I'm using a Seagate model ST3300601U2RK external hard drive with Windows XP. All in all the thing works pretty well except that after about thirty seconds after turning on, it goes to sleep on me. The light stays on, but the hardware's internal activity stops. Even if I'm looking at a folder or working on a file located on the drive, it will go to sleep after a while.

I can get it turn turn back on again by opening a folder or file I hadn't yet accessed, but I have to wait about 10 seconds for it to start running again. Since I'm moving back and forth a lot between programs and source files, it really starts to make THINGS drag on. Is there any way of turning this sleep feature off?

Just for your information, I've looked at Seagate's website and looked through all their supplemental info on the hard drive in question and nothing goes into specifics beyond increasing "efficiency". Most of what they have are basically just pamphlets. I've also thoroughly searched this site for the last couple of days trying to find anything regarding the subject, but I've COME up with nothing. I've also tried exploring the disk manager in the Computer Management utility, but I can't find any options or tools to change on the device except changing its associated drive letter or formatting it altogether.

Any ideas?Did you check Power Management settings?The only power management settings I can find are for the computer itself in the Power Options utility under the control panel. I've got everything set to 'never' and hibernation deactivated there; though I don't think it affects the external HD. I've looked for power management settings for the HD, but they don't seem to exist anywhere. I've gone through the HD's properties a couple times, but aside from the standard disk tools of error-checking, defragmentation, and backup, there're no real tools or options.

If there are other power management utilities for external HDs, please let me know.In Device Management right clik all your USB root hubs and select Power...uncheck "allow Windows to turn off this device to save power"...Looking through Computer Management and the Device Manager, all I can see when right-clicking either a USB hub or the hard drives themselves is, at most:

Update Driver...
Disable
Uninstall
---------------------
Scan for Hardware Changes
---------------------
Properties

I do not see power options for any of them. Am I still looking in the wrong place? I still can't find any settings regarding my hard disks.Right click, then select Properties, then Power. only on the hubs though, there won't be anything in the external HDD's properties.
patio just missed a step in the midle i'm losing all skillz Calum...... Thanks, Calum, for the clarification. I unchecked the option for both my usb hubs. My hdd is still going to sleep after a short interval of inactivity. Any other suggestions?Reading up on a few customer reviews it seems others have had the same issues with this drive....
Does the documentation say anything about power saving features for the drive itself ? ?
NONE that I have found whatsoever. Looking at Seagate's site earlier, they've buried the model hard drive that I have under all their NEW advertisements for their new hard drives they're trying to push. In the documentation for mine, it seems it was originally intended for backup storage, but I can't imagine they would completely overlook its potential as a standard external hdd. Hard to say.Both sites i went to for reviews stated it was a discontinued item...
Do not despair however most Seagate drives carry a 5 yr warranty ....longest in the regular drive business.
Customer support from them has always been first class.
Best of Luck.Thanks folks. I appreciate the help.Are you sure it's 30 seconds?

From: <[emailprotected]>
Reply-To: <[emailprotected]>
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 14:44:21 -0500
Subject: Re: ST3300601CB-RK
Hello,
Unfortunately this drive cannot have the sleep mode turned off, as it is a
safety feature to keep the drive intact. It is not a setting on your
SYSTEM, it is a setting on the drive that goes into effect after 5-10
minutes of inactivity.

Nicholas W.
Seagate Technical Support
Thanks for the closure, Nicholas. I'm glad it's not my computer's system settings after all.