Power down external ESATA drive?

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AMD_Gamer

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I am using one of these external USB/ESATA drives with a WD 1TB Black HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817392016

I am using it with an Asus P6T Deluxe Motherboard and the ESATA port does not support hot swapping so if i connect it I have to restart the machine for it to be detected in windows also i read that you should not even connect it while the computer is on if the port is not hot swappable.

It works greats but the problem is that the drive is always on and spun up and running very hot, I don't access it much but don't want the hassle of restarting the machine when i want to power it down or access it?
 
If you want hot swap, you need AHCI.
It sounds like you do not want AHCI since you may have to re-install your OS.
So, what is the question here?
 
You know you don't have to set all the SATA ports to be AHCI. You can set the one you want to be AHCI and leave the one with your OS on it to be IDE.

But, looking at the manual, I cannot find any specific BIOS setting for the e-sata connector that is on the back side!

Are you sure the one on the back is not automatically set to AHCI?
Why would a motherboard have a SATA port labeled as e-SATA that is not by default set to AHCI?
That is weird.
 
MrF said:
You know you don't have to set all the SATA ports to be AHCI. You can set the one you want to be AHCI and leave the one with your OS on it to be IDE.

But, looking at the manual, I cannot find any specific BIOS setting for the e-sata connector that is on the back side!

Are you sure the one on the back is not automatically set to AHCI?
Why would a motherboard have a SATA port labeled as e-SATA that is not by default set to AHCI?
That is weird.
Click to expand...

I Googled this when it was not detected by windows and lots of other people have the same problem.

My question is what could I do about this? I guess it has to be AHCI mode for it to be hot swappable. I will have to look into setting the back side one to AHCI.
 
Can't you go from IDE to AHCI without re-installing? I thought it was the other way around that caused trouble.
 
This is messed up!
Page 3-29 shows how you can enable the Marvel Storage.
But, there is no talk of enabling AHCI. So, hopefully, it is there by default.
But, you probably have to re-install the OS.

Why don't you create an image of your OS install. If you don't have a tool for that, you can use Clonezilla (free).
Then, make a fresh install after enabling the Marvel and SAS (same page). Do not activate yet.
If it does not work or you don't like it, just restore the image and you are back to what you had.
 
The latest BIOS update (1606) says "Improve compatibility with some eSATA devices".
What version of the BIOS are you using?
 
MrF said:
This is messed up!
Page 3-29 shows how you can enable the Marvel Storage.
But, there is no talk of enabling AHCI. So, hopefully, it is there by default.
But, you probably have to re-install the OS.

Why don't you create an image of your OS install. If you don't have a tool for that, you can use Clonezilla (free).
Then, make a fresh install after enabling the Marvel and SAS (same page). Do not activate yet.
If it does not work or you don't like it, just restore the image and you are back to what you had.
Click to expand...

It is already enabled and works fine, just no hot swapping, I have to restart
 
Have you tried HotSwap? It's worked for me.

Here's a thread about your specific situation.

Some say you have to install the RAID drivers, others say they can use a specific Marvell driver.
 
Old Hippie said:
Have you tried HotSwap? It's worked for me.

Here's a thread about your specific situation.

Some say you have to install the RAID drivers, others say they can use a specific Marvell driver.
Click to expand...

I was looking into installing the drivers but I don't see anything about a Marvell Controller in Device Manager?
 
I don't have a GB board but my JMicron eSATA controller is under "storage controllers" in the device manager.
 
Ok the ASUS website had a beta driver for windows 7, with a nice setup program and everything for the Marvell controller, I installed it now Device manager shows a storage controller and the Marvell controller and hot swapping is working now, there is even a hot plug section in the driver details!
 
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