LaCie External HDD NEVER spins down!

[urbancity]

Hi people, I purchased a 1TB Lacie External HDD (USB 2.0) to run Time Machine.

Unlike the other external HDD that I built years ago, the LaCie drive does not spin down even when it is not being accessed. This is annoying because my iMac runs silently but the LaCie drive is quite loud with the HDD spinning.

Is this normal for an external HDD? How can I make it spin down when it's not being used?

Having said above, the LaCie drive does spin down when I put the iMac to sleep.

 

[illegalprelude]

interesting question, I got the same problem with my external WD 1TB drive. Even when TM isnt doing a backup, it will spin up and wont shut up unless I eject it.

 

[belvdr]

My LaCie unit does the same thing. I have it connected to the dock for my work laptop. As soon as I dock, the unit spins up. It has something to do with the signalling on the USB bus.

 

[Mr. Giver '94]

My LaCie drive works and turns on but my computer doesn't boot up past the grey screen when it's connected and the drive doesn't show up on the desktop. It does work for USB plugs.


Can anyone tell me what's wrong and how I can fix it??? Thanks!

 

[FarSeide]

what model of LaCie does this ? I just ordered the LaCie 1TB HD and you guys are scaring me.

 

[azdunerat]

Ok I have a question do you have time machine turned on? If so the drive probably will never spin down as TM is always wanting to right data to the disk. I manually turn TM on about once a week and do my back ups.

I just purchased the LaCie 2TB max and love the damn thing. I have it connected to my AEBS and it mounts to each one of my computers without any problems.

 

[Gordy]

From experimenting with my ext hdd's I've noticed that unless the drive is plugged directly into my macbook they don't spin down.

So now I have to have them hooked into the second usb port which is a bit of a pain.

 

[urbancity]

what model of LaCie does this ? I just ordered the LaCie 1TB HD and you guys are scaring me.

It's the LaCie Hard Disk Design by Neil Poulton, USB2.0 version.
http://www.lacie.com/ca/products/product.htm?pid=11014

Ok I have a question do you have time machine turned on? If so the drive probably will never spin down as TM is always wanting to right data to the disk. I manually turn TM on about once a week and do my back ups.

I thought about it, too. I turned off TM but the drive still spins regardless.

From experimenting with my ext hdd's I've noticed that unless the drive is plugged directly into my macbook they don't spin down.

So now I have to have them hooked into the second usb port which is a bit of a pain.

My LaCie drive is directly plugged into the iMac...

 

[illegalprelude]

From experimenting with my ext hdd's I've noticed that unless the drive is plugged directly into my macbook they don't spin down.

So now I have to have them hooked into the second usb port which is a bit of a pain.

if they ever spin up, just eject them and when you want to mount again, Spotlight Disk Utility and remount

 

[Aegelward]

I get the same issue with my external drives, honestly i just pull the usb plug out whenever i don't want it.