Korean Job Discussion Forums

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I have a 512meg Flash Memory device, which is great, but I HATE HATE HATE having to go through the time-wasting select this, cancel that process of removing it safely from my machine. I just yank it out of the machine at school.

It has never seemed to hurt anything, but it made the computer guy flip out when he saw me do it once.

What do you guys do?

redbird · Joined: 07 Mar 2005

I always go thru the "Safely Remove Harware" routine. It takes all of 20 seconds.

One time, I let my intern use my thumbnail drive and I watched him just yank it out like you're describing. Now there are these two little files that I haven't been able to completely trash no matter what I do and they're files that he was moving.

I really doubt that your yanking will hurt the computer, but it could damage the files you're moving or possibly your little drive. (It may depend on the drive.)

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

20 seconds is a long time!

Pain in the butt!

I use my key several times per day... maybe pulling it out 5 to 10 times per day as I move from my lab to my desk, etc.

I don't dare leave it in the machine either, as things left out are often stolen here.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

I just pull it out. Goes the same for my camera, MP3, flash card reader, video cam...everything USB. Plug it in, pull it out. No worries.

Derrek...you are running WinXP, all SPed, yes?

Seems strange that you have to go through those steps everytime. It would drive me nuts too.

Anything to do with the auto-detect new hardware function?

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

My windows XP is SP2, my own legal copy, and all updated, etc.

I can pull it out, and I do, but apparently this is some kind of "no-no?"

XP was created before the memory keys became a popular thing, so I'm sure the next thing will be set up to handle it easier.

I used to have a compact Flash card that needed to be shut down before removal when I had 98SE. I got a new one that is like 9 in 1 or something, and it doesn't matter if I pull stuff out or push in. Must be software related.

It all works fine... I'm just wondering what could go wrong. I could understand what might happen if I was writing to it or from it while pulling it out. Otherwise, I've never had a problem just yanking the thing out.

hypnotist · Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Location: I wish I were a sock

Windows caches data being written to cards. Usually it does flush its cache immediately, but sometimes, for various reasons, it doesn't. Pulling them out with an unflushed cache can lead to lost data, corrupted files or even (in the worst case) a corrupt filesystem.

99% of the time I'm sure it'll be fine, but that 1% is a PITA.

gaelforce · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Location: Bucheon

It shouldn't be a problem unless your system is writing something to the disk.
A lot of flash memory sticks have a little ativity LED on them. If this isn't flashing, the stick is currently inactive and you can remove it.
I always do it this way and have never had any bother.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

I have never had a problem with this. Thousands of plugs and pulls. Never. Fretting over nothing.

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

Yanking only become a major issue when a usb device isn't plug-n-play compliant and if you have not instructed your computer to safely remove devices for you instead of requiring a manual shutdown of the device. Most newer devices should allow you to yank it without any complications.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Some problems I've had doing this:

You might not be able to plug in another usb device until you reboot. You might not be able to even replug in your original usb device until you reboot.

You might not be able to shut down. I've had XP freeze up during shut down.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Then I suggest looking into your settings a little more carefully. There is no way that should happen. Most USB devices have either a GIU interface (software) or at least open in explorer. When the window is closed or the software program closed, that should be enough to just pull it out.

agraham · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Location: Daegu, Korea

My advice is this:
As long as you have copies of all the important files on the key - yank it out. If there's something on there you can't affort to lose, wait the twenty seconds. Your not going to hurt your computer or your key pulling it. Absolute worst case scenario, you corrupt the key and have to format it. No big deal, it only takes ten seconds to do.