Windows 8.1 causes external hard drives to auto-sleep?

Anonymous
2013-10-27T07:38:58+00:00

My 2 external hard drives are always active as I have disabled auto sleep. I didn't have this problem way since Windows 7, but after upgrading to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8, my 2 external hard drives will automatically went to sleep around 10 minutes of inactivity. I have tried the power options, device manager options, but to no avail. Any help? Thanks. 

I'm using NoSleepHD as a temporary fix but I hope there's a permanent fix for this.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2013-11-01T15:32:42+00:00

Thanks for the trace. We will analyze and get back to you. We published a blog on this yesterday to bring awareness and get help from the community to root-cause the issue. We think this is all due to suspending the device when idle which we never used to do in previous OSes. We will find out if this turns out to be something else.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/usbcoreblog/archive/2013/11/01/help-after-installing-windows-8-1-my-usb-drive-disappears-or-file-transfers-stop-unexpectedly-r-a-post-title.aspx

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-01-21T01:10:23+00:00

    You can also go into advanced power options from the main power options settings and adjust the hard disc options to never sleep and the USB options, set to disable; worked for me...I guess. My External Seagate 1TB no longer goes nite nite lol. Windows 8 has a pretty interface....for a tablet or phone. You guys should consider a "classic view" style desktop with the options to alternate between standard windows 8 start menu and the previous OS's that we all know so well and love so much. Windows is famous for a fluid navigation of the OS & filing system but the greater majority of that is tossed right out of the windows for us old schoolers who primarily navigate w/keyboards; we shouldn't have to have this crappy design force fed to us. Very unpleasant surprise after starting up my new HP machine; I'll certainly and THOUROUGHLY scan the reviews before buying another Microsoft product.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-01-21T01:14:52+00:00

    This works but Windows 8 has a pretty interface....for a tablet or phone. You guys should consider a "classic view" style desktop with the options to alternate between standard windows 8 start menu and the previous OS's that we all know so well and love so much. Windows is famous for a fluid navigation of the OS & filing system but the greater majority of that is tossed right out of the windows for us old schoolers who primarily navigate w/keyboards; we shouldn't have to be forced to flood the desktop with icons or have this crappy design force fed to us. Very unpleasant surprise after starting up my new HP machine; I'll certainly & THOUROUGHLY scan the reviews before ever faith-buying another Microsoft product again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-06T16:34:08+00:00

    Im having the same problem with Seagate Backup Plus 2TB usb3.0. However I have usb,suspend, HDD timer set to never, all usb Hub controls turned off (Sleeping mode) and reg hack but but still turning it self off after 7 mins.

    I really need Microsoft to fix soon (All windows updates installed).

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-07T23:09:23+00:00

    Okay so... any update on this?

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