dalematt Loc: Goderich, Ontario, Canada

I keep my external HD plugged in. My wife says that doing so will damage it. I say that it won't. Who's correct?

BebuLamar

It won't damage it. The drive will start every time you turn on the computer but so does internal hard drive.

Daryls Loc: Waco, TX

dalematt, based on my experience as an elecgronic technician, it is OK to keep your external HD plugged in 24/7. It may even be good because the minor heat the HD generates while plugged in and turned on (assuming it has an on/off switch) will reduce potential condensation, which can damage electronic components. It also reduces the stress to the electronic components while being turned off and on. Remember that external HDs were designed specifically to be turned on and off alot because they were expected to be used periodically, like for routine backups and storage. However, it is not safe to leave them plugged in to your computer 24/7 (assuming you have important data on the HD) because the external HD could receive a virus just like the computer's main HD and you could lose important data.

Daryl

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My externals are plugged in, but only turned on when I do backups. I suspect that running it all the time would put more wear on it than running it occasionally. Of course, it depends what you're using the external for.

GeneB Loc: Chattanooga Tennessee

Well, I don't know but I do know that when husband and wife disagree on a topic, the wife will always be right, no matter what the experts think.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

No concern WRT to damaging the HD but if you get infected by a virus the external drive may also get infected sorta ruining the idea of keeping info safe on an external HD.

bwa

Klickitatdave Loc: Seattle Washington

Personally I keep my external hard drives plugged, and running 24/7. I have never experienced any issues in doing this and it makes it much easier to get access to the files stored on them. Periodic monitoring of your external drive's health will lessen the likelihood that you will have an unexpected drive failure and lose data that way. As for the dangers of a virus infection if you use good anti-virus software, don't go to sketchy web sites and don't download anything that can't be verified as virus free then your files should be safe. This does not mean that you should ignore backing up your most important files and keeping them on a medium that is not directly connected to your computer or network. What I mean by most important files are those documents or photos that you never want to lose. In the course of taking digital photos I have probably several thousand photos that I don't want to delete but if they were lost I would not shed a single tear.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

For an external drive, you could make a case either way.

However another consideration not mentioned is malware. If you have the drive plugged in and you get hit by malware such as cryptolocker, then your locked out of that drive also. If your using it for backup or have important data on it and you don't have a regular backup regime then it's risky to keep it plugged in all the time.

Chopper Bill Loc: East Tennessee

When does a light bulb burn out? The power surge that hits it when it's turned on burns it out. That's the simplest answer anyway. That can be applied to monitors as well. Why stop there?

Sleep well, my favorite computer. That way you can wake up gently.

Klickitatdave Loc: Seattle Washington

You are absolutely correct that the biggest risk of keeping your external drives turned on and connected is the danger of virus infections. However, this risk can be mitigated by using good internet and computing practices and having effective antivirus and antimalware software installed.

Personally, I use a paid antivirus/antimalware program, (Bitdefender), and a paid antimalware program Malwarebytes and have never experienced any infections. I also practice safe internet and computing practices which is something everyone who goes online should do. I don't go to questionable sketchy web pages or open any unsolicited emails from parties that I don't know. Further, I don't download or install any software that cannot be verified as being virus and malware free. From my experience you can keep your external drives turned on and connected as long as you do something to lessen the risk of virus or malware infections.

Klickitatdave Loc: Seattle Washington

Thats where surge protectors come into play. You just have to make sure that you don't go with the cheapo versions. And yes, even they can fail under extraordinary circumstances but a surge of that magnitude would mean that your external drives are the least of your worries. Oh, and make sure your most important, most essential files are backed up on a drive separated from your computer or in the cloud.