Re: USB MemoryStik "Safely Remove Hardware"

From: Art (noonehere_at_someplace.com)
Date: 01/05/05 

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2005 12:29:56 -0500

"LVTravel" <trash@dd.com> wrote in message
news:10to55a6sctej93@corp.supernews.com...
> The safely remove feature of XP and previous Windows versions is to allow
> you to know that all data has been properly written to the removable
> device.
> (If you are editing a file on the device the file will be "open" in a
> program and by simply removing the card you could corrupt the data. In
> your
> case, the USB card reader may be writing to the device and you would not
> know about it if you simply pulled out the Memory Stick.
>
> To properly use the feature, single left click on the icon. A listing of
> all removable drives and most USB devices will appear. Single left click
> on
> the drive you want to remove. If it says it is safe to remove the device
> you can unplug it. If there is a file open it will tell you that it can't
> close the device. Don't remove the MS at this time. Close the program
> that
> is using the device. Windows Explorer is a common program that will keep
> the drive from being closed.
>
> Hope this helps.

Access Device Manager (Start > Control Panel > System > Device Manager)
In the "Disk drives" section of Device Manager, right-click on the USB
device in question , and select Properties. On the Properties *** that
opens, click on the Policies tab. You'll see two options, one of which is
"Optimize for quick removal". Select that option if it's not already
selected. Click OK.

Note the "Optimize for quick removal" option indicates "... you can
disconnect this device without using the Safe Removal icon".

I have heard (but have not confirmed this) that some USB devices will
instruct the user to *always* use the Safely Remove Hardware icon before
disconnecting the device. I've disconnected various USB devices hundreds of
times without using the SRH icon (after ensuring that the option mentioned
above has been selected) and have never encountered a single problem
involving loss of data or any other problem affecting the device or the OS.
Art
Art