|  | USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | | |
| | | JohnB |  |
|  Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility |  |
| |  | |
The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System Tray.... does
anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that made me
wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I was at someone's
laptop and I had plugged in and later removed my USB pen drive. He
commented that I should be using the SRH utility "because he had burned up a
USB pen drive by *not* using it". I have several of those drives and have
never had an issue... and like I said, I've never used that utility to
disconnect a USB device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive - and did not
use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different Maxtor OneTouch drive into
the same machine, Windows didn't recognize it. I tried several different
USB ports... same thing. So I used the SRH utility to *Stop* the USB mass
storage device in there. Then I plugged the drive in, and Windows
recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if you use it.
I've always been under the impression USB devices were hot-swappable and
didn't require any user-intervention, such as using that utility
TIA |
| |
| | | Big_Al | |
| | Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | |
| | | |
JohnB wrote:
| Quote: | The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System Tray....
does anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that made me
wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I was at someone's
laptop and I had plugged in and later removed my USB pen drive. He
commented that I should be using the SRH utility "because he had burned
up a USB pen drive by *not* using it". I have several of those drives
and have never had an issue... and like I said, I've never used that
utility to disconnect a USB device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive - and did
not use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different Maxtor OneTouch
drive into the same machine, Windows didn't recognize it. I tried
several different USB ports... same thing. So I used the SRH utility to
*Stop* the USB mass storage device in there. Then I plugged the drive
in, and Windows recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if you use
it. I've always been under the impression USB devices were hot-swappable
and didn't require any user-intervention, such as using that utility
TIA
|
I used to never use it, for like 2 years. I have a built in SD card
reader in my laptop. It works fine to just pull the chip out and put it
back in. No issue, and months go by and it works. But when I loaded
SP3, it seems now that my system demands that I use it. If I pull the
thumb drive or SD chip out now without the SRH, it will not detect again
till I reboot.
PS. I even used the free chat help with Microsoft since it was a SP3
change (in my eyes), and they connected to my pc and played around and
came up with the comment that SRH was needed to make it work.
So I guess I vote that SRH is needed. |
| |
| | | John Wunderlich | |
| | Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | |
| | | |
"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:OUoVti4DJHA.2484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
| Quote: | The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System
Tray.... does anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that
made me wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I was
at someone's laptop and I had plugged in and later removed my USB
pen drive. He commented that I should be using the SRH utility
"because he had burned up a USB pen drive by *not* using it". I
have several of those drives and have never had an issue... and
like I said, I've never used that utility to disconnect a USB
device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive -
and did not use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different
Maxtor OneTouch drive into the same machine, Windows didn't
recognize it. I tried several different USB ports... same thing.
So I used the SRH utility to *Stop* the USB mass storage device in
there. Then I plugged the drive in, and Windows recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if
you use it. I've always been under the impression USB devices were
hot-swappable and didn't require any user-intervention, such as
using that utility
TIA
|
With your USB drive inserted, double-click "My Computer" then right-
click on the USB Drive -> Properties -> "Hardware" Tab -> [Select USB
Drive] -> Properties -> "Policies" Tab.
If your drive is configured for "Optimize for Quick Removal", then it
seems that the SRH is not technically needed (although I wouldn't pull
it out while a write were in progress).
If it is set for "Optimize for Performance", then you should probably
use the SRH tool.
-- John |
| |
| | | Unknown | |
| | Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | |
| | | |
I use it all the time. It's primary purpose is to 'park' the heads on an
external drive. Since the drive is external it can be knocked over or
otherwise shocked which could damage the heads. If moving the external drive
from one computer to another you want to insure the heads are parked. I do a
backup followed by a safely remove hardware, then power off my harddrive.
"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OUoVti4DJHA.2484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
| Quote: | The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System Tray.... does
anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that made me
wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I was at someone's
laptop and I had plugged in and later removed my USB pen drive. He
commented that I should be using the SRH utility "because he had burned up
a USB pen drive by *not* using it". I have several of those drives and
have never had an issue... and like I said, I've never used that utility
to disconnect a USB device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive - and did
not use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different Maxtor OneTouch drive
into the same machine, Windows didn't recognize it. I tried several
different USB ports... same thing. So I used the SRH utility to *Stop*
the USB mass storage device in there. Then I plugged the drive in, and
Windows recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if you use
it. I've always been under the impression USB devices were hot-swappable
and didn't require any user-intervention, such as using that utility
TIA |
|
| |
| | | JohnB | |
| | Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | |
| | | |
Huh, I didn't know about that setting. It was set to "Optimize for Quick
Removal". I'm guessing all USB devices default to that setting. I also
plugged in my pen drive and it was also set to that.
*technically* I shouldn't have to use SRH, but apprently with this device I
do. I like Big Al's explanation. Another un-documented *feature* that
Microsoft added for us.
