I’ve just updated from Windows Vista to Windows 10 and my external hard drives are shutting down less than a minute after the last access. It’s now, “spool-up, shut-down, spool-up, shut-down.” How can I tell Windows to allow them to spin for longer periods of time like it was in Vista?
Will the short run time affect the disks’ reliability?
Thanks.
Hello @mhansen2, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)
The tutorial below can help show you how to change the time for when to turn off idle drives.
Hard Disk - Turn Off After Idle in Windows 10
Hi Brink, thanks for the welcome.
I did the power changes in the tutorial, but they don't affect my external drives. Is that tutorial only for the internal drive?
Mike
It'll affect all internal and external HDDs, but not SSDs.
Did you install any software (ex: backup or manage) for the external drive? If so, it may have a setting for this that's overriding Windows.
In addition, check to see if you may have Intel Power Management software installed. It can also override what you have set in Windows.
I haven't installed any software like you suggested. I'm using the external HDDs exactly as they were on the Vista system.
As a test, if you turn off this setting in the power options for your power plan, do they still turn off?
Depending on that external case you have these HDDs in, it could have a setting of its own for when to turn off when idle. What brand and model number are the external HDDs? I'll be happy to see if I may be able to find out more information on them.
I went into the "Change Advanced Power Settings" and changed "turn off HD after" to NEVER for both plugged in and battery. After fifteen minutes, the external HDs are still running. In fact, they've been active ever since.
I have three of the Western Digital "My Book" HDs and one of the WD "My Passport Ultra."
Thanks again for your help.
That sounds promising so far.
Next, you can try setting the time to what you want to see if that may toggle them to turn off after being idle when you want.
If not, then you could also download and install "WD Drive Utilities for Windows" from Western Digital at the link below to set them to turn off when you like.
My Book | WD Support
From their settings page to help. :)
Setting the drive sleep timer
The drive sleep timer turns off power to your drive after a certain period of inactivity to conserve power and minimize long-term wear on the drive.
- If you have more than one supported device connected to your computer, select the one that you want to set.
- Click Sleep Timer to display the Sleep Timer dialog.
- On the Sleep Timer dialog:
- Verify or click the Sleep Timer on/off toggle button to the ON position.
- In the Select Time box, select the inactivity period for turning off the drive.
Resetting "Turn off HD after" setting seems to be working. I downloaded the WD utilities as you suggested, but the dialog box covers only one HD with no option to select another. I have three connected.
It's never easy, is it? :)
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