Can a USB-only Seagate portable drive be turned off when not needed?

I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can Windows XP SP2
turn it off when it isn't in use? At least when the computer is
hibernating would help. This computer is in my bedroom and it is
helping keep me awake at night.
--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

LVTravel
Sat Mar 15 20:28:50 PDT 2008

Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the
manufacturer of the drive (check Seagate's web site)
includes a specific driver for that purpose. The only thing
you can try is to go to Power Options in Control Panel and
set the Hard disks to turn off after a period of inactivity.
Probably won't turn off the USB ones but it is worth a try.


Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with the
Safely Remove Hardware device and then turn it off with the
switch. It will reinstall when turned back on.

If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.


"Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can
>Windows XP SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At least
>when the computer is hibernating would help. This computer
>is in my bedroom and it is helping keep me awake at night.
> --
> will 68 at mtco dot com
> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for
> large signatures)

Will
Sat Mar 15 20:48:43 PDT 2008

There is a switch, but whenever I turn it off and back on, my BIOS
(Intel) makes it the default hard drive to boot from. I don't have a
bootable partition on there and even if I did, I already found out that
booting from there is not supported due to the cylinder count.

LVTravel wrote:
> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the
> manufacturer of the drive (check Seagate's web site)
> includes a specific driver for that purpose. The only thing
> you can try is to go to Power Options in Control Panel and
> set the Hard disks to turn off after a period of inactivity.
> Probably won't turn off the USB ones but it is worth a try.
>
>
> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with the
> Safely Remove Hardware device and then turn it off with the
> switch. It will reinstall when turned back on.
>
> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>
>
> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can
>> Windows XP SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At least
>> when the computer is hibernating would help. This computer
>> is in my bedroom and it is helping keep me awake at night.
>> --
>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for
>> large signatures)
>
>

--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

LVTravel
Sat Mar 15 20:51:43 PDT 2008

You then need to go into the bios and change the boot order
from USB first to Hard drive first boot device. Put the CD
drive next and USB last. To enter BIOS you would press a
key or combination of keys (normally displayed on the
desktop soon after turning on the computer) when the
manufacturer's flash screen or bios display screen first
starts.


"Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
news:uW7ytfxhIHA.200@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> There is a switch, but whenever I turn it off and back on,
> my BIOS (Intel) makes it the default hard drive to boot
> from. I don't have a bootable partition on there and even
> if I did, I already found out that booting from there is
> not supported due to the cylinder count.
>
> LVTravel wrote:
>> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the
>> manufacturer of the drive (check Seagate's web site)
>> includes a specific driver for that purpose. The only
>> thing you can try is to go to Power Options in Control
>> Panel and set the Hard disks to turn off after a period
>> of inactivity. Probably won't turn off the USB ones but
>> it is worth a try.
>>
>>
>> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with
>> the Safely Remove Hardware device and then turn it off
>> with the switch. It will reinstall when turned back on.
>>
>> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>>
>>
>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can
>>> Windows XP SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At
>>> least when the computer is hibernating would help. This
>>> computer is in my bedroom and it is helping keep me
>>> awake at night.
>>> --
>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address
>>> for large signatures)
>>
>>
>
> --
> will 68 at mtco dot com
> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for
> large signatures)

Will
Sat Mar 15 21:04:04 PDT 2008

Huh? I know that. I don't turn the drive off with the switch primarily
so I don't have to do that every time I start the computer.

