Should you leave external HD plugged in? About 10 years ago I lost a ton of pics to the "I Love You" virus on my computer. I had virus software but the virus was too new and spread too...

Toby

About 10 years ago I lost a ton of pics to the "I Love You" virus on my computer. I had virus software but the virus was too new and spread too fast. Since then I am very paranoid and store files on an external HD and unplug it when not in use. The idea is that if the computer gets a virus, hopefully I will discover it before the external HD gets plugged in and is infected.
What are your thoughts?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Unplugging the external HD will extend its useful life exponentially as it is not spinning when turned off or unplugged. When on it is always spinning.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

I fully agree. Unplug it when not in use.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

And please remember

When working with Windows, release the external drive from system before pulling out the USB connector to prevent possible file/drive damage.

Right click on the holder in the task bar. Pick release and it will tell you 'safe' to remove.

Sarge

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

Toby wrote:

About 10 years ago I lost a ton of pics to the "I Love You" virus on my computer. I had virus software but the virus was too new and spread too fast. Since then I am very paranoid and store files on an external HD and unplug it when not in use. The idea is that if the computer gets a virus, hopefully I will discover it before the external HD gets plugged in and is infected.
What are your thoughts?

Hi Toby: I can understand where you are coming from. After having more than my sharre of computer crashes, I started backing up all my important files on either CD or an external hard drive. Then recently I started using Carbonite as well. Two Saturdays ago my computer went down, I thought it was an easy fix bought the part I needed replaced it and it was a still no go. I had to have a computer that worked because I needed to print out a billing invoice for the next morning. I made a mad dash to Costco and bought a new mid range computer, which was still three times the capacity of my old computer. I got it up and running in very little time. Printed out my necessary invoices and started the Carbonite restore. Let me tell you that saved my bacon. I have over 19,000 files and it restored each and every one, it takes a few days to complete the restore and you have to install the programs. In my oppinion it was worth it. I'm just glad I had the on line back up service. Just food for thought, having you computer files backed up off site is worth considering.

colo43 Loc: Eastern Plains of Colorado

I agree with the unplugging.
mine is left unplugged until i am in need of something from it or to add to it.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Toby wrote:

About 10 years ago I lost a ton of pics to the "I Love You" virus on my computer. I had virus software but the virus was too new and spread too fast. Since then I am very paranoid and store files on an external HD and unplug it when not in use. The idea is that if the computer gets a virus, hopefully I will discover it before the external HD gets plugged in and is infected.
What are your thoughts?

I unplug too, but it's because I am chicken! I have this fear that a storm will pop up in the middle of the night and lightening will fry EVERYTHING.

Mickey88 Loc: Central Florida

travlnman46 wrote:

quote=Toby About 10 years ago I lost a ton of pic... (show quote)

did you verify that it was the hard drive that died, otherwise you could get an enclosure and connect to your new pc

joanef

I unplug my external backup drive in case of an electrical surge. I have seen weird things happen or only parts of computer damaged during a storm. Right now in my computer I have my pictures on the second drive. I have a friend that says it slows down the computer, but in case of a trashed windows system or a virus that only takes out the main drive, a day of restore is avoided.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

My computer and printer and external hard drive are hooked up to a backup power supply. I've continued working and saved work after lightning strike took out power. Also the external power supply has $25,000.00 insurance policy built in for equipment hooked to it.

Sarge

dasloaf

unplugged, lighting fried my computer a few years ago, so when not in use, they are unplugged!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

travlnman46 wrote:

Then recently I started using Carbonite as well. Printed out my necessary invoices and started the Carbonite restore. Let me tell you that saved my bacon. I have over 19,000 files and it restored each and every one, it takes a few days to complete the restore and you have to install the programs. In my oppinion it was worth it.

I've read only good things about Carbonite, and I really should subscribe. Although I have everything backed up to external hard drives, they are all sitting right next to my computer. If a fire ran through the house, the HDs would be of little use. With Carbonite, I wouldn't have to worry about the external discs failing, either. Of course, if they were to suddenly go out of business...

Bekkie Loc: Ohio, USA

I have always left my HD plugged in because I could not get it to make a clean disconnect. When I tried to release the HD by right clicking, the message I got was it couldn't stop the HD because there were files in use. I couldn't find the files it was talking about so now I shut my computer down to unplug/plug in the HD.

I'm not a computer geek so this was the only way I thought I could unplug it safetly. Is there a better way?

bcmink Loc: Monona, WI

I use a LaCie NAS (network attached server) with mirrored drives. The drives automatically go to sleep after 5 minutes of inactivity, i.e., they spin down and park. The integrated controller in the NAS is smart enough to interperet I/O requests to sort out OS status queries from seek and write queries, so the drives don't spin up unless there is an actual seek or write command. What does this mean: 1)Drives last at least 2X longer; 2)You always have a mirrored drive in case one fails; 3) The NAS controller sends you an email if one of the drives fails 4) You can access your photos anywhere at any time as long as you have WiFI or an internet connection.

The LaCie Network Space Max NAS is relatively inexpensive, easy to network, easy to port forward for web access. Much more useful than a stand alone external HD.

bcmink Loc: Monona, WI

Assuming your using a Windows based PC I suspect you have indexing turned on for the external HD. With the drive plugged in go to My computer> highlight (click once on the external HD drive icon) then right click on the external HD icon> select properties>then select the general tab. At the bottom of the general tab page you'll see two check boxes, uncheck the bottom box to turn off indexing. Reboot the computer with the external HD attached. Once the indexing for the drive is turned off, you should be able to disconnect it using the USB icon in the system tray.