Brew-Happy
Well-Known Member
Ok short story: Monitor is going out on a 6yr old computer and so we will be switching over to laptop and finding a new home for the old comp. I took the harddrive out of the desktop and put it in an external harddrive kit. Then put the original harddrive back into the desktop.
Now the question for the techies of the this board that seem to know a LOT more than me.
What is the proper way of shutting down the external harddrive once it is connected to the laptop?
Usually we put our computer to sleep and will probably do the same for the laptop. Once it is asleep, I would like to turn off the harddrive (it has a manual on/off switch). So far I am unable to disconnect it through the system tray the way I do with my flashdrive. Do I just pull the USB cable? Seems like a harsh thing to do, but then that is why I am asking.
Also, this drive will serve as a backup to what is on the laptop and to store pictures and music.
I have searched the interdumpz and can not get a good consensus of how to keep from damaging the external drive.
Options found so far:
A presumptive Thanks!! for any help.
Now the question for the techies of the this board that seem to know a LOT more than me.
What is the proper way of shutting down the external harddrive once it is connected to the laptop?
Usually we put our computer to sleep and will probably do the same for the laptop. Once it is asleep, I would like to turn off the harddrive (it has a manual on/off switch). So far I am unable to disconnect it through the system tray the way I do with my flashdrive. Do I just pull the USB cable? Seems like a harsh thing to do, but then that is why I am asking.
Also, this drive will serve as a backup to what is on the laptop and to store pictures and music.
I have searched the interdumpz and can not get a good consensus of how to keep from damaging the external drive.
Options found so far:
- Just unplug it
- Download "Spin down" software. (not too fond of this as I don't trust a lot of the software out there)
- Completely shut down comp then unplug (eliminates sleep mode option)
- Just switch it off with the manual switch on external case (hard way to shut down)
- Leave it running all the time (energy/$ wasteful)
- ???
A presumptive Thanks!! for any help.