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#1
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
I have a few questions about using the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon
please. The background is that I had not been using it. I'm not even sure it was present in my tray for months. But after a recent problem with a memory stick which *might* have been down to this, I'm considering whether I should use it consistently in future if really necessary, to avoid all possible risk of similar trouble. At present, with things working reasonably sweetly, the icon's message has 3 lines: Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(K Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(J Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(E:, F:, G:, H So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Of course, I can establish a 'mapping' right now, using Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Storage Disk Management. That gives the conclusion: E = CF Reader (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) J = 4 GB USB2 memory stick (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) K = Old (USB1) Iomega external HD (part of 4-port USB extension) But I sure wouldn't want to have to go through that chore every time I simply want to pull out a stick or SD card. How do others manage this please? Also, that leaves me puzzled why EFGH are grouped together? I'd have guessed that E, F, G, H referred to my 4-socket extension unit, but plainly that's not so. Anyway, the main issue is whether this Safely Remove procedure is still necessary even though I see my devices are all set up with Properties Policies 'Optimize for quick removal'? I understand that it's the other alternative setting, 'Optimize for performance' that uses the Removal featu "This setting enables write caching in Windows to improve disk performance. To disconnect this device from the computer, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar notification area." So does this mean that with my current setting I can simply plug and unplug without using the icon? If so, why is it present in the tray? Any advice on this rather confusing subject would be appreciated please. Happy to provide any other info, screenshots etc if it helps. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK |
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#2
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
Terry Pinnell wrote:
I have a few questions about using the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon please. The background is that I had not been using it. I'm not even sure it was present in my tray for months. But after a recent problem with a memory stick which *might* have been down to this, I'm considering whether I should use it consistently in future if really necessary, to avoid all possible risk of similar trouble. At present, with things working reasonably sweetly, the icon's message has 3 lines: Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(K Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(J Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(E:, F:, G:, H So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Of course, I can establish a 'mapping' right now, using Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Storage Disk Management. That gives the conclusion: E = CF Reader (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) J = 4 GB USB2 memory stick (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) K = Old (USB1) Iomega external HD (part of 4-port USB extension) But I sure wouldn't want to have to go through that chore every time I simply want to pull out a stick or SD card. How do others manage this please? Also, that leaves me puzzled why EFGH are grouped together? I'd have guessed that E, F, G, H referred to my 4-socket extension unit, but plainly that's not so. Anyway, the main issue is whether this Safely Remove procedure is still necessary even though I see my devices are all set up with Properties Policies 'Optimize for quick removal'? I understand that it's the other alternative setting, 'Optimize for performance' that uses the Removal featu "This setting enables write caching in Windows to improve disk performance. To disconnect this device from the computer, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar notification area." So does this mean that with my current setting I can simply plug and unplug without using the icon? If so, why is it present in the tray? Any advice on this rather confusing subject would be appreciated please. Happy to provide any other info, screenshots etc if it helps. Use a third party product to assign drive letters to the different devices (so they stick or don't show at all unless something is put in them - in the case of the multi-reader. http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html You'd be better off using it - to ensure things are not open and are fully written to the drive/etc. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#3
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
Terry Pinnell wrote:
I have a few questions about using the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon please. The background is that I had not been using it. I'm not even sure it was present in my tray for months. But after a recent problem with a memory stick which *might* have been down to this, I'm considering whether I should use it consistently in future if really necessary, to avoid all possible risk of similar trouble. At present, with things working reasonably sweetly, the icon's message has 3 lines: Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(K Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(J Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(E:, F:, G:, H So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Of course, I can establish a 'mapping' right now, using Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Storage Disk Management. That gives the conclusion: E = CF Reader (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) J = 4 GB USB2 memory stick (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) K = Old (USB1) Iomega external HD (part of 4-port USB extension) But I sure wouldn't want to have to go through that chore every time I simply want to pull out a stick or SD card. How do others