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srfdriver22 · Jan 12, 2006, 08:31 AM

Hello all,

I have an internal WD 100GB HD that I put into an external USB case for more storage in my Mac Mini. However, it's noisy when it's not doing anything. The indicator light isn't blinking but it sounds like the platters are spinning. Does anyone know why this is happening?

Thanks!

Chito · Jan 12, 2006, 10:36 AM

Is it possibly the external's case fan you're hearing? Don't mean to insult your inteligence but many cases have fans and since you didn't say I thought I'd throw that out there.

srfdriver22 · Jan 12, 2006, 01:29 PM

No insult. I would conclude the same thing except it's not constant. The sound is more a HD working and isn't running in any sort of pattern that I can decipher.

mduell · Jan 12, 2006, 07:03 PM

It sounds like the platters are spinning, because, well, they are.

srfdriver22 · Jan 13, 2006, 07:05 AM

Yes, but my question is why? I'm not accessing it. It only contains files not programs that may be running and I haven't set it as any scratch disk. What is OS X doing with it?

mduell · Jan 13, 2006, 01:17 PM

Unless you've set the hard drive to sleep, hard drives are always spinning so they are ready for you to request data.