Hard disk drive question

[Praxil]

I have one hard drive just for back up and whenever I want to use it I have to unplug my pc and open case to install that hard drive. I do this because I don't want that drive to interfere all time with my windows and to be on when it is installed (power waste).

Now is there any way to keep that hard drive in my pc plugged and ready for use, but not running and thus not showing in windows?

I don't want it running wasting power and producing heat while I don't need it at all. But like I said I want it to be installed, plugged and ready for use without opening case and installing it over and over again.

[Steistas]

You might consider hard disk drive encloser 3.5"
http://www.storagedepot.co.uk/Produc...FSdPEgodsS0Y8A

they are not to expensive, you don't need to open the case all the time, will be a bit slower, but if you backup only from time to time, it'll work fine.

[Freddie]

I have one hard drive just for back up and whenever I want to use it I have to unplug my pc and open case to install that hard drive. I do this because I don't want that drive to interfere all time with my windows and to be on when it is installed (power waste).

Can you trace your bloodline back to Ebenezer Scrooge?


Anyway before I get banned, I agree with Steistas buy yourself a external hard drive enclosure and a UBS lead it should set you back £20 with postage. With the money your saving on power by not having it turned on in your computer you should see a return on invest in about.......................................6 years time.

[Praxil]

Fred I suggest to actually read my whole post.

Have fun with yourself...

[Freddie]

Fred I suggest to actually read my whole post.

Have fun with yourself...

I've read your whole post but I choose to just quote that part as I found it amusing.

I don’t quite understand how a slave hard drive is going to be interfering with windows, which I assume would be running on your master HD, the only interfering it will do is when it shows up in windows explorer as another hard drive. As for creating unwanted heat and using power………………..it’s not like a hard drive is radiator with a furnace attached to it, and you case should have sufficient airflow to more the cope any way. Besides if you’re not going to be using that often and only periodically backing things up on it, it should run cool and quiet anyway and use hardly any power.

Your better off doing the following, install another version of Windows XP ro Vista onto the second HD, so if anything goes wrong with your primary copy you can instantly switch the two drives over and work from your backup. However if you insist on being able to play god with it, external encloses are the way forward, but I can tell you now it’s not worth it since the transfer rate is less the half (unless you use Firewire 800 or eSATA) of that of an internal drive.