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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.

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[–] ColdWater@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 hour ago

Black electrical tape, work better than any software

[–] hateisreality@lemmy.world 7 points 2 hours ago

Matte black nail polish....works there and on annoying Bluetooth lights

[–] Quatlicopatlix@feddit.org 7 points 4 hours ago

Open it up and desolder the led?

[–] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 27 points 5 hours ago (2 children)
[–] EchoCranium@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 hour ago

Perfect answer, no need for me to scroll further.

[–] YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today 10 points 5 hours ago

If they don't find ya handsome, they should find you handy.

[–] teawrecks@sopuli.xyz 5 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

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.

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 63 points 10 hours ago

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.

[–] Restaldt@lemmy.world 36 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

Painters tape and a sharpie. Layered.

-Autist with severe light sensitivity

[–] imacatnotaman@lemmy.ml 6 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Unfortunately, my flavor of AuDHD isn't compatible with Arch lol

[–] W98BSoD@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

You have gold hydride-dideuteride? Lucky!

[–] imacatnotaman@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 hours ago

lol if only

[–] IceVAN@beehaw.org 6 points 7 hours ago

Just empty the ~~blinker~~ led fluid.

[–] SentiEnt@lemmy.pt 17 points 9 hours ago

Brown electrical tape, if you don't have black electrical tape.

[–] ampy@discuss.online 99 points 13 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Red0ctober@lemmy.world 13 points 12 hours ago (1 children)
[–] harsh3466@lemmy.ml 9 points 11 hours ago (1 children)
[–] DrunkAnRoot@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 hours ago

This, is the way.

[–] wuphysics87@lemmy.ml 25 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Have a friend stand in front of it

[–] DrunkAnRoot@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 hours ago

Arch users dont have friends

[–] KarnaSubarna@lemmy.ml 9 points 10 hours ago

Huh!, just Disconnect the drive from power source and it will OFF.

[–] Foofighter@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 10 hours ago
[–] racoon@lemmy.ml 6 points 10 hours ago

Have you tried plugging and unplugging it? It should solve your problem

[–] Big_Boss_77@fedinsfw.app 9 points 11 hours ago (1 children)
[–] KarnaSubarna@lemmy.ml 4 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

A true man of culture, I see 🫡

[–] fox2263@lemmy.world 77 points 18 hours ago (8 children)

Black pen. Black sharpie. Black electrical tape. Black duct tape. Black roofing felt. Black tar. Black hole.

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[–] sudoMakeUser@sh.itjust.works 3 points 9 hours ago

Masking take and permanent marker or pen works too if you don't have electical tape.

[–] KazuchijouNo@lemy.lol 266 points 21 hours ago (4 children)
[–] ClassIsOver@hexbear.net 4 points 11 hours ago

The only real reason I keep electrical tape around is to cover up LEDs.

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[–] dan@upvote.au 108 points 19 hours ago (3 children)

Did anyone suggest using black electrical tape yet?

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[–] BranBucket@lemmy.world 8 points 12 hours ago

They sell travel sized rolls of that gorilla tape.

It sticks to just about anything, pretty much forever, and is totally opaque.

Should work like a charm.

[–] Alvaro@lemmy.blahaj.zone 22 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Have you tried plucking your eyes out?

[–] NotSteve_@piefed.ca 15 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

Based on the other comments Jere I'd suggest black electrical tape over the eyes first

[–] cypherpunks@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 hours ago

based on the other comments here i had to double check if this thread was in !shittyasklemmy@lemmy.ml smh my head

[–] Chaser@lemmy.zip 19 points 15 hours ago (2 children)
[–] prex@aussie.zone 24 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (3 children)
[–] Chaser@lemmy.zip 1 points 30 minutes ago
[–] dan@upvote.au 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I couldn't not.

You could not not?

[–] prex@aussie.zone 5 points 9 hours ago

No, that's right.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 6 points 11 hours ago

Gordon Freeman?

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