External Hard Drive

[iMacBook]

I THINK this is the right board to post this on. If not, just move it.

I bought an external hard drive today, a WD MyBook Home 500GB (USB, Firewire eSATA version).

For some odd reason, it won't got to sleep or turn off, whatever you want to call it. I don't have anything accessing it, so isn't the drive still spinning? I waited an hour to see if anything happens and it is still spinning. So, obviously I'm starting to get worried because I felt it and it was pretty hot.

So, my question, how can I have to not spin all the time, especially when there is nothing accessing it? I have another hard drive and it stops spinning after a couple minutes of not being in use. What gives!?

 

[NAG]

Do you have the computer set to spin down drives in the energy saver system preferences panel?

 

[iMacBook]

No, I don't have that checked.

The reason I unchecked it was because I torrent and I don't want my internal, and now my external to sleep as if the lid was closed (MacBook).

 

[NAG]

You realize they won't spin down while they're still active. Such as if you're seeding large files.

 

[iMacBook]

How large are we talking?

I'm not going to be constantly seeding them though, thats the thing. I'll be seeding, but not uploading.

 

[NAG]

Whether your hard drive is always on or not doesn't effect when your computer shuts off/goes to sleep.

 

[iMacBook]

Is there anyway to have just the external go to sleep and not the internal?

 

[NAG]

Yes, by clicking the Put hard disks to sleep when possible check box. I don't know else to say this.