Do you guys use the "safely remove usb device" option in windows for thumb drives?

[Locut0s]

For things like cameras, and other hardware I usually do follow window's advice and disconnect the drive from the OS via software before removing the device physically but I've never bothered to do so for thumb drives. I just yank them out when I'm no longer writing or reading to them. Anyone else do so? Is there a good reason to do so or do most of you also just yank them out when finished.... (Umm that didn't sound the way I intended it too)

 

[mpilchfamily]

With onld Windows 98 and ME you pretty much had to use that rout or the OS rased all sorts of hell. But with XP and Vista there is no need to do that even with items other then thumb drives.

 

[AmberClad]

Nope. I just wait a few seconds after the LED light on the drive has stopped blinking, then I yank it.

 

[HOOfan 1]

With Windows ME the machine would lock up sometimes even if I used the safely remove hardware function. Then I would have to go so far as to use system restore to repair the damage.

Therefore I still do it on XP whether I need to or not

 

[Blain]

I yank mine like a bad tooth.

 

[corkyg]

Flash drives are, by default, hot pluggable both ways in XP and Vista. Never a problem.

 

[DSF]

I always use the "safely remove device" thing. Probably don't need to, but I wouldn't want to be wrong.

 

[Denithor]

Nope. Pull & go. Never had an issue.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1
With Windows ME the machine would lock up sometimes even if I used the safely remove hardware function. Then I would have to go so far as to use system restore to repair the damage.

Therefore I still do it on XP whether I need to or not

Hahaha, I certainly don't let things that Windows Mistake Edition fucked up determine how I use future operating systems.

In terms of removable storage, as long as you're not writing to it, yank it. Never had a problem.

 

[mylittlepony]

I actually had a problem with a flash drive once (which may or may not have been related to me not choosing the "remove safely" option). It became unusable after moving it from one computer to another until I reformatted it.

It's possible it had nothing to do with me skipping the "safety" option, and I still unplug things without clicking the safety option sometimes.

 

[bruceb]

Personally, I will spend the extra second to use the safely remove hardware. That way, I am sure the drive and it's data are fine.

 

[sonnygdude]

I always looked with some skepticism on the need to safely remove, but a week ago a buddy of mine crashed his system (XP SP3) when he removed a camera, then plugged in a thumb drive. The thumb drive seems to be ok since it still works fine on other computers (he won't put it back in his). From that point on, any storage device he plugged into a USB port would cause the OS to crash, but other devices would run normally on their USB connections. He had to restore the OS to fix things. Coicidence? Maybe, but it made me paranoid now.

 

[Skooter]

So long as the drive isn't in the process of being accessed or written to, you can yank it out no problem.

 

[eplebnista]

Originally posted by: Blain
I yank mine like a bad tooth.

:laugh:

Same here.

 

[MarcVenice]

I even yank my ipod Shaves of valuable seconds when I need to get to class or a meeting

 

[Old Hippie]

Yep.

I guess I'm just not in that big of a hurry.

 

[schneiderguy]

Vista always complains at me that the flash drive might be corrupted or something if I dont do the safely remove thing, so I usually do it. XP never says anything about the drive being corrupted

 

[pukemon]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy
Vista always complains at me that the flash drive might be corrupted or something if I dont do the safely remove thing, so I usually do it. XP never says anything about the drive being corrupted

I get that too, except only for certain flash drives. I also noticed that some flash drives use more power than the front USB ports on desktop PCs provide, but work fine if using the USB ports on the back of the computer.

I usually just pull the flash drives, but select "safely remove" for removable hard drives.