manage this please? Also, that leaves me puzzled why EFGH are grouped together? I'd have guessed that E, F, G, H referred to my 4-socket extension unit, but plainly that's not so. Anyway, the main issue is whether this Safely Remove procedure is still necessary even though I see my devices are all set up with Properties Policies 'Optimize for quick removal'? I understand that it's the other alternative setting, 'Optimize for performance' that uses the Removal featu "This setting enables write caching in Windows to improve disk performance. To disconnect this device from the computer, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar notification area." So does this mean that with my current setting I can simply plug and unplug without using the icon? If so, why is it present in the tray? Any advice on this rather confusing subject would be appreciated please. Happy to provide any other info, screenshots etc if it helps. Use a third party product to assign drive letters to the different devices (so they stick or don't show at all unless something is put in them - in the case of the multi-reader. http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html You'd be better off using it - to ensure things are not open and are fully written to the drive/etc. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#4
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
I have a few questions about using the 'Safely
Remove Hardware' icon please. The background is that I had not been using it. I'm not even sure it was present in my tray for months. But after a recent problem with a memory stick which *might* have been down to this, I'm considering whether I should use it consistently in future if really necessary, to avoid all possible risk of similar trouble. At present, with things working reasonably sweetly, the icon's message has 3 lines: Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(K Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(J Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(E:, F:, G:, H So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Of course, I can establish a 'mapping' right now, using Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Storage Disk Management. That gives the conclusion: E = CF Reader (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) J = 4 GB USB2 memory stick (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) K = Old (USB1) Iomega external HD (part of 4-port USB extension) But I sure wouldn't want to have to go through that chore every time I simply want to pull out a stick or SD card. How do others manage this please? Also, that leaves me puzzled why EFGH are grouped together? I'd have guessed that E, F, G, H referred to my 4-socket extension unit, but plainly that's not so. Anyway, the main issue is whether this Safely Remove procedure is still necessary even though I see my devices are all set up with Properties Policies 'Optimize for quick removal'? I understand that it's the other alternative setting, 'Optimize for performance' that uses the Removal featu "This setting enables write caching in Windows to improve disk performance. To disconnect this device from the computer, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar notification area." So does this mean that with my current setting I can simply plug and unplug without using the icon? If so, why is it present in the tray? Any advice on this rather confusing subject would be appreciated please. Happy to provide any other info, screenshots etc if it helps. Well, technically, "optimize for quick removal" says that you shouldn't have to worry about the safely remove hardware icon. That said, I have simply removed my external drives before without any problems. Most of the time though, since I've trained myself to the systray icons, if it's there I'll use it, so ... it gets usedg. Knowing windows and its past history etc., I guess I'd say that if the machine were known to be in good shape, no malware and no problems in the Event Viewer, I would expect no problems just removing the device. I have had the experience of not useing the remove hardware icon and where Explorer, for instance, still thinks it's installed and shows me the last view of its files, as though they were still there; I have to do a Refresh to get it accurate. But if I use the icon, Explorer then knows for sure it's gone and doesn't show me files that are no longer there. Mostly I use the setting for a "just in case" value where I or someone else forgets to use the removal icon. At least I know all the data made it to the drive that way. Or, highly likely at least. In your case you have a lot more than just the external drive goign on though, and apparently the icon is an all or nothing type thing, so it stays all the time anyway. I've never fiddled with my desktop to see how it relates there. I guess it's just a "that's how they coded it" thing, so ... I have to live with it. To me anyway, it's not worth special software to fiddle with it. Just my 2 ¢ Twayne I don't have card readers, etc., so the only thing I see in the safely remove icon are my two external drives if they're both powered up and nothing else. |
#5
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
I have a few questions about using the 'Safely
Remove Hardware' icon please. The background is that I had not been using it. I'm not even sure it was present in my tray for months. But after a recent problem with a memory stick which *might* have been down to this, I'm considering whether I should use it consistently in future if really necessary, to avoid all possible risk of similar trouble. At present, with things working reasonably sweetly, the icon's message has 3 lines: Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(K Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(J Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(E:, F:, G:, H So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Of course, I can establish a 'mapping' right now, using Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Storage Disk Management. That gives the conclusion: E = CF Reader (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) J = 4 GB USB2 memory stick (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) K = Old (USB1) Iomega external HD (part of 4-port USB extension) But I sure wouldn't want to have