LVTravel wrote:
> You then need to go into the bios and change the boot order
> from USB first to Hard drive first boot device. Put the CD
> drive next and USB last. To enter BIOS you would press a
> key or combination of keys (normally displayed on the
> desktop soon after turning on the computer) when the
> manufacturer's flash screen or bios display screen first
> starts.
>
>
> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
> news:uW7ytfxhIHA.200@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> There is a switch, but whenever I turn it off and back on,
>> my BIOS (Intel) makes it the default hard drive to boot
>> from. I don't have a bootable partition on there and even
>> if I did, I already found out that booting from there is
>> not supported due to the cylinder count.
>>
>> LVTravel wrote:
>>> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the
>>> manufacturer of the drive (check Seagate's web site)
>>> includes a specific driver for that purpose. The only
>>> thing you can try is to go to Power Options in Control
>>> Panel and set the Hard disks to turn off after a period
>>> of inactivity. Probably won't turn off the USB ones but
>>> it is worth a try.
>>>
>>>
>>> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with
>>> the Safely Remove Hardware device and then turn it off
>>> with the switch. It will reinstall when turned back on.
>>>
>>> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>>> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can
>>>> Windows XP SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At
>>>> least when the computer is hibernating would help. This
>>>> computer is in my bedroom and it is helping keep me
>>>> awake at night.
>>>> --
>>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address
>>>> for large signatures)
>>>
>> --
>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for
>> large signatures)
>
>

--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

XJHay
Sat Mar 15 21:33:00 PDT 2008

Seeing how it's a USB drive leave it off until your system is booted all the
way, then plug it in.

I don't have the boot up problem you have,

( There is a switch, but whenever I turn it off and back on, my BIOS(Intel)
makes it the default hard drive to boot from.)

but I do have a Maxtor 320gb external drive I use to store my music etc.
files on. The drive might not get turned on for a couple of days. When I need
it, I plug it in, after I'm up and running.

Works ok for me. Only thing makes me nervous about it helping you is that
bootup issue.



"Will Pittenger" wrote:

> Huh? I know that. I don't turn the drive off with the switch primarily
> so I don't have to do that every time I start the computer.
>
> LVTravel wrote:
> > You then need to go into the bios and change the boot order
> > from USB first to Hard drive first boot device. Put the CD
> > drive next and USB last. To enter BIOS you would press a
> > key or combination of keys (normally displayed on the
> > desktop soon after turning on the computer) when the
> > manufacturer's flash screen or bios display screen first
> > starts.
> >
> >
> > "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
> > news:uW7ytfxhIHA.200@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> >> There is a switch, but whenever I turn it off and back on,
> >> my BIOS (Intel) makes it the default hard drive to boot
> >> from. I don't have a bootable partition on there and even
> >> if I did, I already found out that booting from there is
> >> not supported due to the cylinder count.
> >>
> >> LVTravel wrote:
> >>> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the
> >>> manufacturer of the drive (check Seagate's web site)
> >>> includes a specific driver for that purpose. The only
> >>> thing you can try is to go to Power Options in Control
> >>> Panel and set the Hard disks to turn off after a period
> >>> of inactivity. Probably won't turn off the USB ones but
> >>> it is worth a try.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with
> >>> the Safely Remove Hardware device and then turn it off
> >>> with the switch. It will reinstall when turned back on.
> >>>
> >>> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
> >>> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> >>>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can
> >>>> Windows XP SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At
> >>>> least when the computer is hibernating would help. This
> >>>> computer is in my bedroom and it is helping keep me
> >>>> awake at night.
> >>>> --
> >>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
> >>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address
> >>>> for large signatures)
> >>>
> >> --
> >> will 68 at mtco dot com
> >> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for
> >> large signatures)
> >
> >
>
> --
> will 68 at mtco dot com
> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)
>

DL
Sun Mar 16 03:19:52 PDT 2008

Then your stuffed.
Set your Bios correctly, and remove the usb at night
As LVTravel has allready, politely explained

"Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
news:uBx3SoxhIHA.2540@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Huh? I know that. I don't turn the drive off with the switch primarily
> so I don't have to do that every time I start the computer.
>
> LVTravel wrote:
>> You then need to go into the bios and change the boot order from USB
>> first to Hard drive first boot device. Put the CD drive next and USB
>> last. To enter BIOS you would press a key or combination of keys
>> (normally displayed on the desktop soon after turning on the computer)
>> when the manufacturer's flash screen or bios display screen first starts.
>>
>>
>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>> news:uW7ytfxhIHA.200@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> There is a switch, but whenever I turn it off and back on, my BIOS
>>> (Intel) makes it the default hard drive to boot from. I don't have a
>>> bootable partition on there and even if I did, I already found out that
>>> booting from there is not supported due to the cylinder count.
>>>
>>> LVTravel wrote:
>>>> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the manufacturer of the
>>>> drive (check Seagate's web site) includes a specific driver for that
>>>> purpose. The only thing you can try is to go to Power Options in
>>>> Control Panel and set the Hard disks to turn off after a period of
>>>> inactivity. Probably won't turn off the USB ones but it is worth a try.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with the Safely
>>>> Remove Hardware device and then turn it off with the switch. It will
>>>> reinstall when turned back on.
>>>>
>>>> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>>>> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can Windows XP SP2
>>>>> turn it off when it isn't in use? At least when the computer is
>>>>> hibernating would help. This computer is in my bedroom and it is
>>>>> helping keep me awake at night.
>>>>> --
>>>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
>>>>> signatures)
>>>>
>>> --
>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
>>> signatures)
>>
>>
>
> --
> will 68 at mtco dot com
> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
> signatures)

Will
Sun Mar 16 10:56:45 PDT 2008

"Setting the BIOS correctly" means going into the BIOS every time I boot
after turning the drive off. Besides, that drive has my backups on it.
(Every now and then, I plan to burn them to CD, but until then, it is
the only way I have to automate the backups.) So I can't just turn the
drive off completely at night as that is when the backups run.

DL wrote:
> Then your stuffed.
> Set your Bios correctly, and remove the usb at night
> As LVTravel has allready, politely explained
>
> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
> news:uBx3SoxhIHA.2540@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Huh? I know that. I don't turn the drive off with the switch primarily
>> so I don't have to do that every time I start the computer.
>>
>> LVTravel wrote:
>>> You then need to go into the bios and change the boot order from USB
>>> first to Hard drive first boot device. Put the CD drive next and USB
>>> last. To enter BIOS you would press a key or combination of keys
>>> (normally displayed on the desktop soon after turning on the computer)
>>> when the manufacturer's flash screen or bios display screen first starts.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>>> news:uW7ytfxhIHA.200@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> There is a switch, but whenever I turn it off and back on, my BIOS
>>>> (Intel) makes it the default hard drive to boot from. I don't have a
>>>> bootable partition on there and even if I did, I already found out that
>>>> booting from there is not supported due to the cylinder count.
>>>>
>>>> LVTravel wrote:
>>>>> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the manufacturer of the
>>>>> drive (check Seagate's web site) includes a specific driver for that
>>>>> purpose. The only thing you can try is to go to Power Options in
>>>>> Control Panel and set the Hard disks to turn off after a period of
>>>>> inactivity. Probably won't turn off the USB ones but it is worth a try.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with the Safely
>>>>> Remove Hardware device and then turn it off with the switch. It will
>>>>> reinstall when turned back on.
>>>>>
>>>>> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>>>>> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can Windows XP SP2
>>>>>> turn it off when it isn't in use? At least when the computer is
>>>>>> hibernating would help. This computer is in my bedroom and it is
>>>>>> helping keep me awake at night.
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>>>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
>>>>>> signatures)
>>>> --
>>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
>>>> signatures)
>>>
>> --
>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
>> signatures)
>
>

--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

GHalleck
Sun Mar 16 11:05:52 PDT 2008


Will Pittenger wrote:
> "Setting the BIOS correctly" means going into the BIOS every time I boot
> after turning the drive off. Besides, that drive has my backups on it.
> (Every now and then, I plan to burn them to CD, but until then, it is
> the only way I have to automate the backups.) So I can't just turn the
> drive off completely at night as that is when the backups run.
>

That doesn't sound right, especially for an Intel motherboard and
bios. There should be an option to save the changes when exiting
from bios setup/configuration. It would rather seem that the issue
is setting up Windows to do automated backups to what is supposed
to be a permanently attached device such as a tape drive or an
internal drive versus a removable external USB drive that has been
designed as "unremovable" by the user. How one gets around this may
require some research on how the backup application works.

