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Hardware and Windows Vista Hardware issues in relation to Windows Vista. (microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_devices) |
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Windows Vista USB devices 'remove safely'
Hi,
I recently installed windows vista. I noticed that when I choose 'Remove safely' option for USB devices from task bar, the OS reports successful disconnection, but the USB device still keeps on charging (It seems to be receiving power). But in Windows XP, this was not so. Those LED's use to turn of once I do the above action. Is this a change in Windows Vista or there is some other problem with my computer. If its by design, is it safe to remove my hardware (card readers, ipod..) when the power LED is still on ! -Ashish |
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Windows Vista USB devices 'remove safely'
The main reason for the 'Remove Safely' option is to purge the write cache.
This ensures that any files you've saved to the device are actually written to the device and not still sitting on your computer's hard drive waiting to be written. Once Windows tells you it's safe to remove the device, it should be OK. I say "should" because I'd hate you to take just my word for it; hopefully some MVPs will back me up soon. If you haven't actually saved anything to the device it's perfectly safe to just unplug it anyway, the same way you would a USB joystick or any other non-writeable device. It's always better to be safe than sorry though, so any storage device (including iPods, phones, PDAs, SatNavs etc) should be 'Safely Removed' to avoid the slight risk of data loss. Maybe they decided to continue supplying power to disconnected devices because more and more devices these days can be recharged via the USB port. That's just supposition, but it would sort of make sense. "Ashish" wrote in message ... Hi, I recently installed windows vista. I noticed that when I choose 'Remove safely' option for USB devices from task bar, the OS reports successful disconnection, but the USB device still keeps on charging (It seems to be receiving power). But in Windows XP, this was not so. Those LED's use to turn of once I do the above action. Is this a change in Windows Vista or there is some other problem with my computer. If its by design, is it safe to remove my hardware (card readers, ipod..) when the power LED is still on ! -Ashish |
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Windows Vista USB devices 'remove safely'
Thanks Rojo ! As you said, it 'seems' okay just to unplug your hardware after
'safe removal'. Another trick which I read yesterday was to switch to 'Sleep Mode'. This actually cuts off power to USB devices. For my iPod and mobile phone I am following this approach for now: 1] Use 'remove safely'. 2] Switch to 'Sleep Mode' (switches off power to the devices) 3] Disconnect the device physically ! Lets hope for more responses to this post. Thank you once again. |
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Windows Vista USB devices 'remove safely'
Ashish wrote:
Hi, I recently installed windows vista. I noticed that when I choose 'Remove safely' option for USB devices from task bar, the OS reports successful disconnection, but the USB device still keeps on charging (It seems to be receiving power). But in Windows XP, this was not so. Those LED's use to turn of once I do the above action. Is this a change in Windows Vista or there is some other problem with my computer. If its by design, is it safe to remove my hardware (card readers, ipod..) when the power LED is still on ! Yes, this is a new 'feature' in Vista. No idea what the plan is here but it's a known effect. If the "save removal" says "it's ok now to remove" then it is. It makes no difference if you just unplug or if you send the computer into standby. No data is send or received to this device, it just loses the power in both cases. Uwe |
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Windows Vista USB devices 'remove safely'
If the "save removal" says "it's ok now to remove" then it is.
Uwe WRONG!!! I just lost more than 160 songs and several other files, mostly important for my work (I am a DJ and event-organizer)!! I moved them to an external drive, move reported "complete", and then I proceeded to the "remove safely" procedure.. Upon receiving the "now it's safe to remove the USB device" message, I disconnected the external-HD (since Vista ASSURED me it is SAFE to remove the device!!) After that, those files were reported corrupted!! Plugging the external-HD to my Vista-operated laptop again, I received the message that I have to fix this drive, because at the last session I unplugged it BEFORE data-moving was finished!! what tha! After running the Vista-"fixing" program, those files were deleted by this program, and they are nowhere to be found now!!! I am SERIOUSLY thinking about sueing Microsoft, I have witnesses of the incident! All my work, and pressing projects are significantly "damaged" from what happened... |
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Windows Vista USB devices 'remove safely'
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Windows Vista USB devices 'remove safely'
"Pavel A." wrote:
Maybe this corruption was caused by the internal cache of the drive or drive powered down too early - not by anything on host side. --PA Since the drive has an external power supply (not powered by USB) and I unplugged ONLY the USB cable, this means that the corruption was not caused by a power failure, or internal cache of the drive. Since Vista prompted me to unplug the drive because "it is safe to remove", then I assume the drive is idle and SAFE TO REMOVE!! My operating system reassured me to remove it, that's why I got the OS, right? I never had this problem with XP and this drive in several PCs and locations! |