Occasional use of an external HD

I have just bought a Western Digital Elements external USB3 HD to store my movie collection. I rarely change this collection (except to ad a new movie perhaps once or twice a month). Therefore, I don't need the drive connected and running until needed. Although it has a switch on the back, this has the symbol for switching something on (a circle with a line partly through it), and it does not seem to have any use (the drive switches on immediately the computer is woken up).

I am thinking of putting in an in-line switch (230 V lighting type) in the power supply cable which is 12 V DC, two wires. I think this would work.

Any problem?

Thanks.

If the drive is formatted NTFS (common for larger drives) the use of the Safely Remove Hardware option is essential. Skip this and the drive is likely to become corrupt.

Boozad said:

Do you want the drive to not turn on when you don't want it? If that's the case just remove via Safely Remove Hardware and remove the USB cable. Plug it back in when you need to use it.

Yes. I guess you are right. For the few times I need to do it its not worth the bother of fitting a switch.

LMiller7 said:

If the drive is formatted NTFS (common for larger drives) the use of the Safely Remove Hardware option is essential. Skip this and the drive is likely to become corrupt.

When I started in Windows in April I noticed an icon (amongst several) at the bottom right of the screen, just to the left of the date. It said something like "it is safe to disconnect xyz". But I can't see that now. Is that what you mean? and how can I get it back please?

Thanks.

GOT IT. I didn't have any of my ext. HDs powered up!