Ed
Sun Mar 16 11:19:15 PDT 2008

> "Setting the BIOS correctly" means going into the BIOS every time I boot
> after turning the drive off. Besides, that drive has my backups on it.
> (Every now and then, I plan to burn them to CD, but until then, it is the
> only way I have to automate the backups.) So I can't just turn the drive
> off completely at night as that is when the backups run.

I think what LVT and DL are trying to tell you is that a BIOS
should NEVER change the preferred boot drive no matter what
hardware is attached. As long as the preferred, non-USB drive
is attached it should boot to only that drive.

As you add new hardware, the BIOS should acknowledge it but
never make chages. Period. Chances are, there's a BIOS upgrade
available that will correct the problem.

By the way what ever compelled you to create a boot partition on
an external USB drive? A Really BAD idea which you will become
fully aware of in due time.

Ed

Will
Sun Mar 16 11:56:11 PDT 2008

Actually, I had a bad internal drive. So I backed up all partitions to
the portable. I was hoping at the time Windows would boot from there so
I would at least have a machine while waiting on the new hard drive.

Ed Covney wrote:
>> "Setting the BIOS correctly" means going into the BIOS every time I boot
>> after turning the drive off. Besides, that drive has my backups on it.
>> (Every now and then, I plan to burn them to CD, but until then, it is the
>> only way I have to automate the backups.) So I can't just turn the drive
>> off completely at night as that is when the backups run.
>
> I think what LVT and DL are trying to tell you is that a BIOS
> should NEVER change the preferred boot drive no matter what
> hardware is attached. As long as the preferred, non-USB drive
> is attached it should boot to only that drive.
>
> As you add new hardware, the BIOS should acknowledge it but
> never make chages. Period. Chances are, there's a BIOS upgrade
> available that will correct the problem.
>
> By the way what ever compelled you to create a boot partition on
> an external USB drive? A Really BAD idea which you will become
> fully aware of in due time.
>
> Ed
>
>

--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

Will
Sun Mar 16 11:57:17 PDT 2008

Can't afford the tape drive. The USB drive was sitting there, so I put
it to work.

GHalleck wrote:
>
> Will Pittenger wrote:
>> "Setting the BIOS correctly" means going into the BIOS every time I
>> boot after turning the drive off. Besides, that drive has my backups
>> on it. (Every now and then, I plan to burn them to CD, but until
>> then, it is the only way I have to automate the backups.) So I can't
>> just turn the drive off completely at night as that is when the
>> backups run.
>>
>
> That doesn't sound right, especially for an Intel motherboard and
> bios. There should be an option to save the changes when exiting
> from bios setup/configuration. It would rather seem that the issue
> is setting up Windows to do automated backups to what is supposed
> to be a permanently attached device such as a tape drive or an
> internal drive versus a removable external USB drive that has been
> designed as "unremovable" by the user. How one gets around this may
> require some research on how the backup application works.

--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

LVTravel
Sun Mar 16 15:05:49 PDT 2008


"Ed Covney" <ed(dot)covney(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote in
message news:Oex8AJ5hIHA.3780@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> "Setting the BIOS correctly" means going into the BIOS
>> every time I boot after turning the drive off. Besides,
>> that drive has my backups on it. (Every now and then, I
>> plan to burn them to CD, but until then, it is the only
>> way I have to automate the backups.) So I can't just
>> turn the drive off completely at night as that is when
>> the backups run.
>
> I think what LVT and DL are trying to tell you is that a
> BIOS
> should NEVER change the preferred boot drive no matter
> what
> hardware is attached. As long as the preferred, non-USB
> drive
> is attached it should boot to only that drive.
>
> As you add new hardware, the BIOS should acknowledge it
> but
> never make chages. Period. Chances are, there's a BIOS
> upgrade
> available that will correct the problem.
>
> By the way what ever compelled you to create a boot
> partition on
> an external USB drive? A Really BAD idea which you will
> become
> fully aware of in due time.
>
> Ed
>
>
Exactly what I and others have said. I haven't figured out
how, if the bios is changed to the internal HDD as first
boot device and saved before reboot, the computer reverts to
a USB drive as its boot drive. Even if there is a boot
partition on a USB drive that, in and of itself, should have
no bearing on how a system boots. (All of my current
desktop computers can be set to have the USB boot the
computer as well as more than one installed hard drive or
CD/DVD)

