Hard drives sleep too frequently / have to spin up after idle

lennythemartian

New member
Local time
7:39 PM
Messages
1
Hi All,
I recently changed my setup from having a single 1TB primary to a 128GB Crucial M4 128GB 2.5” primary / Windows drive. I am now using the 1TB Western Digital Black for most of my files.

I have noticed that both the solid-state and hard-disk drives have to spin up when I have not been working on intensive software or gaming for a while (not sure how long – anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes). For example, when browsing the internet for a while and only using browsers and what not, I have experienced both drives having to spin up when I go into the file manager and try to open a music file or other document on either drive.

I went into the power settings and specifically disabled the hard drive “sleep” setting, under Advanced settings in Power Management. I am still having the problem.

I searched the internet and forums, but didn’t come across anything except for someone’s idea for a .vbs batch script that runs in the background every 5 minutes to keep the drive from going to sleep… haha (here if you want to check it out: How to prevent hard drive from spinning down Windows 7? - Super User )

Anyone else have this problem before? Thank you!
**P.S. - I checked the firmware and I am using what appears to be the current revision - "070H"
- - -
running Windows 7 64bit Home Premium
motherboard: MSI Z77A-GD65 LGA
128 GB Crucial M4 2.5" SSD
1TB Western Digital Black 3.5" 7200
Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 64bit Home PremiumIntel 3.5 quad16GBGeForce 670
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
custom
OS
Windows 7 64bit Home Premium
CPU
Intel 3.5 quad
Motherboard
MSI smthg or other
Memory
16GB
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce 670
Hard Drives
Crucial 128 SSD primary
WD Black 1TB
I don't think the M4 has to 'spin up'. But the HDDs stop when they are not being used. I have the same phenomenon in my system. That's good. Saves energy and less wear on the HDD.

There is this program. I myself would not use it but it keeps your disks awake.

http://download.cnet.com/NoSleepHD/3000-2094_4-75220011.html
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8from 1.6GHz Duo to i7
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba - 4 laptops and 2 desktops
OS
Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
CPU
from 1.6GHz Duo to i7
Monitor(s) Displays
2x HP w2207
Hard Drives
5x HDD, 7x SSD, 12x Externals
Keyboard
with trackball - no mices
Mouse
Trackball mice
Internet Speed
DSL 6000
Did you go to Advanced and set the hard drive setting to never turn off?

Capture2.JPG
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bitIntel Core i7-4790G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 F3-10666CL9D-8GBNTAMD Radeon R7 250
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
CPU
Intel Core i7-4790
Motherboard
GA-Z87X-D3H
Memory
G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 F3-10666CL9D-8GBNT
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon R7 250
Sound Card
Realtek ALC892
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung UN32EH5000, Dell 1703FPT
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080, 1280 x 1024
Hard Drives
WD5003AZEX
WD10EZEX
Samsung HD103SJ
Samsung 128 GB 840 PRO
PSU
SeaSonic M12II SS-500GM
Case
Fractal Design Define R4
Cooling
Zalman CNPS9900ALED
Keyboard
Logitech K800
Mouse
Logitech M705
Internet Speed
16 Mbps
Antivirus
Avast
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
Bose Companion 2 Multimedia Speakers
  • Like
Reactions: whs

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8from 1.6GHz Duo to i7
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba - 4 laptops and 2 desktops
OS
Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
CPU
from 1.6GHz Duo to i7
Monitor(s) Displays
2x HP w2207
Hard Drives
5x HDD, 7x SSD, 12x Externals
Keyboard
with trackball - no mices
Mouse
Trackball mice
Internet Speed
DSL 6000
Back
Top