Windows xp usb external disk goes inactive

[rsud]

I have an external USB drive connected to my laptop docking port. When the laptop boots up the drive comes up fine.

But if I don't access the drive for about 5 minutes it goes inactive (light turns off and drive spins down).

How can I stop this? I want the drive to stay active as long as my laptop is up.

 

[rsud]

Let me add that once it goes inactive I can't get it back unless I plug the drive into different USB port or reboot. Plugging it into the same USB port results in nothing happening.

 

[notchris]

does the laptop have a usb port on it does it do the same thing if you plug it in directly
What type of laptop what type of external drive what type of docking port

 

[rsud]

does the laptop have a usb port on it does it do the same thing if you plug it in directly
What type of laptop what type of external drive what type of docking port

I haven't tried a USB port directly on the laptop.
I can try that but that wouldn't work out for a long term solution for me.

The laptop is an older dell D600 with a Dell docking port meant for this laptop.

I am running windows XP with all updates.

The drive is a 500GB 2.5" drive in an external USB case (I bought the drive and case separately).

The case is a Transcend StoreJet 25 SATA.