USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

September 5, 2008

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

September 5, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

JohnB wrote:

> 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.

September 5, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

"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

September 5, 2008

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...

> 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

September 5, 2008

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...

> "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

September 5, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

"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

September 5, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

John Wunderlich wrote:

> "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.

September 6, 2008

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

http://dundats.mvps.org/

http://www.aumha.org/

http://dundats.mvps.org/AutoIt/default.aspx

"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

September 6, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

John,

The last part of my second sentence should read, "in actuality, they areN'T

always so.".

--

Curt

http://dundats.mvps.org/

http://www.aumha.org/

http://dundats.mvps.org/AutoIt/default.aspx

"Curt Christianson" <curtchristnsn@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message

news:OWdYyl8DJHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> 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

>

> http://dundats.mvps.org/

> http://www.aumha.org/

> http://dundats.mvps.org/AutoIt/default.aspx

>

> "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

>

September 7, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

"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

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

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is an "old

school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off. Sounds like

urban legend to me.

"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message

news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> "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

>

> 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

>

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.

"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is an "old

>school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off. Sounds like

>urban legend to me.

>

> "Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message

> news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>> "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

>>

>> 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

>>

>

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I

believe applies to voice coil head actuators.

Unknown wrote:

> You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.

> "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

> news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is an "old

>>school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off. Sounds like

>>urban legend to me.

>>

>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message

>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>

>>>"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

>>>

>>>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

>>>

>>

>

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

If you have an external drive, perform any operation such as read or backup

then, use SRH and listen closely. Watch the lights on the drive.

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I

> believe applies to voice coil head actuators.

>

> Unknown wrote:

>

>> You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.

>> "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>> news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>

>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is an

>>>"old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.

>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.

>>>

>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message

>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>>

>>>>"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

>>>>

>>>>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

>>>>

>>>

>>

>

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

Where are heads when HD is being shipped? Parked???

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I

> believe applies to voice coil head actuators.

>

> Unknown wrote:

>

>> You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.

>> "JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>> news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>

>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is an

>>>"old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.

>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.

>>>

>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message

>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>>

>>>>"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

>>>>

>>>>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

>>>>

>>>

>>

>

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

Same place they are after power fails, retracted.

Unknown wrote:

> Where are heads when HD is being shipped? Parked???

> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

> news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

>>Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I

>>believe applies to voice coil head actuators.

>>

>>Unknown wrote:

>>

>>>You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.

>>>"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>>news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>>

>>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is an

>>>>"old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.

>>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.

>>>>

>>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message

>>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>>>

>>>>>"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

>>>>>

>>>>>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

>>>>>

>>>>

>>>

>

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

Yes, that would be flushing/writing the cache to disk.

Unknown wrote:

> If you have an external drive, perform any operation such as read or backup

> then, use SRH and listen closely. Watch the lights on the drive.

> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

> news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

>>Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I

>>believe applies to voice coil head actuators.

>>

>>Unknown wrote:

>>

>>>You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.

>>>"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>>news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>>

>>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is an

>>>>"old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.

>>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.

>>>>

>>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message

>>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>>>

>>>>>"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

>>>>>

>>>>>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

>>>>>

>>>>

>>>

>

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

That is precisely what SRH does, makes sure heads are retracted. .

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:eQ7tvmdEJHA.1272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Same place they are after power fails, retracted.

>

> Unknown wrote:

>

>> Where are heads when HD is being shipped? Parked???

>> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>> news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>

>>>Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I

>>>believe applies to voice coil head actuators.

>>>

>>>Unknown wrote:

>>>

>>>>You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.

>>>>"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>>>news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>>>

>>>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is an

>>>>>"old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.

>>>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.

>>>>>

>>>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message

>>>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>>>>

>>>>>>"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

>>>>>>

>>>>>>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

>>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>

>>

>

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

No, it ensures that all the data is flushed to the disk.

When removing a device from a bus that supports hot plugging, if the
Safely Remove Hardware icon appears in the notification area, use the
Safely Remove Hardware application as explained later to ensure a safe
removal of hardware from the system. The Safely Remove Hardware
application informs Windows that the user intends to remove a device.
This gives Windows an opportunity to prepare for the removal by taking
steps such as halting data transfers to the device and unloading device
drivers.

