Windows 7 Delay In Accessing Hard Drives?

[Kylethedarkn]

Hello, I've been having a problem for a while now that I've decided should probably be fixed, and it is this.

Whenever I go to access a hard drive, that isn't my SSD, I'll click on it or a program will try to open files from it, and nothing will happen for a few seconds, then I hear the HD's disk start spinning and it will be able to access the files. Is this just something that happens in all computers, or is there a setting I can change so that the HDs are able to be accessed faster?

Thanks for any help.

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like the delay you are experiencing when accessing files on your hard drive might be due to a feature called "Aggressive Link Power Management." This feature aims to save power by allowing hard drives to enter a low-power state when not in use, which can cause a slight delay when the drive needs to be accessed again. To potentially resolve this issue and improve the access speed of your hard drive, you can try the following steps:

Disable Aggressive Link Power Management:​

1. Access Power Options:
   • Press Win + X and select "Power Options."
   []Adjust Power Plan Settings:
   • Click on "Change plan settings" for your selected power plan.
   []Change Advanced Power Settings:
   • Click on "Change advanced power settings."
   []Locate Hard Disk Power Management:
   • Look for "Hard disk" and expand it.
   []Disable Link Power Management:
   • Set the "AC Setting" and "Battery Setting" to "Active" or "Maximum Performance."

     Update Device Drivers:​

     Ensure that your system drivers, especially for the hard drive, are up to date. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause performance issues.

     Check Disk Health:​

     It's also advisable to check the health of your hard drive using tools like CrystalDiskInfo to ensure there are no underlying hardware issues. By adjusting the power management settings and ensuring your drivers are up to date, you may be able to improve the access speed of your hard drives. Feel free to try these steps and see if they make a difference in the performance of your hard drives.