How to safely remove memory stick (USB devices)?

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How can I configure WinXP SP2 so that I can safely
remove a memory stick after writing to it?

I know about the Safely Remove Hardware feature
on the tool bar.

But I thought there is a way to configure the system
so that writes to removable media are not buffered
in memory. Thus, you do not need to rely on SRH.

What is that feature, and how do I locate it?
 
Hi,

No way that I know of. It would require that the process be given ultimate
priority over all other functions, including base OS functions, something
that just isn't going to happen. Plus, by design, you aren't going to be
able to bypass the use of a buffer to store keystrokes.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
How can I configure WinXP SP2 so that I can safely
remove a memory stick after writing to it?

I know about the Safely Remove Hardware feature
on the tool bar.

But I thought there is a way to configure the system
so that writes to removable media are not buffered
in memory. Thus, you do not need to rely on SRH.

What is that feature, and how do I locate it?
Click to expand...

Right click the drive/memory stick when it's showing in Windows Explorer or
My Computer and select Properties. There is an option there for "quick
removal." Personally, I'm not comfortable with that option and don't use
it.
 
Fri, 18 Nov 2005 09:07:51 -0600 from Sharon F
Right click the drive/memory stick when it's showing in Windows Explorer or
My Computer and select Properties. There is an option there for "quick
removal." Personally, I'm not comfortable with that option and don't use
it.
Click to expand...

To clarify a little bit:

Right-click the drive and select Properties.

Then select the Hardware tab in the Properties dialog, left-click on
the drive in the "All disk drives" window, and click the Properties
button in the dialog box.

You might check the documentation that came with the stick. Mine says
it's safe to remove, without going through any Windows procedure, as
long as the light is burning steady and not flashing.
 
Which is the same thing I do once I am sure any read/writes are complete.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Rick "Nutcase" Rogers said:
Which is the same thing I do once I am sure any read/writes are complete.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Click to expand...

You can also right click on the device in Windows Explorer and left click on
Eject.
 
Sat, 19 Nov 2005 11:24:09 -0000 from Keith Willcocks
You can also right click on the device in Windows Explorer and left click on
Eject.
Click to expand...

I tried that with my 1GB Sandisk Mini and got an error message. I
can't remember the message off hand, but it wasn't some variation on
"wait a few seconds and try again". I don't have the Sandisk handy to
try it just now for the exact message.
 
Actually, this is not a reply. Am just curious as to the reason/logic behind
the
'safe removal' feature. I can speculate on the possible reasons for maybe
other
types of USB peripherals and maybe as a reminder in case one cuts the
connection before a transaction has completed but (tho' duly noted, am no
expert on this) can't really see the harm in NOT following the precaution.

Could it be just a copy cat of the proverbial "are you sure you really want
to delete this file?" (which, tho' anoying, does have some transparent logic
to it at least). Fact is, have force-removed my flash stick many a time
without any adverse repercussions - so far, anyway.

In any case, why go thru all the bother? Offhand (to the un-enlightened,
like yours truly), it seems just another drag on efficiency.

Why not simply automate it, say, by keeping a small reminder message on
screen (or a flashing icon on taskbar, etc.) during any
transaction-in-progress, that either
stops flashing, or, that says something like " it's safe to remove your USB
device when this message exits ". Or am I missing something more profound
here?

Reason I mention this at all is that my friend's old Fujitsu Lifebook (Win
XP/SP2) has such poor performance (< 128K mem and Transmeta Crusoe 5-700 MHz
processor and maybe slow hard drive) [not a startups or services problem or
any bugs], that it normally can take anywhere from about 10 to 60 seconds
before there's any reaction to a right mouse click, even, just to get the
menu up on screen (and this is just the beginning of the agony).

If one is stuck with this kind of performance, then anything and everything
that can help to speed things up and reduce the frustration is well worth
looking into.

In meanwhile, I'll just continue taking my chances, unless someone can
clarify the issue for the con. Be my fault if she goes kaput - which is why
keep it fairly well backed up. Just hope we're not talking destruction of FD
memory and access though.

Hope somebody can clear this up.

Thanx,
 
Stan Brown said:
Sat, 19 Nov 2005 11:24:09 -0000 from Keith Willcocks


I tried that with my 1GB Sandisk Mini and got an error message. I
can't remember the message off hand, but it wasn't some variation on
"wait a few seconds and try again". I don't have the Sandisk handy to
try it just now for the exact message.
Click to expand...