When hardware is removed from a running system without using the Safely
Remove Hardware application, it is often referred to as surprise removal
because the operating system is not notified in advance of the removal.
Surprise removal is particularly a concern for storage devices for which
write caching is enabled, because when such devices are surprise
removed, data loss or corruption might occur. To reduce the likelihood
of data loss or corruption as a result of surprise removal of
consumer-oriented storage devices, Windows XP Professional disables
write caching by default for these devices (such as cameras that include
IEEE 1394 or USB storage, small form factor storage devices such as
compact flash, and so on). While write caching policy addresses this
particular issue, it is recommended that users continue to use the
Safely Remove Hardware application when it appears in the notification
area. Also, disabling write caching might slow the performance of
consumer-oriented storage devices.

[end quote]

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457107.aspx

Unknown wrote:

> That is precisely what SRH does, makes sure heads are retracted. .
> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:eQ7tvmdEJHA.1272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>>Same place they are after power fails, retracted.
>>
>>Unknown wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Where are heads when HD is being shipped? Parked???
>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I
>>>>believe applies to voice coil head actuators.
>>>>
>>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.
>>>>>"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is an
>>>>>>"old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.
>>>>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"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
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>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
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>
>
>

September 8, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

The elusive and mysterious explanation of SRH has been found!!

Thanks for posting that.

"John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

news:ga3rlh$ddg$1@aioe.org...

> No, it ensures that all the data is flushed to the disk.

>

>
> When removing a device from a bus that supports hot plugging, if the
> Safely Remove Hardware icon appears in the notification area, use the
> Safely Remove Hardware application as explained later to ensure a safe
> removal of hardware from the system. The Safely Remove Hardware
> application informs Windows that the user intends to remove a device. This
> gives Windows an opportunity to prepare for the removal by taking steps
> such as halting data transfers to the device and unloading device drivers.
>
> When hardware is removed from a running system without using the Safely
> Remove Hardware application, it is often referred to as surprise removal
> because the operating system is not notified in advance of the removal.
> Surprise removal is particularly a concern for storage devices for which
> write caching is enabled, because when such devices are surprise removed,
> data loss or corruption might occur. To reduce the likelihood of data loss
> or corruption as a result of surprise removal of consumer-oriented storage
> devices, Windows XP Professional disables write caching by default for
> these devices (such as cameras that include IEEE 1394 or USB storage,
> small form factor storage devices such as compact flash, and so on). While
> write caching policy addresses this particular issue, it is recommended
> that users continue to use the Safely Remove Hardware application when it
> appears in the notification area. Also, disabling write caching might slow
> the performance of consumer-oriented storage devices.
>
> [end quote]
>
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457107.aspx
>
>
>
> Unknown wrote:
>
>> That is precisely what SRH does, makes sure heads are retracted. .
>> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:eQ7tvmdEJHA.1272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>Same place they are after power fails, retracted.
>>>
>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Where are heads when HD is being shipped? Parked???
>>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I
>>>>>believe applies to voice coil head actuators.
>>>>>
>>>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.
>>>>>>"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is
>>>>>>>an "old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.
>>>>>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>"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
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>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
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>

September 9, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

If you can, please explain. When I do a backup to my external drive and it

finishes, I shut down my backup program.

I use a Seagate HD. At this point, I click SRH and the HD sounds as though

the heads are retracting. I then shut the power off on the HD. I am not

using XP Pro.

"John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

news:ga3rlh$ddg$1@aioe.org...

> No, it ensures that all the data is flushed to the disk.

