Steam spins up spun down HDDs even if the library isn't on them.

[Roenie]

I have an HDD set to spin down after 5 minutes of inactivity because it's loud and makes my aluminium case resonate. It is not used for anything related to Steam. Every time I start Steam, it spins up, probably because steam insists on activating all drives before it checks where the only library that's been defined, resides: on an SSD. There's never even been a game library on the F:\ drive that my HDD is tied to.

Why do you do this to me, Gabe?

[Zekiran]

More than likely, data is being stored on it that IS 'from Steam'. Remember that most games store their save data and game-state info on your /my documents folder, or in your /roaming data folder in users.

If you have a My Documents folder on that drive, it's definitely storing things there.

Since we don't know what else you might be forgetting to say, that's about all I could possibly suggest - just because you don't like it, doesn't mean a computer does what you want. Programs gotta program.

[Roenie]

Nothing from steam is stored on it. Nothing from Windows user folders is mapped to it either. It is used only to store large files such as downloaded movies so I don't have to burden my SSD with too many writes that eventually cause the SSD's speed to deteriorate (despite overprovisioning).

Same problem was reported back in 2017:
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/1473095331500203782/

It happens even when the HDD is empty. Once I close Steam, 5 minutes later it spins down. I've submitted a bug report, but I'll keep this thread alive in parallel so that others who encounter the same issue can find the information. In return, such people can help the visibility of the "bug" by posting in the bug report thread: https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta/discussions/0/1627412171711829290/

[glass in ass]

https://cryptomining-blog.com/tag/hdd-mining/ u figure out the rest

given how greedy valve is, not unlikely

[Roenie]

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but according to windows' resource monitor (which in Win 7 you can get to through task manager --> performance) there's currently zero file read/write activity on drive F (the HDD), Steam is merely keeping it spinning.

[Zekiran]

Then get a better case if the 'noise' bothers you?

Seriously ... computers do this. SOMETHING got stored there, at some point, and it's tapping. This is a non-issue.

[Roenie]

You are clueless, so just don't say anything.

It has nothing to do with files, as I already explained it also happens when it's empty (formatted). Steam does a detection of all drives upon launch, and it is that action which spins them up.

I'll unsub from this thread now because replies like that are going to get annoying, and no fix will ever come from this thread.

But if you, the reader, are affected by the same problem, I do have a workaround for you. You can use this utility to spin down your drive(s) after starting Steam. Not sure how long Steam lets them stay spun down for and what actions within steam may cause them to spin back up, but it's working so far: https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/hddscan_for_windows.html

[Pocahawtness]

https://www.amazon.com/Nexus-DoubleTwin-Drive-Vibration-Absorber/dp/B001AZHS04/ref=sr_1_21?keywords=hdd+anti+vibration&qid=1569050383&s=gateway&sr=8-21

[m4dc47]

Same here. Getting on my Nerves. Steam is also SLOW. I think its programmed crappi. I could live with it, but this HDD thing is horrific, even when i start a chat i can hear the HDD working. tz...

[Zekiran]

*wants to use something via a computer*

*can't understand why computer works when told to*


.... Seriously people, learn how your computers actually function.

[nullable]

No one's got more problems than people.

[Silicon Vampire]

To be honest, I find it irritating as well but I'm pretty sure it's more of a function of the OS rather than Steam.

I'd still like to see a solution. Other than upgrading all storage to SSD, anyway... I've got 3 TB of HDs laying around here not even needed yet.

[nullable]

No HDD system is prety nice from a user experience perspective.