External HD spinning up for no reason

[okrelayer]

Hello. i have an external hd connected to my MacBook Pro. And every so often it turns on for no reason. I will start searching spotlight, and it starts spinning. I have even excluded the HD from spotlight, and it still does it. I could even open iPhoto or iMovie and it just starts spinning. Not all the time, of course.

I use the external mostly for my iTunes music if that helps. Is there anyway to turn off the external until i actually read data from it?

 

[GSMiller]

It just spontaneously turns on? Or is it already on and mounted on your Mac, just not being used? If mine is on and mounted it'll start spinning when I open up certain apps.

 

[okrelayer]

That's what it is. It's mounted and spins when opening certain apps. I guess it's fine. Glad to see it's normal

 

[Galley]

Mine often wakes up when I open Safari. The only thing it is used for is my iTunes media files.