Ejecting External USB

[#1]

Before disconnecting (I sometimes need the extra usb port so I can use the printer) - my computer requires me to click on the external hard drive icon so that it's OK  to "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" before unplugging it.

Is this really necessary, and why am I being asked to do it?

[#2]

Because USB is slow & not all data might have been flushed from the device cache.

[#3]

As VR says it's about the cache which is enabled for performance - there used to be an option in windows to disable using the cache so you can pull it out without dismounting it.

[#4 · Accepted solution]

this is purely anecdotal, but i've never used that option and always just pulled it without "safely" doing so.
never had any issues, but as i said, purely anecdotal.

[#5]

Interesting, and although I can appreciate that data can be/is being transferred, I was concerned about power interrupt/spike issues so that make me feel a bit better. 

[#6]

Why not simply shut down your PC by pulling the mains plug out?

[#7]

Because I want to use the computer for other things?

As said I needed to use that USB port for my printer. I have one of these 1/4 USB adaptors but they do not seem to work that well - if at all.  

[#8]

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@chenks76 wrote:
this is purely anecdotal, but i've never used that option and always just pulled it without "safely" doing so.
never had any issues, but as i said, purely anecdotal.

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You shouldn't really encourage that though chenks because while some usb devices have caching turned off, not all do and this would cause problems for anyone who decides to follow your way of doing things.

[#9]

i'm not encouraging anything.
i said it was purlely anecdotal.

[#10]

Like @chenks76  I rarely use the option to " remove safely "... !... never caused me any issues....  even when using another HDD on a usb Caddy... so long as you don`t pull it out while actually transferring files,... there doesn`t seem to be any problems..

But.. like @chenks76  thats purely anecdotal....  !

As for theose multi port jobs.... some are better than others...  one that I use needs the hardware to be plugged into it first...then the USB hub to be plugged into the laptop before it registers the item....   another one I use... the printer is permanently plugged into it, and it has 4 items of hardware permanently plugged in.. no problems.. 

[#11]

Sadly the MSE techie forum is regularly faced with the question "I connected my USB external drive in and it no longer registers with the computer"

Longstanding posters on that forum know exactly what has happened, and round the hamsterwheel we go.

After possibly years of just yanking the USB plug out and getting away with it - so far, father time has caught up with them and on this occasion something has been scrambled. They are now kebbabed.

They may be lucky in that by yanking it out all they have done is destroy the usb plug cabling connection.

Inevitably the thread then deteriorates in the usual fashion (you have got other backup's? is the first question asked - and no they never have).  The reality is that the data on it is probably unrecoverable unless you employ a data recovery specialist.

At this point the OP tends to vanish and the thread peters out.

I guess in the end it all depends on how you value the data on the USB storage and your attitude to risk.

If it is terrabyte vital backup store then I reckon you might be wise to safely remove each time - as I do and I've never had one fail on me - mind you I don't drop them on the floor either!

If it is a USB stick use to transfer/hold data on a temp basis then you are less likely to care if it fails.