Disks don’t spin down after update

If your hard drives suddenly stop spinning down after a firmware or OS update, you’re not alone. This issue is common among NAS users (e.g., WD My Cloud, Synology, QNAP) and desktop setups where energy savings and drive longevity are priorities. In many cases, the system no longer allows the disks to enter an idle or standby state due to software changes or background processes.

Here’s a breakdown of why this happens and how to fix it.

🔍 Why Won’t Disks Spin Down After an Update?

1. New Background Processes

After an update, new services may be added or enabled — such as cloud sync, indexing, telemetry, or logging services — that access the disk regularly, preventing it from going idle.

2. Changed Power Settings

OS or firmware updates sometimes overwrite user-defined power settings, including HDD standby timers, resulting in drives spinning constantly.

3. Third-Party Apps

Installed or updated apps may constantly poll the disk. Examples include:

Antivirus software scanning files

DLNA or media server indexing

Backup software checking file changes

4. System Logs or Disk Errors

Continuous writing to system logs (due to errors or failed services) can also prevent spindown.

5. Modified Configuration Files

If you've edited config files like hdparm.conf, sleep.conf, or NAS-specific settings, these may be reverted or ignored after an update.

🛠️ How to Fix It

1. Check Disk Access Logs

Use tools like:

iotop (Linux)

Resource Monitor (Windows)

lsof +D /mnt/drive (Linux)

Identify which process is frequently accessing the disk.

2. Adjust Power Settings

On Linux or NAS systems:

bash

Copy

Edit

hdparm -S 120 /dev/sda

This sets a 10-minute spindown timer. Check if the setting is retained by adding it to a startup script or config file.

On Synology:

Go to Control Panel > Hardware & Power > HDD Hibernation

Set a timer and monitor results

On WD NAS (like My Cloud):

Ensure that “Drive Sleep” is enabled in the dashboard

Disable DLNA or cloud access temporarily to test if they prevent sleep

3. Disable Indexing or Media Servers Temporarily

Disable services like:

wdmcserverd and wdphotodbmergerd (on WD NAS)

Plex, Twonky, or other DLNA servers

Rescan or reindexing tasks

4. Update or Roll Back Firmware (if possible)

If the update introduced a bug that broke spindown, check vendor forums for others experiencing the same. A newer fix may be available — or, if feasible, revert to the previous firmware.

5. Modify Crontab or Systemd Timers

Disable scheduled background tasks that unnecessarily touch the disks, such as hourly status checks or self-tests.

📝 Conclusion

When disks don’t spin down after an update, it's typically due to new processes or settings that keep the drive active. Identifying and disabling these services is the key to restoring normal spindown behavior. Regular monitoring after updates can help catch these changes early and prevent wear-and-tear on your drives.