external HDD clicks when powering off

[rosika]

I run Linux/Lubuntu 16.04.2 LTS (64bit) from the external USB-drive (USB 2.0). This drive is a WD Elements 25A2 [ Device Model: WDC WD10JMVW-11AJGS4 ], [ serial-no.:
WD-WXL1A56HU7XU ].
The WD-hard drive is connected to the PC not directly but via a hub with a power-supply of its own (hama).
When switching on my PC the hard drive starts spinning and I can go on with the boot process.

When shutting down my operating-system I can still hear the drive spinning for a while, to be more precise: for exactly 30 minutes.
( My guess is that when the disk stops spinning it will be transferred to some sort of standby-mode.)

This is because the PC is shut down but the power-supply of the external hub is still on. Of course I want to switch it off overnight as well. And there I´m presented with the choice of either waiting for 30 minutes ("stand-by mode" of the disk?); then I can swith off the power-supply of the hub, and: no click at all.

OR: I don´t wait, switch off the power-supply and then there´s the click.

As far as I know hard drives are designed in such a way that the read-/write-head will be transferred to a "parking position" outside the disk. This could account for the click. But
I´m not sure and wanted to ask what you think of it.

To summarize:

What can/should I do? Is there any way of avoiding that click?
Is there any harm in letting that click happen?
Or should I really wait for 30 minutes until the disk stops spinning and then shut down the power-supply of the external hub?

Thanks for your help.

Many greetings.

Rosika

 

[alceryes]

The click is the hard disk parking.
It may be particularly loud do to the enclosure amplifying the sound or just a trait of that particular drive. I've heard varying opinions about extra wear and tear on the drive by cutting power but haven't seen any examples of it causing issues. Pretty sure that I've had a few 'noisy parkers' in the past as well.

Leaving the drive on for an extra 30 mins also won't cause any issues, so, basically, do whichever you want.

 

[rosika]

Hi alceryes,

thanks a lot for your answer. So my guess regarding the "parking position" causing that click-noise was right.
I´m glad you could confirm it.
So basically there´s not much I can do about it. Well, the most important thing is it won´t hurt the HDD.
I think I´ll go for the waiting option, although it might not be practicable for everyday use.

Thanks again and have a nice day.

Greetings.
Rosika