Windows 7 USB Hard Drive Problem

Josephur

Windows Forum Admin

Staff member

Premium Supporter

Microsoft Certified Professional

Joined

Aug 3, 2010

Messages

1,290

• Aug 22, 2013

• #2

My guess is what is happening is when it goes to sleep its not going to sleep "nicely" and Windows thinks it unmounted itself in a dirty state. You could try turning off sleep mode for hard drives in Power Options, as well as right click, properties on the USB root hub its connected to in Device Manager, and un-check the "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" option.

 

Upvote 1 Downvote

Solution

T

Tigeromega

Honorable Member

Joined

Feb 22, 2010

Messages

9

• Aug 22, 2013

• Thread Author
• #3

Thanks for the quick reply. I set the Power Options for the HD'S never to sleep. I should know in a week or so to see if it solves the problem. Thanks again.

 

Upvote 0 Downvote

Saltgrass

Excellent Member

Microsoft Community Contributor

Joined

Oct 16, 2009

Messages

15,156

• Aug 22, 2013

• #4

In the same place as the Power Options for the drive, but on the Policies tab, there are some more options. Changing those settings might allow the drive to be treated like a permanent drive, but would require a "Safe" disconnect option.

If this is one of those Backup Plus external drives, I have some special problems with it doing things such as not booting correctly during reboots. I have not noticed your particular situation with it, but I do not alter the drive letter Windows assigns. You might even try using a drive letter lower in the alphabet to see if it will not be reset.

 

Upvote 0 Downvote

T

Tigeromega

Honorable Member

Joined

Feb 22, 2010

Messages

9

• Aug 25, 2013

• Thread Author
• #5

I tried as suggested but now it does the same thing but now every time it comes out of sleep. Any other suggestions? This is most annoying.

 

Upvote 0 Downvote

Jimbo22

Essential Member

Joined

Aug 27, 2008

Messages

5,038

• Aug 25, 2013

• #6

Is there any information from Seagate about the do's and don'ts of using sleep mode on their USB HDD's.

 

Upvote 0 Downvote

J

Joe S

Excellent Member

Joined

Jan 12, 2009

Messages

3,793

• Aug 25, 2013

• #7

Have you tried looking on the Seagate forums and to see if they have any firmware updates?
Joe

 

Upvote 0 Downvote

Saltgrass

Excellent Member

Microsoft Community Contributor

Joined

Oct 16, 2009

Messages

15,156

• Aug 26, 2013

• #8

You never confirmed which drive you are using, but my Seagate Backup + Desk, 2 TB drive, has been put to sleep 3 times with no problems coming out. I did assign a letter to it, P: in my case. The small white LED is a good indication if the drive is connected or not.

The drive did wake up once when the system was still asleep. Possibly because another system woke it up, but I will have to test.

Edit: I am not using the Seagate software that came with the drive....

 

Upvote 0 Downvote