"John Wunderlich" <jwunderlich@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9B107F4DA847wunderpsdrscray@138.126.254.210...
| Quote: | "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:OUoVti4DJHA.2484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System
Tray.... does anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that
made me wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I was
at someone's laptop and I had plugged in and later removed my USB
pen drive. He commented that I should be using the SRH utility
"because he had burned up a USB pen drive by *not* using it". I
have several of those drives and have never had an issue... and
like I said, I've never used that utility to disconnect a USB
device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive -
and did not use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different
Maxtor OneTouch drive into the same machine, Windows didn't
recognize it. I tried several different USB ports... same thing.
So I used the SRH utility to *Stop* the USB mass storage device in
there. Then I plugged the drive in, and Windows recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if
you use it. I've always been under the impression USB devices were
hot-swappable and didn't require any user-intervention, such as
using that utility
TIA
With your USB drive inserted, double-click "My Computer" then right-
click on the USB Drive -> Properties -> "Hardware" Tab -> [Select USB
Drive] -> Properties -> "Policies" Tab.
If your drive is configured for "Optimize for Quick Removal", then it
seems that the SRH is not technically needed (although I wouldn't pull
it out while a write were in progress).
If it is set for "Optimize for Performance", then you should probably
use the SRH tool.
-- John |
|
| |
| | | John Wunderlich | |
| | Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject: Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | |
| | | |
"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:OS2zr$4DJHA.4436@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:
| Quote: | "John Wunderlich" <jwunderlich@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9B107F4DA847wunderpsdrscray@138.126.254.210...
"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:OUoVti4DJHA.2484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System
Tray.... does anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that
made me wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I
was at someone's laptop and I had plugged in and later removed
my USB pen drive. He commented that I should be using the SRH
utility "because he had burned up a USB pen drive by *not* using
it". I have several of those drives and have never had an
issue... and like I said, I've never used that utility to
disconnect a USB device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive -
and did not use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different
Maxtor OneTouch drive into the same machine, Windows didn't
recognize it. I tried several different USB ports... same
thing. So I used the SRH utility to *Stop* the USB mass storage
device in there. Then I plugged the drive in, and Windows
recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if
you use it. I've always been under the impression USB devices
were hot-swappable and didn't require any user-intervention,
such as using that utility
TIA
With your USB drive inserted, double-click "My Computer" then
right- click on the USB Drive -> Properties -> "Hardware" Tab -
[Select USB Drive] -> Properties -> "Policies" Tab.
If your drive is configured for "Optimize for Quick Removal",
then it seems that the SRH is not technically needed (although I
wouldn't pull it out while a write were in progress).
If it is set for "Optimize for Performance", then you should
probably use the SRH tool.
-- John
Huh, I didn't know about that setting. It was set to "Optimize
for Quick Removal". I'm guessing all USB devices default to that
setting. I also plugged in my pen drive and it was also set to
that.
*technically* I shouldn't have to use SRH, but apprently with this
device I do. I like Big Al's explanation. Another un-documented
*feature* that Microsoft added for us.
|
Good to know. Thanks.
I tend to always use SRH on the "ounce of prevention" principle anyway.
-- John |
| |
| | | Big_Al | |
| | Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | |
| | | |
John Wunderlich wrote:
| Quote: | "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:OS2zr$4DJHA.4436@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:
"John Wunderlich" <jwunderlich@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9B107F4DA847wunderpsdrscray@138.126.254.210...
"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:OUoVti4DJHA.2484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System
Tray.... does anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that
made me wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I
was at someone's laptop and I had plugged in and later removed
my USB pen drive. He commented that I should be using the SRH
utility "because he had burned up a USB pen drive by *not* using
it". I have several of those drives and have never had an
issue... and like I said, I've never used that utility to
disconnect a USB device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive -
and did not use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different
Maxtor OneTouch drive into the same machine, Windows didn't
recognize it. I tried several different USB ports... same
thing. So I used the SRH utility to *Stop* the USB mass storage
device in there. Then I plugged the drive in, and Windows
recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if
you use it. I've always been under the impression USB devices
were hot-swappable and didn't require any user-intervention,
such as using that utility
TIA
With your USB drive inserted, double-click "My Computer" then
right- click on the USB Drive -> Properties -> "Hardware" Tab -
[Select USB Drive] -> Properties -> "Policies" Tab.
If your drive is configured for "Optimize for Quick Removal",
then it seems that the SRH is not technically needed (although I
wouldn't pull it out while a write were in progress).
If it is set for "Optimize for Performance", then you should
probably use the SRH tool.
-- John
Huh, I didn't know about that setting. It was set to "Optimize
for Quick Removal". I'm guessing all USB devices default to that
setting. I also plugged in my pen drive and it was also set to
that.
*technically* I shouldn't have to use SRH, but apprently with this
device I do. I like Big Al's explanation. Another un-documented
*feature* that Microsoft added for us.
Good to know. Thanks.
I tend to always use SRH on the "ounce of prevention" principle anyway.
