Windows 10: switch to turn HDD/SSD on/off

OK, with installing the new OS old issues come back to life. Here goes the question: can one have a physical switch somewhere on the PC case that can turn a single drive (HDD or SSD) on and off?

I did search the internet before posting and several solutions exist, but unfortunately none as complete as some add-on part that you can buy, plug the cables in it, and use at your discretion.

There are several software solutions, such as disabling the SATA port in BIOS that would probably work fine, but then the drive would still be connected to the power supply.

Someone has made the switch himself, i.e. actually built it inside a molex extension connector and even drilled an opening in his case for it, but I'd like to avoid the hard work *Wink.

What I want to achieve is the same ability provided by hot-swappable drive bays but for internal drives. This way I won't have to keep track of them lying around the place, but save some energy, reduce some noise, and just in general, I don't like things I don't use to be plugged in. I have about 6 drives in my machine, so turning off some back up ones seems to make sense. I already use the Windows power features, but it seems that a physical switch would be more efficient.

I'd be grateful for any ideas.

:)

 

HDD disappear when used

I have strange problem with Win 10. I have SSD and HDD setup. When I try to copy to HDD, it copy some files and then the drive disapperar form Task manager (not from the explorer) and speed drop to 0. It affect even external HDDs connected via USB 3.0
and even network HDD.. After restart disk is not visible, only thing that helps is turn off PC and turn off power switch. After it the HDD acts as normal, but when i try again to copy (other) data, it write some of them than again, speed drop to 0 and HDD
disappeared.

 

what steps to preform after several win 10 crash's and no boots

after cmos clearing, unplugging hdd an ssd an graphics card, password clearing took a few starts an stops to finally post. Turned off, plugged in hdd ssd video card in . now it goes for a minute an restarts , it quit once, waited a few minutes turned on--
still does it, on for minute the off, then on, ect. So now I just filing this in. I will try no hdd or ssd again, see if it will post, then boot from dvd. If I only had a brain

 

I was going to suggest mobile racks that fit into the drive bays. The ORICO ones for example have a power switch on the left-hand side, however with 6 drives I doubt you have that many spare slots.

ORICO CD-ROM Space internal 3.5'' SATA HDD frame/mobile rack internal HDD case (metal+ plastic(1105ss)): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

Excellent idea! Thanks! I don't need it for all six drives, I got three empty bays in my case, so this is going to work just fine.

 

Nice solution... I use the Star-Tec model.

 

I can thoroughly recommend the ORICO caddys, they use molex and not sata power connectors. In the UK, Novatech have them under their own brand. They do not have a built in fan like some Icydock but I have never experienced overheating.

 

@unifex , Sorry for digging up an old thread but there is actually an actual solution to this question. There is a hard drive switch available which I have installed at the back of my PC. But it comes with only 4 hard drive switches.






I myself have 5 hard drives installed, but since I only have 4 switches, I also just pull out the other hard drives on removable trays in front of the CPU case.

 

How about these:

Amazon.com: ORICO HD-PW4101 3.5" Floppy Drive Slot 4x SATA HDD Power Switch Control (Black): Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: ORICO HD-PW6101 6 BAY HDD Hard Drive Power Switch Power Controller: Computers & Accessories