it was currently trying to write to the drive. No guarentees though, so don't blame me if something bad happens.

 

[ShinRa]

yea thats really weird. speaking of external HD's I have a WD 120gig external and even though my comp is off the HD still spins and is pretty audible. I just got it so i dunno if its normal.

thats the drive i have. did u get the ones with the lights or not?

 

[StinkyMojo]

this is the one I have: http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=44

 

[Asus]

As for turning it running while not in use.
You should be fine just to unplug it from the wall as long as there is no disk activity. If you are copying or moving files then you would not want to interupt it. Otherwise you are perfectly fine.

Call WD and see what they say if you want to know that bad. They just don't have a power switch on that model is all.

As for not being unable saftely remove hardware device, I'm not sure. Just make sure nothing could be using it. Program, page file, etc.

 

[The Terminator]

mine says the same thing for my 2 regular SATA hard drives! If wierding me out too, ahs said it ever since I buily my comp