-- John
|
Supposedly also it flushes the write buffer too to make sure that all
data is written. I would favor this rationale for using it more than
anything else. Kinda keeps you honest. And considering I put some of
my best data on the thumb drives / USB HDs, then I kinda like knowing
I'm doing everything to protect the data. |
| |
| | | Curt Christianson | |
| | Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:37 am Post subject: Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | |
| | | |
Hi John,
Some really good comments here.
On my USB hub I have two devices that are always plugged in. The only thing
that gets plugged in and out sometimes is my Verbatim pen or flash drive.
While it is true that USB ports are *supposed* to be hot-swappable, in
actuality they are always so. Some mobos have been ruined (their built-in
USB line) by hot-swapping a device. I always use SRH because I too would
rather be safe than sorry. Common sense also dictates potential problems if
one were to un-plug a USB flash-drive while the indicator is flashing, and
the drive is being written to.
Just my opinion, and good luck regardless,
--
Curt
LINK
LINK
LINK
"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OUoVti4DJHA.2484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
| Quote: | The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System Tray.... does
anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that made me
wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I was at someone's
laptop and I had plugged in and later removed my USB pen drive. He
commented that I should be using the SRH utility "because he had burned up
a USB pen drive by *not* using it". I have several of those drives and
have never had an issue... and like I said, I've never used that utility
to disconnect a USB device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive - and did
not use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different Maxtor OneTouch drive
into the same machine, Windows didn't recognize it. I tried several
different USB ports... same thing. So I used the SRH utility to *Stop*
the USB mass storage device in there. Then I plugged the drive in, and
Windows recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if you use
it. I've always been under the impression USB devices were hot-swappable
and didn't require any user-intervention, such as using that utility
TIA |
|
| |
| | | Curt Christianson | |
| | Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:46 am Post subject: Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | |
| | | |
John,
The last part of my second sentence should read, "in actuality, they areN'T
always so.".
--
Curt
LINK
LINK
LINK
"Curt Christianson" <curtchristnsn@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OWdYyl8DJHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
| Quote: | Hi John,
Some really good comments here.
On my USB hub I have two devices that are always plugged in. The only
thing that gets plugged in and out sometimes is my Verbatim pen or flash
drive. While it is true that USB ports are *supposed* to be hot-swappable,
in actuality they are always so. Some mobos have been ruined (their
built-in USB line) by hot-swapping a device. I always use SRH because I
too would rather be safe than sorry. Common sense also dictates potential
problems if one were to un-plug a USB flash-drive while the indicator is
flashing, and the drive is being written to.
Just my opinion, and good luck regardless,
--
Curt
LINK
LINK
LINK
"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OUoVti4DJHA.2484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System Tray....
does anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that made me
wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I was at someone's
laptop and I had plugged in and later removed my USB pen drive. He
commented that I should be using the SRH utility "because he had burned
up a USB pen drive by *not* using it". I have several of those drives
and have never had an issue... and like I said, I've never used that
utility to disconnect a USB device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive - and did
not use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different Maxtor OneTouch
drive into the same machine, Windows didn't recognize it. I tried
several different USB ports... same thing. So I used the SRH utility to
*Stop* the USB mass storage device in there. Then I plugged the drive
in, and Windows recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if you use
it. I've always been under the impression USB devices were hot-swappable
and didn't require any user-intervention, such as using that utility
TIA
|
|
| |
| | | Lil' Dave | |
| | Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:32 am Post subject: Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility | |
| | | |
"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OUoVti4DJHA.2484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
| Quote: | The "Safely Remove Hardware" utility that sits in the System Tray.... does
anyone use that?
I have never used it. But recently a couple things came up that made me
wonder if I should be using it. A couple weeks ago I was at someone's
laptop and I had plugged in and later removed my USB pen drive. He
commented that I should be using the SRH utility "because he had burned up
a USB pen drive by *not* using it". I have several of those drives and
have never had an issue... and like I said, I've never used that utility
to disconnect a USB device before unplugging it.
But today I had unplugged a Maxtor OneTouch external USB drive - and did
not use the SRH utility. When I plugged a different Maxtor OneTouch drive
into the same machine, Windows didn't recognize it. I tried several
different USB ports... same thing. So I used the SRH utility to *Stop*
the USB mass storage device in there. Then I plugged the drive in, and
Windows recognized it.
Just wondering what other people say about this utility, and if you use
it. I've always been under the impression USB devices were hot-swappable
and didn't require any user-intervention, such as using that utility
TIA
|
Concur with most responses, except the parking heads response.
While using SRH, I've noticed that sometimes something must be occurring
even though the activity light is off on the external enclosure. SRH says
something is still accessing, to try again later. Usually, an immediate
retry of SRH allows removal. Seen this with both Firewire and USB2
enclosures for ide hard drives.
An oddity I've noticed about the policies tab for the hard drive within the
enclosure. An old Firewire only enclosure I have uses the non-cache type
selection per windows installation of same. The newer USB/Firewire combo
enclosure for ide drives use the cached type that requires SRH. Don't
matter if USB or Firewire connected.
--
Dave |
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