Windows 7: Why Windows spins up DVD drives when I press sleep button?

Hi,

When I press Sleep button, I expect Windows to get into sleep mode at once.
But why Windows spins up CD/DVD drive?

This is very annoying, since I am putting my laptop to sleep mode several times a day.

Thank in advance for any help.
avgfk

does your CD/DVD Drive has a disk loaded?

if there is; try removing the disk inside your cd/dvd drive and put your laptop to sleep.
just a thought

Yes, there is a disk. And the drive won't spin up if there is no disk. But that does not explain why Windows needs to spin it up before it can go to sleep mode.

Thanks
avgfk

When asleep windows is suspended in its current state, so I'd assume spinning the disk would be part of the data collection process, so its just analysing that there is a disk in the drive.

Is there any particular reason why you leave a disc in the drive?

If you remove it when you've finished with it there'll be no need for the drive to spin prior to entering Sleep.

Well, system obviously knows whether there is a disk in the drive or not, since when there is none, the drive won't spin up and system goes to sleep at once.

I understand systems wants to update the information what kind of discs are inserted/attached after wake up, but I don't get a point of collecting fresh info when getting to sleep.

Nevertheless, is there a way how to switch this feature off? (Else than ejecting the disk before I press the sleep button..)

Thanks

The disk spinning up is a sad side affect of the disk drive being part of the I/O bus. The I/O needs to be accessed and requires all devices to save their buffers and switch off. Its not something Windows does, it is the drive itself. So no, their is no switch in Windows because its not a feature, its a requirement.

Just to be clear, it is a behavior of the drive itself, not Windows.

It also spins up any hard drives that are currently 'sleeping', as I've noticed on my HTPC every time it goes to sleep.

Aye, the behavior is purely hardware. Windows itself sends it commands to the I/O Controller (aka., Southbridge) that the computer is sleeping. The controller sends the necessary commands to flush and shutdown, down all active lines. The drives when they receive the message process it and then begin the phase of writing the buffers, sending the OK response and shutting down. Those that are already asleep, like HDD and DVD drives, they are just dumb, plan and simple. Requiring a full spin up just to send OK and go back to sleep. Not a fault of Windows. Hope that helps one to understand the situation.

I have to ask once again, why do you need to keep a disc in the drive?

As you've said yourself, the problem does not exist if there is no disc in the drive.