(no subject)

[dakegra]

I know I could just google this, but I like talking to you guys about tech stuff.

situation is this: I have an external HD plugged into my new 'puter. When I power up the puter, the HD comes on. For reasons best known to me, the external drive is mounted under the desk.

Is there such a thing as a switched USB cable, so I can effectively disconnect the USB lead to the external drive, without reaching around the back of the 'puter and pulling the plug?

Or a software alternative? Something with button to connect/disconnect a drive?

Comments

[perdita-x.livejournal.com]

I have a USB Switcher which does effectively that.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

link? pls?

[perdita-x.livejournal.com]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-2-0-switching-hub-switch/dp/B000I3WV1U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227638069&sr=8-1

we have something similar to that to share the scanner - means that the device changes to the other channel.

[roobarb.livejournal.com]

now that would be a useful gadget

[stimpy-lfs.livejournal.com]

Use the "safely remove hardware" process by clicking on the icon in the system tray to disconnect the external HDD. You should use this anyway to avoid corrupting the sectors on a HDD before removing it.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

good idea - is there a way of getting windows *not* to fire up a USB HD on startup though? Ideally I'd like something which would let me connect it via software/switch as well as disconnect...

[martinoh.livejournal.com]

Adding it back after disconnection is less straightforward though, since he's not actually going to re-plug the drive each time.

[nextian-cutie.livejournal.com]

I just turn the power on my externals off manually rather than unplugging the USB.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

I would, but this one doesn't have a separate power switch as such, and it's far enough under the desk to make it a pain. It has my music and photos on, so I don't need it on at bootup.

[martinoh.livejournal.com]

If it's not impolite to ask, why would you want this sort of flexibility for a device that is from your description, semi-permanently installed?

I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't want to do this, it's just that having a clearer idea of what the problem you're experiencing is (i.e. why having the drive connected is a nuisance), it might be easier to suggest a good solution.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

When I set up the new 'puter I've now got enough USB ports to leave the external drive connected. It's got my music/photos on so needs to be accessed occasionally but not always, and not when I'm on an all-day COD4 session. I put the drive on a set of drawers under the desk so it's out of the way, forgetting that it's a sod to turn off when you're not using it, and I don't wnt to have to unplug/replug like I used to when it was connected to the laptop.

I *should* just copy the music/photos to the secondary drive inside the computer and unplug the external drive, but I use it as a backup too, so when I load up photos, I copy them between internal and external drives.

which all makes sense to *me* if no-one else!

[scaree.livejournal.com]

I have a front loading usb port at work. (using a laptop at home)

You could of course get a keyboard or something with an external usb port?

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

the PC does have two front USB ports, but I've yet to work out how to get them to function. I'm pretty sure that the correct leads are plugged into the correct bits of the motherboard, and there are no jumpers mentioned, and nothing in the BIOS which seems to cover front USB ports.

It's a mystery.