I have placed many bootable drives in USB enclosures from
failed computers and never had one of them attempt to take
over the boot drive of the computers. None of my systems
have any issue with having USB drives attached when booted.

The laptop I currently am using has 3 USB drives attached
and I just rebooted it after doing some updating of the
installed programs. The primary desktop has 2 attached
through direct port connect to the system and 3 through a
powered hub. None give any issue on a reboot other than
being available when the system reboots. All are turned on
with the same power switch (I have them all hooked to a
power center that is plugged into an uninterruptable power
supply) that I use to turn on the monitor and computer.

Will
Tue Mar 18 17:54:23 PDT 2008

So do you know of a Seagate driver to solve that problem? How about
BIOS updates for Intel? Neither Intel's nor Seagate's websites could
shed much light.

LVTravel wrote:
> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the
> manufacturer of the drive (check Seagate's web site)
> includes a specific driver for that purpose. The only thing
> you can try is to go to Power Options in Control Panel and
> set the Hard disks to turn off after a period of inactivity.
> Probably won't turn off the USB ones but it is worth a try.
>
>
> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with the
> Safely Remove Hardware device and then turn it off with the
> switch. It will reinstall when turned back on.
>
> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>
>
> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can
>> Windows XP SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At least
>> when the computer is hibernating would help. This computer
>> is in my bedroom and it is helping keep me awake at night.
>> --
>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for
>> large signatures)
>
>

--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

LVTravel
Tue Mar 18 18:15:29 PDT 2008

If you didn't find a driver to accomplish turning off the
USB drives, it can't be done unless you turn off the drive
manually.


"Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
news:ejf2NsViIHA.4436@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> So do you know of a Seagate driver to solve that problem?
> How about BIOS updates for Intel? Neither Intel's nor
> Seagate's websites could shed much light.
>
> LVTravel wrote:
>> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the
>> manufacturer of the drive (check Seagate's web site)
>> includes a specific driver for that purpose. The only
>> thing you can try is to go to Power Options in Control
>> Panel and set the Hard disks to turn off after a period
>> of inactivity. Probably won't turn off the USB ones but
>> it is worth a try.
>>
>>
>> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with
>> the Safely Remove Hardware device and then turn it off
>> with the switch. It will reinstall when turned back on.
>>
>> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>>
>>
>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can
>>> Windows XP SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At
>>> least when the computer is hibernating would help. This
>>> computer is in my bedroom and it is helping keep me
>>> awake at night.
>>> --
>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address
>>> for large signatures)
>>
>>
>
> --
> will 68 at mtco dot com
> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for
> large signatures)

Will
Tue Mar 18 22:32:17 PDT 2008

I thought that maybe Seagate's website was just poorly designed.

LVTravel wrote:
> If you didn't find a driver to accomplish turning off the
> USB drives, it can't be done unless you turn off the drive
> manually.
>
>
> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
> news:ejf2NsViIHA.4436@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> So do you know of a Seagate driver to solve that problem?
>> How about BIOS updates for Intel? Neither Intel's nor
>> Seagate's websites could shed much light.
>>
>> LVTravel wrote:
>>> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the
>>> manufacturer of the drive (check Seagate's web site)
>>> includes a specific driver for that purpose. The only
>>> thing you can try is to go to Power Options in Control
>>> Panel and set the Hard disks to turn off after a period
>>> of inactivity. Probably won't turn off the USB ones but
>>> it is worth a try.
>>>
>>>
>>> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with
>>> the Safely Remove Hardware device and then turn it off
>>> with the switch. It will reinstall when turned back on.
>>>
>>> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>>> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can
>>>> Windows XP SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At
>>>> least when the computer is hibernating would help. This
>>>> computer is in my bedroom and it is helping keep me
>>>> awake at night.
>>>> --
>>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address
>>>> for large signatures)
>>>
>> --
>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for
>> large signatures)
>
>