to go through that chore every time I simply want to pull out a stick or SD card. How do others manage this please? Also, that leaves me puzzled why EFGH are grouped together? I'd have guessed that E, F, G, H referred to my 4-socket extension unit, but plainly that's not so. Anyway, the main issue is whether this Safely Remove procedure is still necessary even though I see my devices are all set up with Properties Policies 'Optimize for quick removal'? I understand that it's the other alternative setting, 'Optimize for performance' that uses the Removal featu "This setting enables write caching in Windows to improve disk performance. To disconnect this device from the computer, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar notification area." So does this mean that with my current setting I can simply plug and unplug without using the icon? If so, why is it present in the tray? Any advice on this rather confusing subject would be appreciated please. Happy to provide any other info, screenshots etc if it helps. Well, technically, "optimize for quick removal" says that you shouldn't have to worry about the safely remove hardware icon. That said, I have simply removed my external drives before without any problems. Most of the time though, since I've trained myself to the systray icons, if it's there I'll use it, so ... it gets usedg. Knowing windows and its past history etc., I guess I'd say that if the machine were known to be in good shape, no malware and no problems in the Event Viewer, I would expect no problems just removing the device. I have had the experience of not useing the remove hardware icon and where Explorer, for instance, still thinks it's installed and shows me the last view of its files, as though they were still there; I have to do a Refresh to get it accurate. But if I use the icon, Explorer then knows for sure it's gone and doesn't show me files that are no longer there. Mostly I use the setting for a "just in case" value where I or someone else forgets to use the removal icon. At least I know all the data made it to the drive that way. Or, highly likely at least. In your case you have a lot more than just the external drive goign on though, and apparently the icon is an all or nothing type thing, so it stays all the time anyway. I've never fiddled with my desktop to see how it relates there. I guess it's just a "that's how they coded it" thing, so ... I have to live with it. To me anyway, it's not worth special software to fiddle with it. Just my 2 ¢ Twayne I don't have card readers, etc., so the only thing I see in the safely remove icon are my two external drives if they're both powered up and nothing else. |
#6
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
Safely Remove Hardware ensures that no data is waiting to be written
from the disk cache. If you remove an external drive before these so-called delayed writes have completed, you risk corrupting the external drive. Windows automatically assigns the next available drive letter to external devices. You cannot reserve a drive letter, at least not reliably. If you find that your drive letters are getting jumbled due to all the external devices you have attached and detached, go to the Disk Management snap-in and straighten them out. --- Leonard Grey Errare humanum est Terry Pinnell wrote: I have a few questions about using the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon please. The background is that I had not been using it. I'm not even sure it was present in my tray for months. But after a recent problem with a memory stick which *might* have been down to this, I'm considering whether I should use it consistently in future if really necessary, to avoid all possible risk of similar trouble. At present, with things working reasonably sweetly, the icon's message has 3 lines: Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(K Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(J Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(E:, F:, G:, H So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Of course, I can establish a 'mapping' right now, using Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Storage Disk Management. That gives the conclusion: E = CF Reader (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) J = 4 GB USB2 memory stick (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) K = Old (USB1) Iomega external HD (part of 4-port USB extension) But I sure wouldn't want to have to go through that chore every time I simply want to pull out a stick or SD card. How do others manage this please? Also, that leaves me puzzled why EFGH are grouped together? I'd have guessed that E, F, G, H referred to my 4-socket extension unit, but plainly that's not so. Anyway, the main issue is whether this Safely Remove procedure is still necessary even though I see my devices are all set up with Properties Policies 'Optimize for quick removal'? I understand that it's the other alternative setting, 'Optimize for performance' that uses the Removal featu "This setting enables write caching in Windows to improve disk performance. To disconnect this device from the computer, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar notification area." So does this mean that with my current setting I can simply plug and unplug without using the icon? If so, why is it present in the tray? Any advice on this rather confusing subject would be appreciated please. Happy to provide any other info, screenshots etc if it helps. |
#7
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
Safely Remove Hardware ensures that no data is waiting to be written
