External Drive Light Flashing in Regular Pattern Continuously

Hi

NOTE: My drives are NOT active and are recognised by OS and all flash at the same time

I use multiple external USB drives (SSDs) for storing my backup files on them. However, For many months now I've been aware that my USB drive (HD or SSD) give a double flash every second when it is not active. When this happens the drive is not being accessed and it IS recognised by the OS (Windows 10). My husband also has an external 4TB WD Elements drive and that has been flashing at the rate previously given since he received it some considerable time ago (unless of course it is being written to) like up to a year.

So it doesn't apply to just SSDs, it also affects HDs. I re-installed Win10 back in January, my system seemed in need of a refresh plus I had this problem (if it is a problem). The flashing stopped for a while but its now started doing it again. I'm not worried about HDs so much as SSDs and I'm wondering if it'll lead to a shortened life. Is it something I should concerning myself about?

If anyone has any ideas as to what is causing the flashing, please do us all a kindness and reveal all you know and if necessary, how we can stop the flashing. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Tracey

PS I should also point out that I have searched the internet but so far have found nothing related to this.

PPS Windows version: Windows 10 21H2 (build 19044.1826)

Make sure to include external drives to the Windows Defender exclusion from Windows Security.

Hi folk

Many thanks for your responses.

dalchina: I am of course aware of Process Explorer but I've found it rather a daunting and complex program to use and so much data! To be honest I've never tried to understand how to use but I suppose now is a good time to find out so I'll check out the MS website you've provided and see how it goes.

FreeBooter: Is it wise to exclude the external drives from Windows Defender? Its the first time I've been advised to do that and my husbands Elements drive is connected 100% of the time. Isn't that rather leaving him open to any viruses that he may unintentionally get in his PC. I should add that we use Windows Defender and Malwarebytes as our protection.

Tracey

TraceyW said:

Hi folk

Many thanks for your responses.

dalchina: I am of course aware of Process Explorer but I've found it rather a daunting and complex program to use and so much data! To be honest I've never tried to understand how to use but I suppose now is a good time to find out so I'll check out the MS website you've provided and see how it goes.

FreeBooter: Is it wise to exclude the external drives from Windows Defender? Its the first time I've been advised to do that and my husbands Elements drive is connected 100% of the time. Isn't that rather leaving him open to any viruses that he may unintentionally get in his PC. I should add that we use Windows Defender and Malwarebytes as our protection.

Tracey

Well, i exclude my external drives as i know they are not infected but if you are not sure then don't do it you will be safer like that.

I have an idea to enable "USB selective suspend setting" from Power Options.

Turn On or Off USB Selective Suspend in Windows 10

It is normal for the CPU and OS to check available and connected hardware by sending a IRQ request to make sure it is still there and available. If you do not want them active, suggest disconnecting them from the machine.

Thanks for all your responses.

dalchina: I've followed the web page to find the item in question in Process Explorer but up to now its found absolutely NOTHING. Should I therefore take it that my initial query is nothing to worry about or could there possibly be something else causing the flashing. I've just checked my drives again and strangely they've all stopped flashing. I get the feeling this is something to keep an eye on. What I can say is that whilst my drives have currently stopped flashing, my husband's WD Elements drive is flashing merrily as it has done for at least the past year. Maybe I'll see if I can go through the process on his PC as well and see if the drive stops flashing although its unlikely it'll work like that - but you never know.

Freebooter: My USB Suspend setting is already enabled and I assume that is how you are suggesting it is set. My drives are not excluded from checking by Windows Defender but I don't know at present how to do it since the program doesn't provide the option to exclude drives. Can you point me to where I can get the info please.

Again thanks to all for the responses to my initial query and since my drives are no longer flashing I suppose I'd better call this thread Solved - but is it, that remains to be seen.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...4-c301afe13b26