I recently installed Windows in dual boot with Linux (on two different SSDs) and I noticed that Windows automatically “shuts down” or stops the HDD if it is not being used.

I have a HDD (WD) connected by SATA cable where I usually keep my games. The HDD is not always in use but it is always constantly running and honestly the noise it makes is quite noticeable. I’m sure I don’t have any program in the background using it constantly.

I have already tried to solve this problem using hdparm and hd-idle and although in theory they work I still hear the noise from the HDD.

  • d3Xt3r@lemmy.ml
    2·
    1 year ago

    If your only concern is noise (and not saving power), then the easiest solution is to just sound-proof your case - install some foam pads or something to dampen the noise. Check out https://www.quietpc.com/acousticmaterials to get an idea of what’s out there and what you can use, but even simple random foam that you’d get in parcels would work to start off with.

  • bobthecowboy@lemmy.world
    1·
    1 year ago

    You may want to research this some more. Spinning the drive up and down adds wear on the mechanical parts, and will lead to the drive failing a lot sooner.

    Maybe you’re okay with that tradeoff, just thought you should at least be aware of it.

  • Unimeron@feddit.de
    0·
    1 year ago

    Checkout smartctl. You can either force shutdown immediately or after some idle time. Command is something like this:

    smartctl -n -s standby,VALUE /dev/sda with value either “now” or something between 0 and 255. From the manpage:

    Values from 1 to 240 specify timeouts from 5 seconds to 20 minutes in 5 second increments. Values from 241 to 251 specify timeouts from 30 minutes to 330 minutes in 30 minute increments. Value 252 specifies 21 minutes. Value 253 specifies a vendor specific time between 8 and 12 hours. Value 255 specifies 21 minutes and 15 seconds.