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Topic: Disconnecting USB Devises |
Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 26 Jan 2011 7:09 am |
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| I know we have to go through the "Safely Remove Hardware" routine before disconnecting and this is probably a stupid question,,,but,,,I suppose it is OK to disconnect a USB hard drive anytime when the computer is powered down? |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 26 Jan 2011 7:22 am
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Sonny,
If it's "hot swappable" yes, you can plug/unplug at anytime,that wording will be on the package it came in. I would think the "Safely Remove Hardware" mode would be the same as when you shut the computer down.
Bill
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Posted 26 Jan 2011 7:57 am Re: Disconnecting USB Devises
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| Sonny Jenkins wrote: |
| I know we have to go through the "Safely Remove Hardware" routine before disconnecting and this is probably a stupid question,,,but,,,I suppose it is OK to disconnect a USB hard drive anytime when the computer is powered down? |
Yes, once the PC is off, it is safe to unplug anything connected to the case.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
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jolynyk
From:
Prince Albert Sask. Canada
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Posted 26 Jan 2011 2:06 pm
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| So if I have an External hard drive connected by USB, I should not unplug it when the computer is turned on??? |
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Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Posted 26 Jan 2011 3:16 pm
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| jolynyk wrote: |
| So if I have an External hard drive connected by USB, I should not unplug it when the computer is turned on??? |
That is correct. If you unplug an external hard drive while it is connected to the active computer and assigned a drive letter by the OS, you may damage it, or be locked out of accessing it.
This situation is OS agnostic. Whether you run Windows, Mac, or Linux, make sure you Stop, or Un-mount your active USB devices before unplugging them.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 26 Jan 2011 5:39 pm
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While I have never tried to remove my external hard drive from a USB connection to a computer, I have (many times) removed SD cards and thumb drives without using the remove USB drives option. I have never had any problems. But, I have heeded the many recommendations to use the "safely remove hardware" option, just in case. Better to be safe than sorry.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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jolynyk
From:
Prince Albert Sask. Canada
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Posted 27 Jan 2011 4:42 am
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| Wiz Feinberg wrote: |
| jolynyk wrote: |
| So if I have an External hard drive connected by USB, I should not unplug it when the computer is turned on??? |
That is correct. If you unplug an external hard drive while it is connected to the active computer and assigned a drive letter by the OS, you may damage it, or be locked out of accessing it.
This situation is OS agnostic. Whether you run Windows, Mac, or Linux, make sure you Stop, or Un-mount your active USB devices before unplugging them. |
When you say damaged, can an external drive be repaired or recovered by reformatting & putting data on it again?? does this refer to just plugging a USB in while the computer is on.. I personally am guilty of just pulling a usb device out of the USB hub without ejecting it..How can I get to re-access it if I get locked out, what symptoms??? |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 27 Jan 2011 7:15 am
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| Thanks guys for answering my original question,,,now,,,what if my laptop battery runs down while USB device is plugged in? Computer shuts down automatically,,,can I safely remove? Is the computer using more battery with the USB powering an external hard drive? |
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Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2011 8:04 am
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| jolynyk wrote: |
| Wiz Feinberg wrote: |
| jolynyk wrote: |
| So if I have an External hard drive connected by USB, I should not unplug it when the computer is turned on??? |
That is correct. If you unplug an external hard drive while it is connected to the active computer and assigned a drive letter by the OS, you may damage it, or be locked out of accessing it.
This situation is OS agnostic. Whether you run Windows, Mac, or Linux, make sure you Stop, or Un-mount your active USB devices before unplugging them. |
When you say damaged, can an external drive be repaired or recovered by reformatting & putting data on it again?? does this refer to just plugging a USB in while the computer is on.. I personally am guilty of just pulling a usb device out of the USB hub without ejecting it..How can I get to re-access it if I get locked out, what symptoms??? |
There are various consequences for pulling out or powering off a memory capable device, while the OS that recognizes it is up and running. In some cases, nothing noticeable happens, which only means that you got lucky. In other cases, the power surge from disconnecting it can burn out critical circuitry.
When the operating system is running and you plug in a USB drive, the OS immediately begins to access it; sort of like "hi, how are ya, whatcha doing today." A two way communication is established and is usually maintained throughout the rest of that powered on session. If you open a window for that drive, or any files on it, you are "accessing" it. This is where simply unplugging it can scramble bits and bytes.
While a USB drive is open, the operating system will occasionally "write" data to it. Disconnecting it during a write moment may cause file table errors on that disk. Further, when the OS is "writing" to the disk, it is considered 'locked" and "in use." If you unplug it while the OS is "using" it, that drive may not be recognized the next time it is plugged in.
When a USB cannot be accessed, because the previous OS was accessing it, running Chkdsk may fix the messed up file table and index on it. Formatting it should fix the problem of it not being readable; but all data on it will be lost.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
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