Sorry in advance if this is posted on the wrong newsgroup.

I wanted to back up my laptop on a regular bases, and also have some music
files that I don't really have space for on my laptop hard drive.

Anyway, right or wrong I purchased a Maxtor external hard drive 300GB
7200RPM USB 2.0

This seems ok, although my father has an older one that stands on its side
to save desk space.

The problem I have is that there is no on / off switch on it. I switch off
my laptop and the external drive stays on. My fathers has an on /off switch.

Do I need the on /off switch or do I just leave it on, say when I take the
laptop to Uni.

Thanks

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In article <-cSdnen2et0vzZ7ZRVnyhw@pipex.net>,
James <JMkilling@virgin.net> wrote:
>Sorry in advance if this is posted on the wrong newsgroup.
>
>I wanted to back up my laptop on a regular bases, and also have some music
>files that I don't really have space for on my laptop hard drive.
>
>Anyway, right or wrong I purchased a Maxtor external hard drive 300GB
>7200RPM USB 2.0
>
>This seems ok, although my father has an older one that stands on its side
>to save desk space.
>
>The problem I have is that there is no on / off switch on it. I switch off
>my laptop and the external drive stays on. My fathers has an on /off switch
.
>
>Do I need the on /off switch or do I just leave it on, say when I take the
>laptop to Uni.
>
>Thanks
>

ISTM that there is a setting in the software to make it go to sleep
when idle for some period of time.

--
a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

>
> ISTM that there is a setting in the software to make it go to sleep
> when idle for some period of time.
>
> --
> a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m
>
> Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

Thank you for such a quick reply.
I was a bit worried about it whirling away all day and getting hot while I
was out.

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

"James" <JMkilling@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:-cSdnen2et0vzZ7ZRVnyhw@pipex.net...
> Sorry in advance if this is posted on the wrong newsgroup.
>
> I wanted to back up my laptop on a regular bases, and also have some music
> files that I don't really have space for on my laptop hard drive.
>
> Anyway, right or wrong I purchased a Maxtor external hard drive 300GB
> 7200RPM USB 2.0
>
> This seems ok, although my father has an older one that stands on its side
> to save desk space.
>
> The problem I have is that there is no on / off switch on it. I switch off
> my laptop and the external drive stays on. My fathers has an on /off
> switch.
>
> Do I need the on /off switch or do I just leave it on, say when I take the
> laptop to Uni.
>
Switch it Off when your not using it (which is most of the time ).
There`s an icon in the systray when you`ve got it connected.
Always use that to disconnect your Ext drive. Do not just unplug
it !.

-- bw..OJ

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

 
> Switch it Off when your not using it (which is most of the time ).
> There`s an icon in the systray when you`ve got it connected.
> Always use that to disconnect your Ext drive. Do not just unplug
> it !.
>
> -- bw..OJ
Thank you Old Jon
Seems I may be missing something.
There is no on off switch so would I just switch it off at the plug in the
wall.

Also I have tried to disconnect the drive  using the safely remove hardware
icon and it says
" The device cannot be stopped now. Try stopping the device again later "

Thanks in advance

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

"James" <JMkilling@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:E4udnXokZPYsw57ZRVnyiw@pipex.net...
> 
> Thank you Old Jon
> Seems I may be missing something.
> There is no on off switch so would I just switch it off at the plug in the
> wall.
>
> Also I have tried to disconnect the drive  using the safely remove
> hardware icon and it says
> " The device cannot be stopped now. Try stopping the device again later "
>
> Thanks in advance
>
Read this article James. There is probably something like this
that won`t let the device release.
http://david.fallingrock.net/2004/0...vice-right-now/
Yes switch it off at the wall. don`t forget this is your safe backup.
Treat it properly !.

--
bw..OJ

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

 
> Read this article James. There is probably something like this
> that won`t let the device release.
> http://david.fallingrock.net/2004/0...vice-right-now/
> Yes switch it off at the wall. don`t forget this is your safe backup.
> Treat it properly !.
>
> --
> bw..OJ
>Thank you for your time and advice, it is appreciated.

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

"James" <JMkilling@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:1eOdnRlIuZ3X_p7ZRVnyrA@pipex.net...
> 
>
Very sorry to go on a bit.
Firstly the link above solved the problem.

Still a bit confused regarding the disc though, i have had it on for 2
hours now, and not touched it, yet I is still making a whirling     sound, I
thought it would effectively go to "sleep" with no activity.

I also agree about switching it off at the mains when not in use. I am sure
you are right , but why did they not put an on/off switch on it?

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

>
>Also I have tried to disconnect the drive  using the safely remove hardware
>icon and it says
>" The device cannot be stopped now. Try stopping the device again later "
>
>Thanks in advance
>
================

I just made a note to myself:

"Do not buy any Maxtor external drives".

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]