I was wondering what you guys think of HDD power saving optins in XP. Is there any advantage having the hard disks turn off after a period of time? Would it extend the life of my hdd's? Does anyone here use it?

discuss.

Is there any advantage having the hard disks turn off after a period of time?

Advantages of turning off:

* Less time on = longer lifespan (usually)
* HDD is no longer generating heat around itself = good
* Less noise!

Disadvantages:

* Very frequent on/off can cause thermal-expansion problems

So in summary, I'd set it to a 3-hour timeout so it doesn't spin down too often, but will do so if you leave the house for a long period of time. Balance is the key.