--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

Bill
Wed Mar 19 15:31:52 PDT 2008

Will Pittenger wrote:
> I thought that maybe Seagate's website was just poorly designed.
>
> LVTravel wrote:
>> If you didn't find a driver to accomplish turning off the USB drives,
>> it can't be done unless you turn off the drive manually.
>>
>>
>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>> news:ejf2NsViIHA.4436@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> So do you know of a Seagate driver to solve that problem? How about
>>> BIOS updates for Intel? Neither Intel's nor Seagate's websites could
>>> shed much light.
>>>
>>> LVTravel wrote:
>>>> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the manufacturer of
>>>> the drive (check Seagate's web site) includes a specific driver for
>>>> that purpose. The only thing you can try is to go to Power Options
>>>> in Control Panel and set the Hard disks to turn off after a period
>>>> of inactivity. Probably won't turn off the USB ones but it is worth
>>>> a try.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with the Safely
>>>> Remove Hardware device and then turn it off with the switch. It
>>>> will reinstall when turned back on.
>>>>
>>>> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>>>> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can Windows XP
>>>>> SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At least when the computer
>>>>> is hibernating would help. This computer is in my bedroom and it
>>>>> is helping keep me awake at night.
>>>>> --
>>>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
>>>>> signatures)
>>>>
>>> --
>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
>>> signatures)
>>
>>
>
If push comes to shove, have you considered moving your computer out of
your bedroom? <g>

Bill

Will
Wed Mar 19 16:05:50 PDT 2008

There would be no place to move it to. My desk is huge. 10 feet by 8 feet.

Bill Sharpe wrote:
> Will Pittenger wrote:
>> I thought that maybe Seagate's website was just poorly designed.
>>
>> LVTravel wrote:
>>> If you didn't find a driver to accomplish turning off the USB drives,
>>> it can't be done unless you turn off the drive manually.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>>> news:ejf2NsViIHA.4436@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> So do you know of a Seagate driver to solve that problem? How about
>>>> BIOS updates for Intel? Neither Intel's nor Seagate's websites
>>>> could shed much light.
>>>>
>>>> LVTravel wrote:
>>>>> Normally XP can not turn off USB drives unless the manufacturer of
>>>>> the drive (check Seagate's web site) includes a specific driver for
>>>>> that purpose. The only thing you can try is to go to Power Options
>>>>> in Control Panel and set the Hard disks to turn off after a period
>>>>> of inactivity. Probably won't turn off the USB ones but it is worth
>>>>> a try.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there a switch on the drive, if so uninstall it with the Safely
>>>>> Remove Hardware device and then turn it off with the switch. It
>>>>> will reinstall when turned back on.
>>>>>
>>>>> If no switch, uninstall it and then unplug it.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Will Pittenger" <no-spam@see.my.sig> wrote in message
>>>>> news:eLhHFIxhIHA.3352@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> I have a USB Seagate portable drive with 120 GB. Can Windows XP
>>>>>> SP2 turn it off when it isn't in use? At least when the computer
>>>>>> is hibernating would help. This computer is in my bedroom and it
>>>>>> is helping keep me awake at night.
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>>>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
>>>>>> signatures)
>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> will 68 at mtco dot com
>>>> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
>>>> signatures)
>>>
>>>
>>
> If push comes to shove, have you considered moving your computer out of
> your bedroom? <g>
>
> Bill

--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

Bill
Sat Mar 22 09:58:07 PDT 2008

Will Pittenger wrote:
> There would be no place to move it to. My desk is huge. 10 feet by 8
> feet.
>
Well, then consider moving your bed out of your bedroom <vbg>

Bill