I have just installed another HDD just for
ghost backups.

I do not want this disk to spin all the time,
so how can I power it down when not in use,
yet leave the main (other) HDD going?

Please help, Frank

One solution is to pull it out and put it into an external USB hard drive
enclosure, and power that on ONLY when you need to make a backup. Works
well for me (in conjunction with Acronis True Image).

Frank Martin wrote:

"Frank Martin" <fm@general.com.au> wrote:

Install it in a mobile rack that has a power switch.

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:%23KoklUOsIHA.1872@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

Frank:
Another option to consider...

Assuming this is a desktop PC and you have an available (vacant) 5 1/4" bay
in your computer case...

Why not install a removable HDD in that bay? That way you can easily
disconnect that HDD from the system after you've finished backing up your
system to that drive. Just a simple turn of the switch to the OFF position
would do it. Installation of a removable HDD is no more difficult than
installing an optical drive.

Another advantage to this type of device is that the system would treat the
removable HDD as an *internal* HDD rather than a USB device so you would
gain considerable data transfer speed.
Anna

"Anna" <myname@myisp.net> wrote in message
news:O%236WyDRsIHA.2068@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

Thanks, but I wonder if I could just remove
the power plug (easily accessible) from the
back of the HDD yet leave the other wires
connected. The HDD is a Seagate ST3500630A
3AAF SATA 500Gb?

Regards, Frank

"Frank Martin" <fm@general.com.au> wrote in message
news:%23$MwxVVsIHA.6096@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

Frank:
I'm not really sure I understand you. Are you referring to connecting a
*bare* HDD to your system with both the SATA power cable and SATA data cable
(is that what you mean about "the other wires"?) connected to the
motherboard and then every time you want to disconnect the drive from the
system you would pull the drive's power plug? Is that what you're talking
about? Because if that's what you mean that would not be a desirable thing
to do for more reasons than I care to recount.

I really can't imagine your contemplating this so I guess I'm
misunderstanding your intent. If you want to pursue this issue please
explain clearly and in detail what you're proposing.
Anna

Frank Martin wrote:
I wouldn't recommend it. If you're thinking along those lines, you might
reconsider the external HD enclosure idea (with its own built-in power
switch). That would be a lot safer and better. Or consider what Anna
said about the removable rack drives.

"Anna" <myname@myisp.net> wrote in message
news:OooMu5VsIHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
Yes, I put an identical HDD to the existing
one into the computer rack and connected it
up to the motherboard and power supply. I
assumed that it would be possible to turn off
the power (that is to stop the second HDD
spinning and so increase its life) by means
of software in WindowsXP but this I cannot
find. Of course I would only disconnect the
power plug after the computer was turned off.
I have already installed it now and set up
the Ghost backup procedures.

Because if that's what you mean that would
not be a desirable thing

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:eWLChkXsIHA.4392@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
What's wrong with the power saving settings under windows?

My secondary disks stop spinning using this method.

It's probably a good idea to turn off system retsore and fast find or the
windows file indexer. Any program that accesses the other disks will cause
it to remain active.

By unplugging and reconnecting drives directly from the mobo will
potentially cause other problems.

If you want to physically turn the drive on and off get an external
enclosure.

Onsokumaru wrote:
Nothing. (But I wasn't talking about that).

Quite likely.

That's what I was getting at.