It works fine for my Disgo Lite 256MB.
 
Could I get a clarification on this.

I have a card reader. I just put it in the port and then put my memory
stick pro into the slot. I never use the safely remove thing. Is that
wrong? I never get any errors and it works fine...

Please advise.

Thanks.

Helen

tedoniman said:
Actually, this is not a reply. Am just curious as to the reason/logic
behind
the
'safe removal' feature. I can speculate on the possible reasons for maybe
other
types of USB peripherals and maybe as a reminder in case one cuts the
connection before a transaction has completed but (tho' duly noted, am no
expert on this) can't really see the harm in NOT following the precaution.

Could it be just a copy cat of the proverbial "are you sure you really
want
to delete this file?" (which, tho' anoying, does have some transparent
logic
to it at least). Fact is, have force-removed my flash stick many a time
without any adverse repercussions - so far, anyway.

In any case, why go thru all the bother? Offhand (to the un-enlightened,
like yours truly), it seems just another drag on efficiency.

Why not simply automate it, say, by keeping a small reminder message on
screen (or a flashing icon on taskbar, etc.) during any
transaction-in-progress, that either
stops flashing, or, that says something like " it's safe to remove your
USB
device when this message exits ". Or am I missing something more profound
here?

Reason I mention this at all is that my friend's old Fujitsu Lifebook
(Win
XP/SP2) has such poor performance (< 128K mem and Transmeta Crusoe 5-700
MHz
processor and maybe slow hard drive) [not a startups or services problem
or
any bugs], that it normally can take anywhere from about 10 to 60 seconds
before there's any reaction to a right mouse click, even, just to get the
menu up on screen (and this is just the beginning of the agony).

If one is stuck with this kind of performance, then anything and
everything
that can help to speed things up and reduce the frustration is well worth
looking into.

In meanwhile, I'll just continue taking my chances, unless someone can
clarify the issue for the con. Be my fault if she goes kaput - which is
why
keep it fairly well backed up. Just hope we're not talking destruction of
FD
memory and access though.

Hope somebody can clear this up.

Thanx,

--
Ted...


Rick "Nutcase" Rogers said:
Which is the same thing I do once I am sure any read/writes are complete.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

The feature is there to ensure that any read/writes have been fully
completed. If the device is removed prior to this (and you can't always see
what is transpiring), then there could be corruption of the data on the USB
stick and the USB drivers - and the latter is a real PITA to fix once it has
happened.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

tedoniman said:
Actually, this is not a reply. Am just curious as to the reason/logic
behind
the
'safe removal' feature. I can speculate on the possible reasons for maybe
other
types of USB peripherals and maybe as a reminder in case one cuts the
connection before a transaction has completed but (tho' duly noted, am no
expert on this) can't really see the harm in NOT following the precaution.

Could it be just a copy cat of the proverbial "are you sure you really
want
to delete this file?" (which, tho' anoying, does have some transparent
logic
to it at least). Fact is, have force-removed my flash stick many a time
without any adverse repercussions - so far, anyway.

In any case, why go thru all the bother? Offhand (to the un-enlightened,
like yours truly), it seems just another drag on efficiency.

Why not simply automate it, say, by keeping a small reminder message on
screen (or a flashing icon on taskbar, etc.) during any
transaction-in-progress, that either
stops flashing, or, that says something like " it's safe to remove your
USB
device when this message exits ". Or am I missing something more profound
here?

Reason I mention this at all is that my friend's old Fujitsu Lifebook
(Win
XP/SP2) has such poor performance (< 128K mem and Transmeta Crusoe 5-700
MHz
processor and maybe slow hard drive) [not a startups or services problem
or
any bugs], that it normally can take anywhere from about 10 to 60 seconds
before there's any reaction to a right mouse click, even, just to get the
menu up on screen (and this is just the beginning of the agony).

If one is stuck with this kind of performance, then anything and
everything
that can help to speed things up and reduce the frustration is well worth
looking into.

In meanwhile, I'll just continue taking my chances, unless someone can
clarify the issue for the con. Be my fault if she goes kaput - which is
why
keep it fairly well backed up. Just hope we're not talking destruction of
FD
memory and access though.

Hope somebody can clear this up.

Thanx,

--
Ted...


Rick "Nutcase" Rogers said:
Which is the same thing I do once I am sure any read/writes are complete.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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