How do you unpower a hard drive?

My backup HD is in the same tower with my main HD. It turns on when the
computer turns on--naturally! What I'd like to do is turn on the backup HD
only to add or subtract information, then have it turn off so that it
doesn't contribute heat and doesn't wear out. Is there a simple way to do
this without having to go in to the computer and actually unplug the power
connection?

Thanks,

Norm Strong

wrote:
My backup HD is in the same tower with my main HD. It turns on when the
computer turns on--naturally! What I'd like to do is turn on the backup HD
only to add or subtract information, then have it turn off so that it
doesn't contribute heat and doesn't wear out. Is there a simple way to do
this without having to go in to the computer and actually unplug the power
connection?

You may want to take this to an appropriate newsgroup; this one is for
"cdr" - CD recording. If you do, it would be wise to mention your OS.

Mike
--

http://www.mrichter.com/

.. --------------------------------------
Mike Richter, were you born with
"Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face?
--------------------------------------
http://tinyurl.com/6eldj

(No Mikey S-lickers have been able to prove ANY of the above is a LIBEL)
( -- despite Mikey claimed to have proof of misquotes !! )
'

wrote:

My backup HD is in the same tower with my main HD. It turns on when the
computer turns on--naturally! What I'd like to do is turn on the backup HD
only to add or subtract information, then have it turn off so that it
doesn't contribute heat and doesn't wear out. Is there a simple way to do
this without having to go in to the computer and actually unplug the power
connection?

In Windows there is no selectively "Suspend" an individual hard disk.
Consider getting an external case with hot plug and play capability.

"Mike Richter" wrote in message
...
wrote:
My backup HD is in the same tower with my main HD. It turns on when the
computer turns on--naturally! What I'd like to do is turn on the backup
HD only to add or subtract information, then have it turn off so that it
doesn't contribute heat and doesn't wear out. Is there a simple way to
do this without having to go in to the computer and actually unplug the
power connection?

You may want to take this to an appropriate newsgroup; this one is for
"cdr" - CD recording. If you do, it would be wise to mention your OS.

Mike
--

http://www.mrichter.com/

A bit late for you, but this is where the usb (or firewire) stuff comes in
so handy. You could remove the hd and get an external enclosure provided you
have usb 2.0. Trouble I've found with that approach is the enclosures tend
to be pricey. The short answer to your original question would be no.
Dave Cohen

On Sat, 10 Sep 2005 09:20:25 -0700, wrote in
alt.comp.periphs.cdr:

My backup HD is in the same tower with my main HD. It turns on when the
computer turns on--naturally! What I'd like to do is turn on the backup HD
only to add or subtract information, then have it turn off so that it
doesn't contribute heat and doesn't wear out. Is there a simple way to do
this without having to go in to the computer and actually unplug the power
connection?

Check in at your favorite computer store. You can find external
enclosures that let one use a regular every-day internal IDE drive as a
USB drive. The box is hot-pluggable with WinXP at least. One will cost
you maybe a $40 entry fee, but you can easily switch several HDs in and
out (one at a time, of course). It's a nice idea to have a backup HD on
site but in a different room, and maybe even one in a safe-deposit box
or some such. I've been using one of those quite happily for a while.

There are also caddies that plug into a 5-1/2" bay and can be pulled in
and out. The two I have have a key lock. When you turn said key the
power is immediately switched off safely (so far...) and the caddy can
then be removed. The drawback is that you're using up one of the few
externally reachable 5" bays, which most cases don't have too many of,
and you'll always want one of those for your CD/DVD and maybe for a
floppy drive. The caddy is a two-parter. The outside is bolted into the
bay, while an inner carrier comes and goes with the drive inside. The
actual drive is easily replaced in the caddy. They claim to be
hot-pluggable, but I think that would be a liitle too gutsy. I
personally don't power the things on or off while the OS is running.

--
Dick Yuknavech

Why put fault tolerance in the OS, when it's already built into the
User?

"Dick Yuknavech" I-give-up.@dontspamcom wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Sep 2005 09:20:25 -0700, wrote in
alt.comp.periphs.cdr:

My backup HD is in the same tower with my main HD. It turns on when the
computer turns on--naturally! What I'd like to do is turn on the backup
HD
only to add or subtract information, then have it turn off so that it
doesn't contribute heat and doesn't wear out. Is there a simple way to do
this without having to go in to the computer and actually unplug the power
connection?

Check in at your favorite computer store. You can find external
enclosures that let one use a regular every-day internal IDE drive as a
USB drive. The box is hot-pluggable with WinXP at least. One will cost
you maybe a $40 entry fee, but you can easily switch several HDs in and
out (one at a time, of course). It's a nice idea to have a backup HD on
site but in a different room, and maybe even one in a safe-deposit box
or some such. I've been using one of those quite happily for a while.

There are also caddies that plug into a 5-1/2" bay and can be pulled in
and out. The two I have have a key lock. When you turn said key the
power is immediately switched off safely (so far...) and the caddy can
then be removed. The drawback is that you're using up one of the few
externally reachable 5" bays, which most cases don't have too many of,
and you'll always want one of those for your CD/DVD and maybe for a
floppy drive. The caddy is a two-parter. The outside is bolted into the
bay, while an inner carrier comes and goes with the drive inside. The
actual drive is easily replaced in the caddy. They claim to be
hot-pluggable, but I think that would be a liitle too gutsy. I
personally don't power the things on or off while the OS is running.

I've decided to just let the spare HD run. If it goes belly up, I'll bite
the bullet and buy a new, larger HD.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Norm Strong

wrote in message
...
My backup HD is in the same tower with my main HD. It turns on when the
computer turns on--naturally! What I'd like to do is turn on the backup
HD
only to add or subtract information, then have it turn off so that it
doesn't contribute heat and doesn't wear out. Is there a simple way to do
this without having to go in to the computer and actually unplug the power
connection?

If you know how to solder put a switch on the red an yellow power wires ,
the black wires do not need to be switched. You may need to set the BIOS to
auto to detect the HD if it is powered on or skip it.

If you power the drive down at the wrong time you could stuff the file
system.

Regards, Malcolm.