[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Safely Remove USB Drives Just by Unplugging Them here

[FishamanP]

"Safely Remove" is a misnomer in this case, as it implies having an enabled write cache.

[jeepmanjr]

I've been wondering about this. Good call!!!

[reljr]

Might be worthwhile to also cover the properties setting in the Device Manager to enable or disable write caching. This can determine for specific devices whether they need the "safely Remove" process to disconnect.

I use this for all my attached devices but it may be too confusing for the average user. I haven't seen any performance hit doing this.

[a7madusef]

AWESOME ! ! Thanks Dude . . .

[ConnorMeeblings]

Also if you have one with a light that tells you what it's doing, it can sort of let you know if it's busy or not. I still sometimes confuse my computers and forget that I have to eject it on my Mac...that has caused some headaches LOL

[ConnorMeeblings]

ConnorMeeblings, on 07 May 2012 - 04:20 AM, said:

Also if you have one with a light that tells you what it's doing, it can sort of let you know if it's busy or not.

The flash drive, I mean.

[k1cvp]

Polices and Volume tabs are missing from my properties window. Using W7 Home Premium.

[hrlaser]

I'm running 32-bit Vista, and the "Policies" tab is also there, and my plugged-in USB thumb drives and external 1tb hard drive were already [x] checked for "quick removal".. I don't remember ever going "in there" and checking that box, so the laptop must've come out-of-the-box already set that way (?).. but this is handy information.. Thanks for posting it..

Windoze (any modern version).. is such a labyrinth / puzzle / rat's nest of hidden and un-obvious settings, it can only have been coded by a team of sadists..

I've always used the "safely remove" thingie, and now, I find out, I didn't have to.. except, probably, with my iPod.. which, although I rarely plug it into the computer to add or remove things, I'm sure it'd lose its mind if I just un-plugged its USB cable, and not use the "safely remove" feature in iTunes, or Media Monkey (which I highly prefer, because it does everything iTunes does, without the bulk.. except it has no "store").. and even trying to eject the iPod in either of those doesn't always work.. I'll get a message with some gibberish about how the device is in use, even when it's done doing whatever it was doing.. so with that stupid little thing, I (usually) have to close either of those programs, and then go into start / computer / and right click on the iPod's icon, and use "safely remove", which ALWAYS works.. go figure..

It's a Fifth Generation color video iPod, with a 30gb drive, and a touch wheel, if it makes any difference..

[roybreon]

My Device Manager USB Drive Properties tab does not have a Policies tab. Why not? I'm running Win7 Professional SP1.

[hrlaser]

k1cvp, on 07 May 2012 - 05:33 AM, said:

Polices and Volume tabs are missing from my properties window. Using W7 Home Premium.

I've never used Windoze seven, but in Vista, the "Policies" tab is not there, if I look at the attached USB drives' properties, by simply opening "computer".. but, after reading this story, I went into control panel / device manager, selected each device, and sure enough, there was the "policies" tab.. so.. I guess, make sure you're going into device manager to select them, not just "computer".. if you already are, and it's not there, then I have no clue, and someone else will have to figure out why you don't have those tabs..

[roybreon]

I found the Policies tab listed under Disk Drives. I had previously looked under Portable Devices which also lists the USB Drives but w/o the Policies tab. BTW my system has Quick removal (default) selected. So check under disk drives and not portable devices. I'm running Win 7 Professional SP1. However, my SD drive does not have the policies tab.

[omahapianist]

This is probably valid for flash drives but what about external disc-based hard drives? What's the risk of corrupting your data if you unplug this from your PC without shutting it down properly? I hear too much whirring and churning to just unplug
it.

[mjd420nova]

Who wants to take the chance of damaging their system board or the USB device they have connected to their systems?? On all my home builds, I install small pico fuses inline with the USB ports, both the front and the back connectors. When the number of devices outnumbers the number of ports or you intend to use it as a charging station for other devices, I use an external powered USB hub to handle that without drawing that current through the ports. I always power down the external device after powering down the system, then disconnect it. This way there is no potentials between the system and the device. A common fault is that the USB port gets shorted or jammed when plugging in when the system is on. This can draw excess current through the port and has burned traces off the board, melted jacks and shorted power supplies causing complete system failure.

This post has been edited by mjd420nova: 07 May 2012 - 08:19 AM

[roybreon]

My WD External USB HD has "enable write caching" selected. There appears to be nothing labeled default.

[shanaza]

mjd420nova, on 07 May 2012 - 08:17 AM, said:

Who wants to take the chance of damaging their system board or the USB device they have connected to their systems?? On all my home builds, I install small pico fuses inline with the USB ports, both the front and the back connectors. When the number of devices outnumbers the number of ports or you intend to use it as a charging station for other devices, I use an external powered USB hub to handle that without drawing that current through the ports. I always power down the external device after powering down the system, then disconnect it. This way there is no potentials between the system and the device. A common fault is that the USB port gets shorted or jammed when plugging in when the system is on. This can draw excess current through the port and has burned traces off the board, melted jacks and shorted power supplies causing complete system failure.

Does this "shorting" occur due to static charge?

[RoleGuy]

k1cvp, on 07 May 2012 - 05:33 AM, said:

Polices and Volume tabs are missing from my properties window. Using W7 Home Premium.

The Device Manager display in the article was labeled as being for W7. That display matches my Win XP PC, my Win7 is different. Policies tab not in Win7 but there is a false entry for USB drive removal in the USB section, not the disk drive section.

[RoleGuy]

1. Plug your USB drive into your PC, then open Device Manager. (Note: These steps are based on Windows 7. Things might look different in previous versions of Windows.)

THIS IS NOT CORECT FOR MY PC's!

The sample Device Manager screen scrape in the article matches my Win XP PC, not my Win 7 PC.

In Win 7 go to Universal Serial Bus controllers/Generic USB Hub/Details Tab/Property/select m pull down "Safe removal required"/value default is already <false> on my WIN 7 PC.

[mjd420nova]

shanaza, on 07 May 2012 - 06:27 PM, said:

mjd420nova, on 07 May 2012 - 08:17 AM, said:

Who wants to take the chance of damaging their system board or the USB device they have connected to their systems?? On all my home builds, I install small pico fuses inline with the USB ports, both the front and the back connectors. When the number of devices outnumbers the number of ports or you intend to use it as a charging station for other devices, I use an external powered USB hub to handle that without drawing that current through the ports. I always power down the external device after powering down the system, then disconnect it. This way there is no potentials between the system and the device. A common fault is that the USB port gets shorted or jammed when plugging in when the system is on. This can draw excess current through the port and has burned traces off the board, melted jacks and shorted power supplies causing complete system failure.

Does this "shorting" occur due to static charge?

It shouldn't be a static charge. Mostly, USB cable connectors don't take too kindly to getting smacked around and a misalignment or even dirt from the bottom of your pocket can bridge the connectors upon insertion.This power/potential comes from the power supply in the PC/laptop via the system board. So many things can happen and I prefer to plug and unplug when there is no power present. Even the peripheral should be off. Save a headache and a system or two.

[pita7785]

Writers like Rick Broida can be very helpful; but not if they serve only to confuse us Windummies with untested or incomplete procedures. In this instance, one of the comments finally let me find the right place to do what Rick is talking about. I'm running Windows 7; his instructions were useless.