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    How to disable the hard drive LED through Windows?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Bart Simpson, Apr 12, 2008.

  1. Bart Simpson

    Bart Simpson Notebook Consultant

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    With my recent success in disabling my wifi LED through the Windows registry: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=236693, I am more motivated than ever to find a way to disable the blinking LED for my laptop hard drive. I have an Hitachi hard drive in my Acer Aspire 7520 if that helps anyone.

    Is there any registry setting to do this or is there some code in the Windows Driver Kit that developers use that could work?
     
    Bart Simpson, Apr 12, 2008
    #1
  2. kvehh

    kvehh Notebook Consultant

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    why would u want to do that?
     
    kvehh, Apr 12, 2008
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  3. Lao

    Lao Notebook Evangelist

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    Really, why?!?!
     
    Lao, Apr 12, 2008
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  4. stevenkelby

    stevenkelby Notebook Consultant

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    I would want it disabled too, just a distraction when trying to concentrate in the dark and it's flashing. What purpose does it serve? Who cares if the HD is spinning? Not me, that's who.
     
    stevenkelby, Apr 12, 2008
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  5. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    OT, mate. Is that your dog and what kind of breed is it? It looks very cool. :cool:
     
    Rodster, Apr 12, 2008
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  6. stevenkelby

    stevenkelby Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks. Swedish Vallhund, he's awesome. Year old now (pic was 12 weeks from memory). Have a girl too, 3 weeks old now.
     
    stevenkelby, Apr 12, 2008
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  7. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    How big do they get? :) It sorta looks like an Akita.
     
    Rodster, Apr 12, 2008
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  8. Bart Simpson

    Bart Simpson Notebook Consultant

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    Why wouldn't you?
     
    Bart Simpson, Apr 12, 2008
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  9. icecubez189

    icecubez189 Notebook Deity

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    thread is starting to go off-topic! Plus OP is asking how he can turn off LED, not why.
     
    icecubez189, Apr 12, 2008
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  10. stevenkelby

    stevenkelby Notebook Consultant

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    Bart, do you mind if we discuss why you want the light off? And my dog? :)

    Corgi size, anyway.
     
    stevenkelby, Apr 12, 2008
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  11. orev

    orev Notebook Virtuoso

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    The light is useful to know when the drive is being accessed, so when you start Word or something, you can see the light and know that it's "working". I bet it could annoy some people though.

    PS. I'd love to know how to disable the LED next to the webcam.
     
    orev, Apr 13, 2008
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  12. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    That's easy. Disable the Webcam device in Device Manager.
     
    McGrady, Apr 13, 2008
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  13. orev

    orev Notebook Virtuoso

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    The point is to be able to use the webcam without the LED being on.
     
    orev, Apr 13, 2008
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  14. frazell

    frazell Notebook Deity

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    I'm quite sure you can't disable the HDD LED as that's controlled by the BIOS and not Windows (hence why the light works even before any OS is loaded up, unlike the WiFi light)...

    Also, disabling the HDD access light, imho, is a really bad idea. The light serves one major purpose. Telling you when the HDD is being read or written too. That can allow you to quickly determine whether a "hang/lockup" is really a lockup and not just a temp. slowdown due to heavy HDD access.
     
    frazell, Apr 14, 2008
    #14