Back up drive only ramps up when I access it

[Wonderclam]

I have 2 HDs, running Windows 64 bit ultimate. My main drive is a 2 TB Seagate and the backup is a 1TB Samsung

When I access the Samsung, it gives me a lag and I can hear the drive start to spin up. Is this normal? I'm guessing it's trying to save energy by ramping the speed down when the HD is not used. Will this increase the lifespan of my backup drive?

 

[PrvtChurch]

It preserves the life span of the HDD. drives are rated for a certain amount of on/off cycles but also spin time. by turning off the HDD you save power. If you dont want this you should be able to change it in the Windows Power settings.