Cannot get WD exterior drives to go to sleep

rfhar · Sep 29, 2024

I use these drives Everyday other day for backups as such I wanted to have them go to sleep when not used.

My two drives are not going to sleep. I have used WD Utilities, and both have the sleep timer toggled off. The Device Manager also is set to allow the drives to be shut off.
Windows Home 23H2 64bit Firmware version 01.01a01

My passport 2626
P/N WDBPKJ0050BBPK-OA S/N WX62D836KHPE Model # WDC WD50NDZW-11BCSS1

My Passport 2627
P/N WDPBKJ0040BBK-0B S/N WX51796PU2J Model # WDC WD40NDZW-11MR8S0

Any Ideas?

Ghot · Sep 29, 2024

rfhar said:
I have used WD Utilities, and both have the sleep timer toggled off.

Maybe you should toggle that... ON, if possible?
I'm guessing they can't sleep if the sleep timer is toggled OFF.

As far as I know... storage hard drives don't do anything, unless they are being accessed.
So putting them to sleep, doesn't make much sense.
I could be wrong, I don't know.
I don't use sleep for anything, on a desktop PC.

Also, I gave you ten points for filling out your computer specs.

glasskuter · Sep 29, 2024

A word of caution: It is always best to keep the drive where you keep the system images disconneted when not in use. If a power surge or other unusual event got into your computer, any connected device could be affected. Not only that, but there's always a possibility if anyone ever hacked into your system, they could render your computer AND the images useless. Better to be safe than sorry.

rfhar · Sep 29, 2024

glasskuter said:
A word of caution: It is always best to keep the drive where you keep the system images disconnected when not in use. If a power surge or other unusual event got into your computer, any connected device could be affected. Not only that, but there's always a possibility if anyone ever hacked into your system, they could render your computer AND the images useless. Better to be safe than sorry.

I have been thinking about that, but it will be changing decades of habit. I back up to two different HD's M/W and T/TH because one time when I had two (paired/ RAID) they both failed at the same time, and I spent a lot of hours digging out my wife's unfinished book. I do not use RAID anymore and if I do it will be a hardware RAID not Microsoft's software RAID. I backup at night as above and alternately every other week and month on each of my hard drives. I am not sure it will be safe from hackers if the hard drive is turned off and left connected. As such I would have to rely on a Calander to remind me to use the disconnected HD. I am eager for your further input on a better way to safely backup.

rfhar · Sep 29, 2024

Ghot said:
Maybe you should toggle that... ON, if possible?
I'm guessing they can't sleep if the sleep timer is toggled OFF.

As far as I know... storage hard drives don't do anything, unless they are being accessed.
So putting them to sleep, doesn't make much sense.
I could be wrong, I don't know.
I don't use sleep for anything, on a desktop PC.

Also, I gave you ten points for filling out your computer specs.

having it on is where I started, WD support told me to shut it off. After they tried everything they could think of I was told to just turn the HD's off

.

glasskuter · Sep 29, 2024

Alternating images between 2 drives is a good idea.
I know it's a personal choice, so it's up to you how often you do it, but If this is a personal system rather than a business one, full images 4 days a week seen a little bit overkill to me. May I ask what exactly you do that your feel you need to create full images that often.

rfhar · Sep 29, 2024

glasskuter said:
Alternating images between 2 drives is a good idea.
I know it's a personal choice, so it's up to you how often you do it, but If this is a personal system rather than a business one, full images 4 days a week seen a little bit overkill to me. May I ask what exactly you do that your feel you need to create full images that often.

Making a differential or such and having it just seemed too much confusion after a while when looking at the backup saved and picking out what I want to restore out of a full page(S) of files. Besides, it is doing the job while I'm sleeping. Also, I have backups on two exterior drives and all my Folders are up to date without having to pay for the ability to do file and folder backups.

neves · Sep 29, 2024

In Device Manager - check the Universal Bus Controllers - right click on each and check at Power Management - to see if all are ticked for Power Saving.

Same goes for your Advanced Power Plan Settings - Turn Off Hard Disk After (since the system is plugged in - it's usually set to Never).

There's also the possibility - that something keeps accessing the drive - at low enough intervals so it can't go to Sleep.

rfhar · Sep 29, 2024

neves said:
In Device Manager - check the Universal Bus Controllers - right click on each and check at Power Management - to see if all are ticked for Power Saving.

Same goes for your Advanced Power Plan Settings - Turn Off Hard Disk After (since the system is plugged in - it's usually set to Never).

There's also the possibility - that something keeps accessing the drive - at low enough intervals so it can't go to Sleep.

Been there all is OK. How can I check to what is accessing the HD's

Ghot · Sep 29, 2024

rfhar said:
How can I check to what is accessing the HD's

What backup software are you using?
And please connect the external drives and post a screenshot of Disk Management.
Either of these might give a clue to what is accessing your external drives.

You need to expand the Disk Management window, so we can "see" everything.
Mainly the things in the RED boxes...

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dacrone · Sep 29, 2024

Read the reply by ‘rism’

How to selectively sleep hard drives in Windows 10

I have a 1TB 850 EVO for my primary storage and a 2TB WD RE4 for cold storage. The WD hardly ever gets used, however for obvious reasons I never want my SSD to sleep. Is there a solution to configure

superuser.com

rfhar · Sep 30, 2024

dacrone said:
Read the reply by ‘rism’

How to selectively sleep hard drives in Windows 10

I have a 1TB 850 EVO for my primary storage and a 2TB WD RE4 for cold storage. The WD hardly ever gets used, however for obvious reasons I never want my SSD to sleep. Is there a solution to configure

superuser.com

Try to find it here in!! forums, WD told me that I on the logo in the task Tray old disconnect it. Me thinks I got the wrong WD employee.

rfhar · Sep 30, 2024

dacrone said:
Read the reply by ‘rism’

How to selectively sleep hard drives in Windows 10

I have a 1TB 850 EVO for my primary storage and a 2TB WD RE4 for cold storage. The WD hardly ever gets used, however for obvious reasons I never want my SSD to sleep. Is there a solution to configure

superuser.com

Cannot get WD exterior drives to go to sleep

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