pull out my flash drive or eject it?

[patrick]

So I've heard that just pulling my flash drive out of the port can damage it and that I should eject it.

Now before I heard that I used to just yank it, and it always worked...

Has anyone actually ever had a problem or is this just another old wives tale?

 

[bwana]

So I've heard that just pulling my flash drive out of the port can damage it and that I should eject it.

Now before I heard that I used to just yank it, and it always worked...

Has anyone actually ever had a problem or is this just another old wives tale?

I know OsX gives me a stern warning everytime I do it - which is fairly frequently

 

[stix]

If its USB - its plug and play......and i haven't had an issues !

 

[Gunny]

On Win98 there was no eject option you just yank it on Win2K if you didnt eject it sometimes didnt save the last file you sent to the flash drive on XP I just yank it and havent had a problem ever all my USB ports and my clients USB ports are working properly and my 3 year old flashdrive still works. I use it about 4 times a day.

 

[hj2k_x]

I have never had a problem with it on XP either. Just like when an iPOD constantly says 'do not disconnect' and you still do, nothing happens.

 

[JStrike]

It is always better to eject it. The filesystem needs to be unmounted first. Most of the time just yanking it wont do any harm, but it will occasionally

 

[doobiwan]

In my experience, you won't do physical damage, but I have lost data, and pitched up at a meeting with no data where my presentation should be

 

[bdt]

Aye to doobiwan: in the main you're likely to be quite fine ..but I too have lost data by not doing the eject process first. Only thing is, much as I REALLY am inclined to do the eject (on account of having been burnt now and then) my verk4kte machine keeps refusing to show me the (green) 'there's a USB device in here' arrow in the system tray ..anyone got any input on how to get it and KEEP it in the system tray("notification area" according to 'doze)?? (and this is true whether I've switched on "hide inactive icons" or not)

 

[LandyMan]

I concur with Gunny, I have had problems that the files seem to be missing when you just pull it out

 

[eye_suc]

hehehe, 4 year old USB stick is fine after COUNTLESS yank and run incidents. i too have lost files which caused some confusion, but nothing that a recopy couldnt fix (along with some stair climbing). also, the only time i have lost files was while using win2k. as far as i can remember at least

 

[Grim|Reaper]

I learnt the hard way to always eject the device...

But you can do this to avoid any problems, if you double click the "green arrow" tray icon, and click on the checkbox "device components". Expand the list, double click on the second level leaf, this should bring up a box. On one of the tabs, u should be able to select which option you would prefer. I dont have any usb atm, so i cant remember the exact location/wording.

Not sure if this options exists for all usb devices, but indeed worked for my flash and usb hdd.

 

[Claymore]

I've lost data only once, because I pulled the USB stick out within a few seconds of copying to it. Never lost any other data before.

 

[Moederloos]

AFAIK there is some sort of option for write delay. If this is on, you can lose data. It should be OFF by default though.

 

[zoopedup.com]

I yank it out as I please aswell

However, my partner lost his Sony stick by doing that - completely corrupted

 

[Juggy]

If it was Windoze you could just whip-it-out

 

[Nokkie]

never had a problem but when dling importan files on it i eject it from safely remove hardware... always

 

[krycor]

Only when it was busy writing or had a open file handle it corrupts but not entire or physical damage. I did notice once it caused random chk disk files that take up space when pulling it out but you can delete it and regain space.

 

[nocilah]

However, my partner lost his Sony stick by doing that - completely corrupted

Thats purely because of the fact that it was a Sony. No other reason.

 

[nocilah]

I have a 3 year old memory stick... its been through the washing twice, I have never EVER lost data. and I always yank it in and out (hrm that sounds bad).

Seriously though, I am almost convinced this is some weird urban legend.

 

[Roy Munson]

Never prematurely eject your stiffy! Oh wait Wrong thread!