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
    2014-04-02T22:18:28+00:00

    Please install the latest Windows 8.1 update to put an end to this misery. Currently this is available for MSDN subscribers.  It will also be available on Windows update pretty soon.

    https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/securedownloads/hh442898.aspx

    -Eliyas

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-04-17T02:20:20+00:00

    Please install the latest Windows 8.1 update to put an end to this misery.

    ...

    -Eliyas

    Same problem here. Seagate 3T external USB 3 drive. Problem went away for a while but is back with the Windows 8.1 update (April 2014). Drive now sleeps minutes after any use and takes a while to spin up again.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-17T03:51:01+00:00

    OMG! This is driving me nuts! Come on Microsoft! The planets not going to explode if we use a little more energy for running a hard drive. If it is, then I suggest we all stop using computers altogether. Same problem here. 2 TB Seagate connected to my USB via Thermaltake BlacX drive host. Damn thing spins down now after about 5 minutes and I sometimes can't get the stupid thing to spin back up- so have to turn the power off and then back on just to get the drive recognized again! Wow.. F'ng annoying! My hard drive has now twice developed BAD CLUSTERS due to this sleep wake bullshi*! Unbelievable! If you wanted aggressive power management Microsoft FINE, just make it a damn OPTION stop forcing **** like this down the users throat! Are you trying to lose customers?! Really? Add features but for the love of God- give people the options to either turn them on or off! End rant. :)

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