Safe to uninstall hardware

[Bill Ridgeway]

I have been getting instances of the computer re-booting when disconnecting
a USB device and have been told that I should use the "Safe to uninstall
hardware" (I think that's the right phrase) before disconnecting.

Some sources describe USB devices as "hot swappable". This suggests that I
should be able to connect and disconnect USB devices when required without a
problem (as long as they are not being written to at the time).

This all seems to be contradictory. If they are hot swappable why is there
a need to use "safe to uninstall hardware"? If using it prevents some kind
of surge why is there not a "Safe to install hardware? This is compounded
by the fact that the "Safe to uninstall hardware" icon isn't always
available on my computer.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[Paul]

I have been getting instances of the computer re-booting when disconnecting
a USB device and have been told that I should use the "Safe to uninstall
hardware" (I think that's the right phrase) before disconnecting.

Some sources describe USB devices as "hot swappable". This suggests that I
should be able to connect and disconnect USB devices when required without a
problem (as long as they are not being written to at the time).

This all seems to be contradictory. If they are hot swappable why is there
a need to use "safe to uninstall hardware"? If using it prevents some kind
of surge why is there not a "Safe to install hardware? This is compounded
by the fact that the "Safe to uninstall hardware" icon isn't always
available on my computer.

Bill Ridgeway

Uwe Sieber has some comments on USB devices and caching.

http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbstick_e.html

Paul

 

[Lil' Dave]

Believe the phrase is "safely remove hardware". Which implies a removable
device (USB for instance). And, remove physically (from) the PC, not
uninstall as in a device driver.

Paul gave a good link as to why, caching.

--
Dave
April 16th, 2009 Day 1 post Tea Party.
This day in history occurred:
Nancy Pelosi response was undignified per her allegation that such are
funded by right wing money big money and attended exclusively by right wing
extremists.
White House staff indicated that officially not recognizing the nation-wide
gatherings in any fashion.
Some news reporters were found attempting to goad responses from attendees
at the gatherings with response not filling their (some news reporters) TV
political needs. Too bad for them.
Woebama in Mexico. 2nd amendment rights being pinged again. Ignoring
locking down the U.S/Mexico border again.
We the people...
No political party or otherwise in that.
Locked signature to prevent subsequent historical revisionism.

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

I have been getting instances of my computer re-booting when removing a USB
device and have been told that I should use the "Safe to remove hardware"
before removing.

Some sources describe USB devices as "hot swappable". This suggests that I
should be able to connect and remove USB devices when required without a
problem (as long as they are not being written to at the time).

This all seems to be contradictory. If they are hot swappable why is there
a need to use "safe to remove hardware"? If using it prevents some kind of
surge why is there not a "Safe to connect hardware? This is compounded by
the fact that the "Safe to remove hardware" icon isn't always available on
my computer.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[DL]

Why repeat your original post?
I don't recall seeing anything describing USB devices as Hot Swappable, but
certain sata devices are refered to in that term

 

[Pavel A.]

I have been getting instances of my computer re-booting when removing a
USB device and have been told that I should use the "Safe to remove
hardware" before removing.

Some sources describe USB devices as "hot swappable". This suggests that
I should be able to connect and remove USB devices when required without a
problem (as long as they are not being written to at the time).

This all seems to be contradictory. If they are hot swappable why is
there a need to use "safe to remove hardware"? If using it prevents some
kind of surge why is there not a "Safe to connect hardware? This is
compounded by the fact that the "Safe to remove hardware" icon isn't
always available on my computer.

USB devices *are* hot swappable in the sense that they can be attached or
removed
at any time and this won't cause electrical damage to the device or host.
Necessity of "Safe to remove" depends on the type of the USB device.
Unexpected removal of a storage disk can cause loss of data, so
in this case "Safe to remove" is a good idea.
Devices like mice, audio adapters, cameras can probably go away without
warning and this won't cause problems.
Of course this assumes that devices are in good electrical condition
and their drivers are good and well tested.

About "Safe to connect": usually not needed, because industry standard
USB hubs know their max. power capability and will prevent surges.
This is not always the case with cheap noname hubs, so
it is a good idea to avoid connecting or removing devices
when you can lose data.

Regards,
--pa