External Hard Drive question

Thanks.  I just did as you suggested and unplugged the USB from the drive AFTER getting permission!  Too hard to unplug the power cord from the socket but guess I could unplug from the drive.  Don't want those little cords to drop out of sight! 

As a USB drive, you can just logically remove the drive by using the Safely Remove Hardware tool in the system tray.  It may be hidden off to the left, so use the << to get to it.

 

after successfully removing it (logically, not physically), just turn it off if it has a switch.  If there isn't a power switch, then you can unplug the power source.

 

when you power it back up, the system will find it again.  

 

there isn't any reason to run it when you aren't using it, but you can't just yank the plug without going though the Safely Remove Hardware dance.  It might corrupt data. 

i think maybe there is some confusion.

 

the drive does not need to be disconnected from the computer, ever.  if you are done with the drive, you may turn it off.

 

leaving the power on and disconnecting the drive from the computer is a wasted effort.  the drive is still spinning.

 

if the drive doesn't have an on/off switch, you could use a powerstrip for that.

i keep a powerstrip just for stuff like that and use the switch on it.  whatever works for you.

and also, you can just leave the USB cable connected to your PC unless you need the port for something else.  the system will see the drive when you power it on.

I'm using the WD external HD myself... everything's going smooth by far...and for my understanding.WD external HD got the Intelligent disk management...will automatically turns on and off with your computer and go to sleep mode while inactive for 10 mins non-use to save power...so you don't need to go through all that steps to on/off the HD cause it'll lost data down the road ...JMHO ~ peace