USB Flash Memory - Safely Removing From A Windows Based ME/2000/XP Computer

i know its just to be safe, but why is this nessary? ive never done it before besides running through the steps to do it. im not computer illiterate, i know errors can happen due to applications running or things running in the background, but just for normal day to day unpluging why is this nessary?

thank you

Hey. I would like to know this too!

Hello mcwhite and ben,
Like most everyone I always just yanked the usb stick out. It seems by following the above procedure it does two things. Turns off the juice to the stick and MAY, just MAY prevent file corruption on the stick. Your mileage may vary.

I know take the time to to it properly. However, this is more of a safety precaution than being cast in stone.

All the best and thanks for the comments, Ron

I have LOST data by simply unplugging the USB drive. Windows sometimes soes a delay write to the USB drive. By stopping the drive properly it writes any data to the drive that may be in the delayed write cache.

Hi Philip T,
Thanks for the info.
Ron

is it safe to leave a usb in your computer?

Hi Adam,
On my Vista box I’m using a USB drive for Ram Boost and leave it in all of the time. So far no problems.

Ron

I tried to install the sp3 update from Microsoft’s site and my computer would boot to a blue screen. I had to have a tech from Friendly Computers come to my house to fix my computer. It took him about 45 minutes, and their rates were really reasonable. I am not sure what the problem was, but if you are having any problems, I recommend their services. Their site is http://www.friendlycomputers.com and you can find the closest location on their site.

Thanks Melissa

If one is running ‘Buzzsaw’ defrag service you must first stop that service to safely remove a thumb drive. Otherwise the user will most likely get a message to try again at a later time.

I am using windows vista home premium and the USB monitor icon does not show at all on my task bar. How can I safely remove my usb flash memory? or is it not needed in Viista?

Thank you

Hi Doha,
Check this article. You should have a USB icon with a green check mark next to it.
http://www.yoingco.com/safely_remove_hardware_vista.htm

Thanks Ron for the reply,

But still I do not have it, I tried to figure out how to make it show but it does not… Can you tell me how to make it show?

Thanks

Hello Doha,
Try this - which I found on the Elder Geek forum:
‘Did you make any hardware or software changes before this problem occurred?
If no changes were made and this just “happened”…you could try running a System Restore, to a time or day before the problem.

Did you inadvertently disable the Plug and Play service? Look in Administrative Tools, Services…scroll down to Plug and Play and see if this service is set to “Automatic”…if not this could be the problem with the Safely Remove Hardware icon….

Something else you could try is, to go into Control Panel and click the Add Hardware icon and have Windows check for new hardware…even if there isn’t anything new…it may reset some internal software value that got mysteriously hosed up…it happens’

If this still doesn’t work, let me know. Some software installs, i.e. Nokia software, may disable the USB icon.

Hey guys,

I know this is somewhat of an old topic but I thought I’d contribute.

To Doha:
There should be an icon in your taskbar, but if you don’t it shouldn’t be a problem. I always do it this way, anyway. On Vista, go to Start -> Computer and then look for your device on the left pane. Right-click on it and then choose Safely Remove. A few seconds later and your device should disappear from the list and a bubble should appear on your taskbar telling you it’s OK to disconnect.

I prefer doing it this way because I tend to have multiple devices connected via USB, so it’s easier to tell which one I’m safely removing.

Thanks Lester for the advice.

with some memory sticks, sometimes there is a message like “the device cannot be stopped right now, Try stopping the device again later”. This usually means an application like PowerPoint was used to open a document. Even though you closed the document, the PC ‘thinks’ it still needs access. If you shut the application and try again, you should be able to get the usual “its ok to remove it” message

Thanks Rob.