Software to suspend HDD ?

[MerleOne]

Hi,
I have the following issue that I'd like to solve : quite often, at work, I have to remove my notebook from the dock and go somewhere else, for example to attend a meeting.  I usually put my PC to sleep before removing it from the dock, so that I don't have to move it when the HDD is still working.  But putting the PC to sleep takes quite some time, and also awaking it at destination.

Is there a simple utility that could park the HDD for a few minutes, without make the PC sleep ?  I suppose not, but one never knows...

Thanks.

PS : this PC is running XP Pro.

[Stoic Joker]

Hot-Docking shouldn't be an issue as long as it isn't done violently.

[MerleOne]

Docking is not the main issue, it's moving around the building, hitting door frames and so on when HDD is working.

[Stoic Joker]

Dropping it could kill the hard drive. Bumping into a door/wall not so much. It would have to be a really freak accident, with somebody running full speed into a solid object at just the right angle..

Forcing the drive to park while the OS is running OTOH ... That could do some damage.

[MerleOne]

Dropping it could kill the hard drive. Bumping into a door/wall not so much. It would have to be a really freak accident, with somebody running full speed into a solid object at just the right angle..

Forcing the drive to park while the OS is running OTOH ... That could do some damage.

Thanks.  I guess then it's either make the PC sleep or leave it running trying not to bump into something hard...

[Stoic Joker]

You would have to hit something that was really hard, really hard, at just the right angle (A seriously one-in-a-million shot) to cause any damage to the hard drive. Chances are you'll much more likely crack the screen with a bad hallway bump. Now if you drop it off a 2nd floor balcony... 

[f0dder]

I'd vote for putting the machine to sleep - there's normally enough "random" harddisk activity that the disk would spin up pretty fast again after being put to standby...