from the disk cache. If you remove an external drive before these so-called delayed writes have completed, you risk corrupting the external drive. Windows automatically assigns the next available drive letter to external devices. You cannot reserve a drive letter, at least not reliably. If you find that your drive letters are getting jumbled due to all the external devices you have attached and detached, go to the Disk Management snap-in and straighten them out. --- Leonard Grey Errare humanum est Terry Pinnell wrote: I have a few questions about using the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon please. The background is that I had not been using it. I'm not even sure it was present in my tray for months. But after a recent problem with a memory stick which *might* have been down to this, I'm considering whether I should use it consistently in future if really necessary, to avoid all possible risk of similar trouble. At present, with things working reasonably sweetly, the icon's message has 3 lines: Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(K Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(J Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(E:, F:, G:, H So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Of course, I can establish a 'mapping' right now, using Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Storage Disk Management. That gives the conclusion: E = CF Reader (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) J = 4 GB USB2 memory stick (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) K = Old (USB1) Iomega external HD (part of 4-port USB extension) But I sure wouldn't want to have to go through that chore every time I simply want to pull out a stick or SD card. How do others manage this please? Also, that leaves me puzzled why EFGH are grouped together? I'd have guessed that E, F, G, H referred to my 4-socket extension unit, but plainly that's not so. Anyway, the main issue is whether this Safely Remove procedure is still necessary even though I see my devices are all set up with Properties Policies 'Optimize for quick removal'? I understand that it's the other alternative setting, 'Optimize for performance' that uses the Removal featu "This setting enables write caching in Windows to improve disk performance. To disconnect this device from the computer, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar notification area." So does this mean that with my current setting I can simply plug and unplug without using the icon? If so, why is it present in the tray? Any advice on this rather confusing subject would be appreciated please. Happy to provide any other info, screenshots etc if it helps. |
#8
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:26:20 +0000, Terry Pinnell wrote in post: So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Here's how to easily identify your thumb drives if you plug and unplug them a lot. Also great when using them on other computers. Using your favorite icon editor, create a different icon for each USB thumb drive (or camera card drive, etc.) you have. Use the default icon size for your system. E.g., I use 32 X 32 pixels. Copy the icon to the thumb drive's root. Now, create an autorun file as below in Notepad. Replace "file1.ico" with the name of the new icon. Type exactly what is below, including the brackets and the word "autorun". [autorun] ICON=file1.ico Name the file "autorun.inf", and put in the thumb drive's root. Unplug the thumb drive, then plug it back in. Open Windows Explorer and you'll see the drive, identifiable by its new icon. :-) Note #1, if you make a desktop shortcut for the drive and unplug it, upon reboot the icon will change to the drive default with a red "X" on it.To prevent this, first copy the new icon to your hard drive, then right-click on the drive and change the icon to point to the new one. Note #2, if you have a lot of thumb drives but don't have an open USB port for each, the drive letters will change when you unplug them and reboot. In this case, don't bother with desktop shortcuts. ;-) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 8.1 iQA/AwUBSXzm86RseRzHUwOaEQLUhQCgrNU//HB1eTReADmgK6ZH/H4ViJEAn0U6 Q8RXFGHHQjBhOzpLe+CbqHOd =qFYH -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- Laura Fredericks PGP key ID - DH/DSS 2048/1024: 0xC753039A Usenet Flamewars: http://www.queenofcyberspace.com/usenet/ Remove CLOTHES to reply. |
#9
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:26:20 +0000, Terry Pinnell wrote in post: So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Here's how to easily identify your thumb drives if you plug and unplug them a lot. Also great when using them on other computers. Using your favorite icon editor, create a different icon for each USB thumb drive (or camera card drive, etc.) you have. Use the default icon size for your system. E.g., I use 32 X 32 pixels. Copy the icon to the thumb drive's root. Now, create an autorun file as below in Notepad. Replace "file1.ico" with the name of the new icon. Type exactly what is below, including the brackets and the word "autorun". [autorun] ICON=file1.ico Name the file "autorun.inf", and put in the thumb drive's root. Unplug the thumb drive, then plug it back in. Open Windows Explorer and you'll see the drive, identifiable by its new icon. :-) Note #1, if you make a desktop shortcut for the drive and unplug it, upon reboot the icon will change to the drive default with a red "X" on it.To prevent this, first copy the new icon to your hard drive, then right-click on the drive and change the icon to point to the new one. Note #2, if you have a lot of thumb drives but don't have an open USB port for each, the drive letters will change when you unplug them and reboot. In this case, don't bother with desktop shortcuts. ;-) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 8.1 iQA/AwUBSXzm86RseRzHUwOaEQLUhQCgrNU//HB1eTReADmgK6ZH/H4ViJEAn0U6 Q8RXFGHHQjBhOzpLe+CbqHOd =qFYH -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- Laura Fredericks PGP key ID - DH/DSS 2048/1024: 0xC753039A Usenet Flamewars: http://www.queenofcyberspace.com/usenet/ Remove CLOTHES to reply. |
#10
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
Laura Fredericks wrote:
