Disconnect USB ports in sleep mode

[abhiroopb]

Thanks for that

[warfacegod]

To everyone,
Sorry *but* it's not possible to turn the power off to the USB ports when your computer is in sleep mode. If it's shut off, you can remove the battery but that's all!
Sorry!

Why couldn't you right a script to auto-unmount the USB stuff on Suspend or Hibernate?

[abhiroopb]

How would I go about doing that? And can I "unmount" a fan?

I basically just want the power cut before it goes into sleep.

[warfacegod]

How would I go about doing that? And can I "unmount" a fan?

I basically just want the power cut before it goes into sleep.

Perhaps unmount was an unwise choice of words. No, you can't unmount a fan. But still don't see why writing a script to shut down the usb channels. As for writing it, I haven't a clue.

By the way, are you using Suspend or Hibernate?

[abhiroopb]

Yea thats exactly what I was looking for.

Suspend - the power light keeps flashing so it's still drawing power.

[warfacegod]

When using Suspend, your System State gets stored in your RAM so there has to be power going to the RAM for it to remember. RAM is what is called volatile memory. Meaning if you cut the power supply to it, whatever it's storing will vanish.

Hibernate also saves your System State but it puts it in your swap space on your hard drive. Hard drives (obviously) are not volatile memory. Which means no power use.

I'd try using Hibernate to see if that shuts down your USB's. However, there's a catch. Your swap space nneds to be as big, if not slightly bigger, than the amount of RAM in your computer.

[abhiroopb]

Thanks.

Yes I basically knew that. And the reason I suspend to RAM is because it's faster to come out of it (than hibernate). Anyway to cut power JUST to the USB ports?

[warfacegod]

I think it's possible to cut power just to the USB's, perhaps by disabling them, upon Suspend. However, the more I think about this the more I also think that this would be a very difficult thing to achieve. It would require a highly technical understanding of all the hardware involved as well as the software and the ability to write a script or modify the Suspend command.

This seems to be far more trouble than it's worth.

Are you running a fan to keep you cool or the computer?

[abhiroopb]

OK, honestly, I have no idea. So, I just threw it out on the forum.

Currently I have the following:

USB Port 1: Fan to keep computer cool
USB Port 2: Small backup hard drive
USB Port 3: USB hub for stuff like my external keyboard, mouse, webcam, etc.

Anyway I pull all three out as the fan and small external hard drive stay on.

The mouse and keyboard lights go out though. The Hub (belkin) has a separate power source though.

[warfacegod]

I would unmount the external hard drive before shutting down. Regardless of whether it's Hibernate, Suspend, Shutdown, or Restart.