Is a switchable HDD possible?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave
  • Start date Start date
D

Dave

I 'm sure I'm not the only one who's thought of this, but it seems to
me that a way to have safer data back-ups would to put the data on a
drive that is only run when the data is to be either written to the
drive or accessed from it. That would save wear on the drive and
extend its life. Would it work to install a switch on one of the
power wires to the back-up IDE drive and only power it when it was to
be used? It seems too simple, why doesn't everyone do it? Is it a
problem with the drive recognition?

Maybe best just to go with an external drive?
 
I 'm sure I'm not the only one who's thought of this, but it seems to
me that a way to have safer data back-ups would to put the data on a
drive that is only run when the data is to be either written to the
drive or accessed from it. That would save wear on the drive and
extend its life. Would it work to install a switch on one of the
power wires to the back-up IDE drive and only power it when it was to
be used? It seems too simple, why doesn't everyone do it? Is it a
problem with the drive recognition?

Maybe best just to go with an external drive?
Click to expand...

Well you could use the HD power down feature I guess if thats
important to you but an external would obviously be the closest thing
to your idea. Most PCs have easily removable panels so you can just
unplug it and replug it when you have to use it when your PC is off of
course.

The main thing I guess about an external is if you move it around and
bump it or drop it.

There are those removable bracket cases too. You buy them for 15 bucks
or so and that makes your HD removable. You just slide it in when you
want to use it and slide it out when you dont.
 
Well you could use the HD power down feature I guess if thats
important to you but an external would obviously be the closest thing
to your idea. Most PCs have easily removable panels so you can just
unplug it and replug it when you have to use it when your PC is off of
course.

The main thing I guess about an external is if you move it around and
bump it or drop it.

There are those removable bracket cases too. You buy them for 15 bucks
or so and that makes your HD removable. You just slide it in when you
want to use it and slide it out when you dont.
Click to expand...

Right, couple those brackets and an SATA2 controller and
you can hot swap the drives.

Luck;
Ken
 
I 'm sure I'm not the only one who's thought of this, but it seems to
me that a way to have safer data back-ups would to put the data on a
drive that is only run when the data is to be either written to the
drive or accessed from it. That would save wear on the drive and
extend its life. Would it work to install a switch on one of the
power wires to the back-up IDE drive and only power it when it was to
be used?
yes


It seems too simple, why doesn't everyone do it?
Click to expand...

Why doesn't everyone cut their power cables and solder in a
switch? That's a bit advanced for "everyone", at least the
average PC user, and there are other ready-made ways to do
it, like a removable drive bay or an external drive.
Is it a
problem with the drive recognition?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Unplug it and see.

Maybe best just to go with an external drive?
Click to expand...

Your call, either will work.
 
A few years there were a lot of advertisements for key switches that would lock out drives by removing power.
 
An internal switched harddrive is not a good idea for a variety of reasons,
beginning with drive recognition and letter assignment. That's why they
make external USB 2.0 drives.
 
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