Windows 7 Question about Win 7' power management

[pkmicro]

I like win7's power management compare to Windows Vista. When I left the computer idle for a while the system gone to sleep. My question is I have 2 External Hard Drive one USB and the other SATA the USB does not have power switch but the SATA has power switch. The USB brand is SEAGATE but the SATA is home build(I bought the case & add the hard drive to it) My question is when I turn off the system the USB one get turn off without me pulling the plug but the SATA did not get turn off. I have to switch it off, and also when the system idle the SATA one did not go to sleep like the USB one. Is there a setting I can set to make the External SATA HDD power off when the system idle or go to sleep?

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are experiencing differences in power management behavior between your USB and SATA external hard drives in Windows 7. The USB drive turns off automatically when the system is shut down and goes to sleep when idle, while the SATA drive requires manual intervention to turn off and does not go to sleep when the system is idle. Here are some steps you can take to manage the power settings for your external SATA hard drive in Windows 7:

To Set the External SATA HDD to Power Off When Idle or Sleep:​

1. Power Options Settings:
   • Go to Control Panel.
   • Click on "System and Security" and then on "Power Options."
   • Select the power plan you are using and click on "Change plan settings" next to it.
   • Click on "Change advanced power settings."
   • Look for "USB settings" or similar option that might affect your external SATA drive. You can usually find these options under "Hard disk" or "USB settings."
   []USB Selective Suspend:
   • This feature allows the selective suspension of USB devices to save power. You can enable this feature to potentially aid in managing your external drive's power state.
   []Device Manager:
   • You can also access the Device Manager to adjust power settings for the SATA external hard drive:
     • Right-click on "Computer" or "This PC" on your desktop.
     • Select "Manage" and then choose "Device Manager" from the left pane.
     • Find your external SATA drive under "Disk drives" or "USB devices."
     • Right-click on it and go to "Properties."
     • Look for a "Power Management" tab if available and adjust settings accordingly.
2. Third-Party Software:
   • There are third-party applications that can help manage power settings for external drives. Tools like HD Tune or CrystalDiskInfo might offer additional features for power management. Adjusting these settings might help in ensuring that your external SATA hard drive behaves similarly to your USB drive regarding powering off when idle or at system sleep. Remember to save any important data before making changes to avoid any unexpected loss. Feel free to give these steps a try and let me know if you need further assistance or clarification!