USB Safe Removing Mythbusters

[Krik00]

Okay, so I have heard many thing on this topic. Now comes the answer. What do you know? Let's break this down.

[vanished]

If you don't unmount or "safely remove" a device before unplugging it, there's a chance you will corrupt some or all of the files, especially if a transfer was in progress.  How likely is this?  Well that depends on the OS, filesystem, mounting options, and your luck

[done12many2]

7 minutes ago, 4kliksphilip said:

Okay, so I have heard many thing on this topic. Now comes the answer. What do you know? Let's break this down.

 

If nothing is being written to the USB storage device at the time that you remove it, chances are you'll be fine.  The problem is most people don't know if something is actively being written to the drive so removing it during this process can and more than like will cause data corruption.

 

The process of "Safe Removal" just ensures that the write processes have stopped.

[Krik00]

1 minute ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

If you don't unmount or "safely remove" a device before unplugging it, there's a chance you will corrupt some or all of the files, especially if a transfer was in progress.  How likely is this?  Well that depends on the OS, filesystem, mounting options, and your luck

Hmm... So if I have some presentation for school in it, transferred it on USB and made sure that no data is being written to the USB itself I should be good to go?

[WkdPaul]

Didn't happened to me but I know a few people that had corrupted files after removing a USB flash drive right after a file transfer was finished.

 

But like I said, never happened to me and in 90% of the cases I don't use the unmount/eject option.

[Bobis32]

on both drives i own there is an indicator light stating whether or not data is being transfer on mine if the lights off ill tend just to unplug it

[vanished]

10 minutes ago, Bobis32 said:

on both drives i own there is an indicator light stating whether or not data is being transfer on mine if the lights off ill tend just to unplug it

The trouble with that is it is not just data being transferred that can cause problems; if there is data scheduled to be transferred and you unplug it, those files won't work.

[corrado33]

Windows has an option where you can turn on one of two options for removable drives. One is something like "speed mode" where it REQUIRES safe removal, the other is the opposite. A bit slower but you're allowed to pull it out whenever. I've never tested either. I usually use safe removal (who uses flash drives anymore?) but when I can't I just wait until no lights are flashing on the drive then yank it. I've never had any issues. I'm also smart about it. If I've told the computer to transfer something to it I'll give it a few minutes to do it. 

 

This should be really easy to test. Do it with a couple of options. There won't be any harm to your computer, and I think the drive should be fine. You may have to reformat, but that's easy.

 

1. Speed mode in windows: Large file, pull drive in middle of transfer
2. Speed mode: Lots of small files, pull drive in middle of transfer
3. Slow mode: Same as 1
4. Slow mode: Same as 2

[sgloux3470]

I've never used safe removal and had zero issues.  I wouldn't say I use USB drives often though, couple times a year at most.

[iamdarkyoshi]

2 hours ago, done12many2 said:

 

If nothing is being written to the USB storage device at the time that you remove it, chances are you'll be fine.  The problem is most people don't know if something is actively being written to the drive so removing it during this process can and more than like will cause data corruption.

 

The process of "Safe Removal" just ensures that the write processes have stopped.

I just use the activity LED on the flash drives that have it

[LogicalDrm]

I might have had one corruption since I've bought my first USB (which would be in about 12 years). I pull drive out if its my own, but use safe removal on other persons sticks.

[Kobathor]

I've had a 64GB USB for a little over a year now, and it's never corrupted. I never eject it before removing it. I do eject things like SD cards, but USB drives I don't ever worry about it. But- it is safer to eject before removing the drive. Come to think of it, I've never corrupted a USB drive.