I am on Arch Linux and I want to disable this activity indicator light on a WD hard drive. I know there is a software on Windows for doing that, but since I am on Linux, how could I do it? This light is annoying when I am in a dark room.
There’s nothing which duct tape can’t fix.
Right, in my field it's gaffer tape but the same principle applies.
We call it Jesus tape.
I'd recommend an strip of tape or plastic, ideally with adhesive on one side. Ideally a dark color, like black.
Who are you, who are so wise in the ways of science?
Try brightnessctl. If it does not recognize it, go with some tape I guess.
You know those rubber feet things you can get that you put on furniture legs? I love those. Block out the LED lights on the air conditioning in the bedroom, computers, etc.
I think black nail polish can work too, if you know any BTGGs.
Black electrical tape, work better than any software
why not a tape, black, for electrical things
Orient it so the LED is facing away from you, with the LED facing a surface covered with Vantablack or some such equivalent. This saves on tape etc...
The age old solution of TAPE.
If it moves and it's not supposed to: duct tape. If it doesn't move and is supposed to: wd40
If they don't find ya handsome, they should find you handy.
Perfect answer, no need for me to scroll further.
gaff tape
This is the only correct answer.
Probably no one's thought of this yet, but i'm going to say black electrical tape. If you put it over your eyes it takes care of all your devices at once.
Painters tape and a sharpie. Layered.
-Autist with severe light sensitivity
Matte black nail polish....works there and on annoying Bluetooth lights
Open it up and desolder the led?
For an actual answer, it looks like WD has something called wdckit that is available on request.
I see a corresponding AUR entry that looks like it's grabbing some zip from a personal Russian CDN. Super sketchy looking tbh.
But it's possible this tool has whatever functionality the windows WD Utility uses to toggle the light in the drive's firmware.
IMO, it's not worth it. I'd just go the electrical tape route and maybe ask WD Customer Support if there's a way, and if not, ask that they support Linux better in the future.
Wow this is the exact perfect example of why someone should install from AUR as less as possible, manually checking the pkgbuild and not just "yay yolo"
In this case the archive seems to be clean and be what wd would send if contacted, (even Windows versions are in the zip)
Btw WTF WD. Why making a tool and its documentation only available on request?? It is nothing special, more or less do the same stuff that the GUI can do (show details, send erase command, send ATA password command).
It doesn't seem to be able to disable the activity LED
Have a friend stand in front of it
A friend, with a benefit.
Yeah, a light blocking friend.
Arch users dont have friends
My favourite answer
Did anyone suggest using black electrical tape yet?
ITT
comments stating to open up the drive and disconnect the LED: 2
comments stating to try and change the firmware: 1
comments stating to use tape or nail polish: jfc so many comments
Black pen. Black sharpie. Black electrical tape. Black duct tape. Black roofing felt. Black tar. Black hole.
Brown electrical tape, if you don't have black electrical tape.
A piece of black, electrical tape
Just empty the ~~blinker~~ led fluid.
Close your eyes
Have you tried plucking your eyes out?
Based on the other comments here I'd suggest black electrical tape over the eyes first
Huh!, just Disconnect the drive from power source and it will OFF.
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