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:26:20 +0000, Terry Pinnell wrote in post: So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Here's how to easily identify your thumb drives if you plug and unplug them a lot. Also great when using them on other computers. Using your favorite icon editor, create a different icon for each USB thumb drive (or camera card drive, etc.) you have. Use the default icon size for your system. E.g., I use 32 X 32 pixels. Copy the icon to the thumb drive's root. Now, create an autorun file as below in Notepad. Replace "file1.ico" with the name of the new icon. Type exactly what is below, including the brackets and the word "autorun". [autorun] ICON=file1.ico Name the file "autorun.inf", and put in the thumb drive's root. Unplug the thumb drive, then plug it back in. Open Windows Explorer and you'll see the drive, identifiable by its new icon. :-) Note #1, if you make a desktop shortcut for the drive and unplug it, upon reboot the icon will change to the drive default with a red "X" on it.To prevent this, first copy the new icon to your hard drive, then right-click on the drive and change the icon to point to the new one. Note #2, if you have a lot of thumb drives but don't have an open USB port for each, the drive letters will change when you unplug them and reboot. In this case, don't bother with desktop shortcuts. ;-) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 8.1 iQA/AwUBSXzm86RseRzHUwOaEQLUhQCgrNU//HB1eTReADmgK6ZH/H4ViJEAn0U6 Q8RXFGHHQjBhOzpLe+CbqHOd =qFYH -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Thanks all, appreciate those helpful replies. Some interesting new ideas I'll pursue. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK |
#11
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
Laura Fredericks wrote:
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:26:20 +0000, Terry Pinnell wrote in post: So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Here's how to easily identify your thumb drives if you plug and unplug them a lot. Also great when using them on other computers. Using your favorite icon editor, create a different icon for each USB thumb drive (or camera card drive, etc.) you have. Use the default icon size for your system. E.g., I use 32 X 32 pixels. Copy the icon to the thumb drive's root. Now, create an autorun file as below in Notepad. Replace "file1.ico" with the name of the new icon. Type exactly what is below, including the brackets and the word "autorun". [autorun] ICON=file1.ico Name the file "autorun.inf", and put in the thumb drive's root. Unplug the thumb drive, then plug it back in. Open Windows Explorer and you'll see the drive, identifiable by its new icon. :-) Note #1, if you make a desktop shortcut for the drive and unplug it, upon reboot the icon will change to the drive default with a red "X" on it.To prevent this, first copy the new icon to your hard drive, then right-click on the drive and change the icon to point to the new one. Note #2, if you have a lot of thumb drives but don't have an open USB port for each, the drive letters will change when you unplug them and reboot. In this case, don't bother with desktop shortcuts. ;-) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 8.1 iQA/AwUBSXzm86RseRzHUwOaEQLUhQCgrNU//HB1eTReADmgK6ZH/H4ViJEAn0U6 Q8RXFGHHQjBhOzpLe+CbqHOd =qFYH -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Thanks all, appreciate those helpful replies. Some interesting new ideas I'll pursue. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK |
#12
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Using the Safely Remove Hardware icon?
Leonard Grey;4197086 Wrote: Safely Remove Hardware ensures that no data is waiting to be written from the disk cache. If you remove an external drive before these so-called delayed writes have completed, you risk corrupting the external drive. Windows automatically assigns the next available drive letter to external devices. You cannot reserve a drive letter, at least not reliably. If you find that your drive letters are getting jumbled due to all the external devices you have attached and detached, go to the Disk Management snap-in and straighten them out. --- Leonard Grey Errare humanum est Terry Pinnell wrote: I have a few questions about using the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon please. The background is that I had not been using it. I'm not even sure it was present in my tray for months. But after a recent problem with a memory stick which *might* have been down to this, I'm considering whether I should use it consistently in future if really necessary, to avoid all possible risk of similar trouble. At present, with things working reasonably sweetly, the icon's message has 3 lines: Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(K Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(J Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive(E:, F:, G:, H So the first issue that arises is which device these refer to. It seems that drive letters change and can't be relied upon. Of course, I can establish a 'mapping' right now, using Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Storage Disk Management. That gives the conclusion: E = CF Reader (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) J = 4 GB USB2 memory stick (part of multi-reader unit on front panel) K = Old (USB1) Iomega external HD (part of 4-port USB extension) But I sure wouldn't want to have to go through that chore every time I simply want to pull out a stick or SD card. How do others manage this please? Also, that leaves me puzzled why EFGH are grouped together? I'd have guessed that E, F, G, H referred to my 4-socket extension unit, but plainly that's not so. Anyway, the main issue is whether this Safely Remove procedure is still necessary even though I see my devices are all set up with Properties Policies 'Optimize for quick removal'? I understand that it's the other alternative setting, 'Optimize for performance' that uses the Removal featu "This setting enables write caching in Windows to improve disk performance. To disconnect this device from the computer, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar notification area." So does this mean that with my current setting I can simply plug and unplug without using the icon? If so, why is it present in the tray? Any advice on this rather confusing subject would be appreciated please. Happy to provide any other info, screenshots etc if it helps. You seem to be knowledgeable on the subject, so I thought I would ask you. I accidentally unlplugged my Western Digital Passport but got it right back in... The problem is I have it set on the optimize for speed so I should have used the "Safely Remove Hardware" button before breaking that connection. There was nothing going on, nothing writing to the disk so I should be all right, right? -- e5200 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ e5200's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/139723.htm View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/customize-xp/1108782.htm http://forums.techarena.in |
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