safe removal of USB flash drive

[DaSwede]

Hi helpers.

I use my USB flash drive at different computers. In the beginning I just pulled it out when I had finished and the computers didn't complain. But the first time I used the flash drive at a public computer at the library a window opened up predicting disaster for the world as we know it, all because I hadn't first clicked the icon that tells the computer I wish to remove the flash drive. Questions:

1) What could happen if I just pull the flash drive out? Worst case scenario, please.

2) When I do click the icon first, a window opens up saying it is now safe to remove the unit. Do I click OKAY before or after I remove it?

3) If this safe removal is important, why don't all computers inform you of that, as the library computer did?

Thanks in advance, it may be a couple of days before I get to read all of your replies. I'll thank you then.

[fo3nix]

It's not 100% important as with other types of media, but it is recommended, to prevent data loss.

1) you'll corrupt the data on the flash drive, and it'll no longer work (will need formatting).

2) left-click the icon bottom-right once, and a little menu will appear. Left-click once on the thing you want to dismount, and a bubble will appear telling you it's safe to remove. Remove it. The bubble will disappear itself.

3) You can configure (on a per-computer basis) the flash drive to always be ready to just pull out. Not sure why not all warn you though.

[DaSwede]

Hi fo3nix, thanks! Question 2 again, the OKAY I'm referring to shows up inside the "it is now safe to remove the unit"-bubble, which is why I'm not sure if I'm supposed to click it before or after removal... As in "Okay, good, I'll remove it, then" or as in "Okay, thanks, computer, I have now removed it."

But I suppose I should click it before removal? (As I can't well do it afterwards, if the bubble disappears.)

[ACtheTROLL]

"Okay, good, I'll remove it now

usb is hot swap .... as long as the drive has stopped flashing (read/write) it should be ok

public pcs (often using the "guest" profile" which are set up defensively ... and will winge at everything you do

[webdude]

Never disconnect a memory stick from any PC without using the stop routine. There is no way you can tell if the PC is still writing/reading from the drive as you remove it.

The worst case is you risk permanent damage to the stick. Alternatively you could simply loose the file you had just created, or possibly data already on the stick.

I agree it is rare, but I know of 2 cases at work where the stick was unreadable after removal without 'stopping'

[DaSwede]

So... I'll do as you say, webdude and fo3nix, when possible, but take great comfort in ACtheTROLL's less apocalyptic experience whenever I know it won't possible for me to do the routine...

Thanks guys, appreciate your replies.