My new external HDD has no power switch/button

[gadzooks]

I have like 5 other external HDDs and they all have some kind of power switch. This is totally new to me.

Does it just turn off when my computer is off?

I'm assuming, then, that it just remains on as long as my computer is on.

[LSA King]

Huh, I come from the other side, kinda. No they don't just shut down when you turn off your computer, matter of fact mine is constantly running (probably why it's still kicking after 4 years and a 15 month tour in Iraq with all that sand and heat lol). It has its own separate power it gets from the wall outlet. The only thing the USB is there for is to connect it to the computer for actually transfer and use.

Does yours connect to the wall socket or get its power from the USB connector?

Does sound pretty nifty to have a little power switch although I'm a cheap bastard so I'd save the $20 and get the cheaper one lol.

[gadzooks]

Originally Posted by LSA King

Huh, I come from the other side, kinda. No they don't just shut down when you turn off your computer, matter of fact mine is constantly running (probably why it's still kicking after 4 years and a 15 month tour in Iraq with all that sand and heat lol). It has its own separate power it gets from the wall outlet. The only thing the USB is there for is to connect it to the computer for actually transfer and use.

Does switching it on and off damage it?

The reason I bought this one was to replace another that seems to be damaged. I kept the old on almost constantly. But I would turn it off whenever I would turn my computer off.

Originally Posted by LSA King

Does yours connect to the wall socket or get its power from the USB connector?

It has its own wall socket power source.

Originally Posted by LSA King

Does sound pretty nifty to have a little power switch although I'm a cheap bastard so I'd save the $20 and get the cheaper one lol.

I'm so used to this kind of external HDD that I didn't even know non-switch HD's existed. lol.

[mafiabro]

I got a (moderatly) expensive one and it powers off with the computer, even though it has a wall outlet. The only part that remains active is the screen because its that crap that the kindle has.

[gadzooks]

Originally Posted by mafiabro

I got a (moderatly) expensive one and it powers off with the computer, even though it has a wall outlet. The only part that remains active is the screen because its that crap that the kindle has.

Your external HDD has its own screen??

This is yet another thing I have never heard of.

Then again, I'm not all that computer savvy.

[mafiabro]

Originally Posted by gadzooks

Your external HDD has its own screen??

Yeah it says temp. and usage and other useless shit you'd never really need since the computer tells you that.

[gadzooks]

Originally Posted by mafiabro

Yeah it says temp. and usage and other useless shit you'd never really need since the computer tells you that.

Interesting... lol

[mafiabro]

Try to contain yourself.

[LSA King]

Originally Posted by mafiabro

Yeah it says temp. and usage and other useless shit you'd never really need since the computer tells you that.

Oh you're a fancy little bitch aren't you lol


What I meant to say and forgot was that mine doesn't have a switch so powering down my PC does nothing to it. Unplugging it is its switch I guess but I've never had any problems given every goddamn summer when I run 2 AC's in the house power goes out abruptly nearly daily and so far no damage, same thing in the winter with the heaters. You'd think all my PC components would be traumatized and that I would stop making excuses and get a UPS, but here I am.

[STD]

eh i have a mac, a decade old, fuck yeah.

no contribution to this thread, yet, but we shall see <3

[matt23]

Originally Posted by gadzooks

Does switching it on and off damage it?

Theoretically I guess if you turned it off a ton in the middle of accessing data off of it, it could get damaged. I would just "safety eject" it (like you do w/ a usb drive) then un plug from computer, then unplug from the wall. You should be all set.

[ShyStar]

I have an external HDD (3.5" 'wall socket' type) that I bought in 2008 that doesn't have a power button/on-off switch...and the one I bought last year is pretty much the same.

I figured it was because of the 'eco' or 'green' hard drives - They turn themselves over to standby?? after a certain amount of inactivity.

[RepairGuy]

I know my seagate external will recognize when its plugged into a usb and turn on/off. I have never tried turning my computer off and seeing if it turns off, but who turns their computer off now a days anyway?