External Hard Drives Stressing

[menano]

I have seen a post about this a while ago but I can't find it now, so sorry.

Ever since I installed Yosemite, anytime my external hds are on, they are always spinning at extreme speeds, it's unusual and unsettling.

Has this happened to anyone here? Any suggestions?

 

[say19]

Presumably this isn't just Spotlight indexing?

 

[menano]

Its not because I've had them on for long enough to index everything! They are quite empty actually, unfortunately I lost all my data recently

 

[Drexus]

Are you referring to the actual disk RPM?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you referring to disk activity?

 

[menano]

Yeah I mean the RPM! I can hear the literal disks spin so fast and they won't even slow down ever. I have to turn them of after I use them because I'm afraid they'll break

 

[Julien]

Yeah I mean the RPM! I can hear the literal disks spin so fast and they won't even slow down ever. I have to turn them of after I use them because I'm afraid they'll break

Relax, HDs only spin at one speed and don't spin faster than their design (usually 5200RPM or 7200RPM). They also have a MTBF ratings more than 300,000 hours (there is less than 9000 hours in a year). They are likely to last as long running 24/7/365 as they are cycling on and off.

Go to System Preferences: Energy Saver and see if 'Put HD to sleep when possible' is checked.