USB HDD Not Sleeping?

[Rookie]

Hi guys,

I'm using a Seagate 3TB USB 3.0 HDD with my box which I bought new from Amazon. Trouble is that it won't go to sleep when not being used. I have entered the setup on the XP1000 and enabled the setting to put HDD to sleep when not being used and unless I'm doing something wrong it doesn't work. This means that the drive is running 24/7 when normally it is only needed to download EPG updates once a day unless, of course, I am recording stuff which isn't that often.

So any pointers on what I may be doing wrong would be appreciated.

On a side note; I also have a media player connected to my TV via HDMI. It has a USB port to accept a HDD to play files from. How could I go about sharing my HDD between both the xp1000 and media player?

Thanks as always in advance

[Rob van der Does]

The sleep-functionality of any USB-HDD is integrated in the USB --> SATA chipset. This can't be influenced from the outside.
Unfortunately this function is seldom (if ever) described in the specs of such a device, so one has to wait and see if and how it works.

Regarding the mediaplayer: is it connected to LAN? If so: did you use the network-browser of your box?
Obviously the format of the USB-HDD has to be recognisable by the box (so Ext2/3/4 or NTFS (need to install drivers for that) or FAT).

[Rookie]

The sleep-functionality of any USB-HDD is integrated in the USB --> SATA chipset. This can't be influenced from the outside.
Unfortunately this function is seldom (if ever) described in the specs of such a device, so one has to wait and see if and how it works.

Regarding the mediaplayer: is it connected to LAN? If so: did you use the network-browser of your box?
Obviously the format of the USB-HDD has to be recognisable by the box (so Ext2/3/4 or NTFS (need to install drivers for that) or FAT).

Thanks for response.

So I connect the USB HDD to PC, download the drive software and set drive to goto sleep after X amount of time idle? Seems straightforward.

On the point of the media player; no it isn't connected to lan it is a stand-alone setup. It is plugged into mains and has a USB port for plugging in pen drives or ext USB Hdd's and an SD slot. Here it is here http://www.amazon.co.uk/VonHaus-Designer-Habitat-Player--Digital/dp/B005ERNITE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376604097&sr=8-1&keywords=habitat+media+player

At present I am using the SD card slot to watch my content. What I'd like to do is partition the HDD so that 2TB is used for the XP1000 and 1TB used to put my own downloaded content for use with the media player so I am not looking to play recorded content from the XP1000 using the media player. I want to share the USB HDD with both the XP1000 and media player. Have I explained that correctly? Hope so.

[Rob van der Does]

I have no idea about 'drive software'. Can you point me to it?

As for the mediaplayer: the only thing it does is to connect an USB-HDD to the TV via HDMI.
So no; I wouldn't know how to connect it to your XP1000.

[Rookie]

I have no idea about 'drive software'. Can you point me to it?

As for the mediaplayer: the only thing it does is to connect an USB-HDD to the TV via HDMI.
So no; I wouldn't know how to connect it to your XP1000.

SeaTools for Windows. It is software that allows you to change the settings on the HDD. Not sure if it's only for Seagate drives but i don't think so.

http://www.seagate.com/gb/en/support/external-hard-drives/desktop-hard-drives/freeagent-pro-classic/seatools-win-master/

[Rob van der Does]

AFAIK SeaTools are only for testing.
And to the best of my knowledge the sleepsettings are embedded in the USB -- SATA chip, not in the HDD itself.

[Rookie]

AFAIK SeaTools are only for testing.
And to the best of my knowledge the sleepsettings are embedded in the USB -- SATA chip, not in the HDD itself.

No SeaTools is used for testing the drive and changing the Sleep timeout. I use it on my PC USB ext HDD. I just thought that the software on the XP1000 would have forced the HDD connected to the box to sleep.

I believe that information is part of the firmware and is not hard coded.

[Rob van der Does]

Well: did you secceed then using SeaTools?

I just used Seatools on an extermal and an internal Seagate drive, and I found no option to change any settings. The tools only have options for testing.

[Rookie]

Well: did you secceed then using SeaTools?

I just used Seatools on an extermal and an internal Seagate drive, and I found no option to change any settings. The tools only have options for testing.

My apologies mate it is Seagate Manager I used to change the "Sleep" time outs (see attached image) and I used SeaTools to test my drives, as you mentioned.

http://i42.tinypic.com/8xluz7.jpg

[Rob van der Does]

And? Did it work?

[Rookie]

And? Did it work?

I haven't tried it yet with the drive connected to the XP1000 but have with my ext drive connected to PC and it works like a charm. I will get round to trying it with MD and update on the progress.

[Rookie]

And? Did it work?

Seems to be working Rob. HDD sleeps until called upon.

[Rob van der Does]

Wow... surprising!
But good to hear!