removing usb hardware

[jarbill]

For some reason, I'm not getting the little remove USB hardware icon in the systray. Just to be on the safe side, I've just been turning the computer completely off to disconnect flash drives and external hard drives, etc. because I don't know if it's safe or not, but is there some toggle that I've turned off somewhere that I didn't know about?

I've never had this happen before, so I don't know where to go from here, or if I can use the Eject feature for the appropriate hardware on the My Computer icon and then disconnect the hardware. Any comments would be welcome.

Edwin

[dr_st]

Try this:

http://www.pchelpforum.com/windows-xp-a ... eared.html

On a side note, as long as you don't remove devices while they are actually performing I/O operations, you should be fine. I never use the "Safely remove hardware" thingie - just find it too [censored] annoying. I've been connecting and disconnecting flash sticks, portable hard disks, internal/external optical drives. Nothing ever went wrong.

[dansu]

On a side note, as long as you don't remove devices while they are actually performing I/O operations, you should be fine. I never use the "Safely remove hardware" thingie - just find it too [censored] annoying. I've been connecting and disconnecting flash sticks, portable hard disks, internal/external optical drives. Nothing ever went wrong.

This information is accurate for Windows XP and possibly 2000. The OS automatically unmounts plug and play external storage devices when removed. However, do not try this with older or different operating systems.

[smugiri]

On a side note, as long as you don't remove devices while they are actually performing I/O operations, you should be fine. I never use the "Safely remove hardware" thingie - just find it too [censored] annoying. I've been connecting and disconnecting flash sticks, portable hard disks, internal/external optical drives. Nothing ever went wrong.

You will be fine in the sense that the device cannot be damaged. You are however at risk of losing data on any writable USB device ( drives, network etc etc ) if write caching is enabled on that device. To enable/disable write caching, right click over the drive letter in Explorer for the USB drive, choose Properties, choose the Hardware tab and click on Properties at the bottom right again and go to the Policies tab. Pick "Optimize for quick removal" or un-check the "Enable write caching on the disk" check box at the bottom.

[dansu]

On a side note, as long as you don't remove devices while they are actually performing I/O operations, you should be fine. I never use the "Safely remove hardware" thingie - just find it too [censored] annoying. I've been connecting and disconnecting flash sticks, portable hard disks, internal/external optical drives. Nothing ever went wrong.

You will be fine in the sense that the device cannot be damaged. You are however at risk of losing data on any writable USB device ( drives, network etc etc ) if write caching is enabled on that device. To enable/disable write caching, right click over the drive letter in Explorer for the USB drive, choose Properties, choose the Hardware tab and click on Properties at the bottom right again and go to the Policies tab. Pick "Optimize for quick removal" or un-check the "Enable write caching on the disk" check box at the bottom.

I learn new things on this forum all the time. It's great!

[davidspalding]

I've never had a good, warm, fuzzy feeling just disconnecting a USB hard drive or memory card without "stopping" it in Windows 2000. Often Win2k would complain, "Wait, I wasn't done with that!" In fact, I've sometimes been unable to stop and eject a data device, as Windows asserted that some "process" was still accessing the data device. Rule of thumb: don't mess around with that.

I can't recall how to "enable" that stop device icon in teh Windows "dessert tray," but if you have "hide notifications" enabled, expand the dessert tray to see all the icons.

Depending on your TP, and software installed, FN + F9 may invoke the EasyEject software utility. I like it way more than the Windows tool.

[LtTPfan]

Try right-clicking on the Taskbar then left-clicking on Properties. The Customize Notifications window should appear. Scroll down to Past Items. You may find it there and be able to adjust its behavior, or try clicking Restore Defaults.