>

>
> When removing a device from a bus that supports hot plugging, if the
> Safely Remove Hardware icon appears in the notification area, use the
> Safely Remove Hardware application as explained later to ensure a safe
> removal of hardware from the system. The Safely Remove Hardware
> application informs Windows that the user intends to remove a device. This
> gives Windows an opportunity to prepare for the removal by taking steps
> such as halting data transfers to the device and unloading device drivers.
>
> When hardware is removed from a running system without using the Safely
> Remove Hardware application, it is often referred to as surprise removal
> because the operating system is not notified in advance of the removal.
> Surprise removal is particularly a concern for storage devices for which
> write caching is enabled, because when such devices are surprise removed,
> data loss or corruption might occur. To reduce the likelihood of data loss
> or corruption as a result of surprise removal of consumer-oriented storage
> devices, Windows XP Professional disables write caching by default for
> these devices (such as cameras that include IEEE 1394 or USB storage,
> small form factor storage devices such as compact flash, and so on). While
> write caching policy addresses this particular issue, it is recommended
> that users continue to use the Safely Remove Hardware application when it
> appears in the notification area. Also, disabling write caching might slow
> the performance of consumer-oriented storage devices.
>
> [end quote]
>
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457107.aspx
>
>
>
> Unknown wrote:
>
>> That is precisely what SRH does, makes sure heads are retracted. .
>> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:eQ7tvmdEJHA.1272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>Same place they are after power fails, retracted.
>>>
>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Where are heads when HD is being shipped? Parked???
>>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I
>>>>>believe applies to voice coil head actuators.
>>>>>
>>>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.
>>>>>>"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is
>>>>>>>an "old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.
>>>>>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>"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
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>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
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>

September 9, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

It is probable that this is a new Seagate has the power saving feature

that turns off power to the actuator when further access is not required

and then the heads retract(and you can hear that) because the power to

drive the actuator is off. Flushing the cache and disabling access would

cause the drive to act like that. Please understand that SRH does not

park the heads or send a command to do so. The drive would do that on

it's own programing. Now on the other hand Linux has a "bug" that causes

that harddrive to start and stop the heads every 10 seconds or so making

a few people quite worried.

Unknown wrote:

> If you can, please explain. When I do a backup to my external drive and it

> finishes, I shut down my backup program.

> I use a Seagate HD. At this point, I click SRH and the HD sounds as though

> the heads are retracting. I then shut the power off on the HD. I am not

> using XP Pro.

> "John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

> news:ga3rlh$ddg$1@aioe.org...

>

>>No, it ensures that all the data is flushed to the disk.

>>

>>
>> When removing a device from a bus that supports hot plugging, if the
>>Safely Remove Hardware icon appears in the notification area, use the
>>Safely Remove Hardware application as explained later to ensure a safe
>>removal of hardware from the system. The Safely Remove Hardware
>>application informs Windows that the user intends to remove a device. This
>>gives Windows an opportunity to prepare for the removal by taking steps
>>such as halting data transfers to the device and unloading device drivers.
>>
>>When hardware is removed from a running system without using the Safely
>>Remove Hardware application, it is often referred to as surprise removal
>>because the operating system is not notified in advance of the removal.
>>Surprise removal is particularly a concern for storage devices for which
>>write caching is enabled, because when such devices are surprise removed,
>>data loss or corruption might occur. To reduce the likelihood of data loss
>>or corruption as a result of surprise removal of consumer-oriented storage
>>devices, Windows XP Professional disables write caching by default for
>>these devices (such as cameras that include IEEE 1394 or USB storage,
>>small form factor storage devices such as compact flash, and so on). While
>>write caching policy addresses this particular issue, it is recommended
>>that users continue to use the Safely Remove Hardware application when it
>>appears in the notification area. Also, disabling write caching might slow
>>the performance of consumer-oriented storage devices.
>>
>>[end quote]
>>
>>http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457107.aspx
>>
>>
>>
>>Unknown wrote:
>>
>>
>>>That is precisely what SRH does, makes sure heads are retracted. .
>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>news:eQ7tvmdEJHA.1272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Same place they are after power fails, retracted.
>>>>
>>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Where are heads when HD is being shipped? Parked???
>>>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I
>>>>>>believe applies to voice coil head actuators.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.
>>>>>>>"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is
>>>>>>>>an "old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.
>>>>>>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>"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
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>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
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>
>
>

September 9, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

It works the same way with XP Home as it does with XP Pro. The head

parking business along with the Park command is stuff for the museum of

antiquities. As Bob said in another post, voice coil hard disks are

"self-parking", the actuator is spring loaded, you need power to

"unpark" the heads and as soon as the power is removed the heads are

"sprung" back to the parked position. Sort of the same as air brakes on

a large tractor truck, you need air pressure to unlock the brakes, as

soon as air pressure is lost (if an air hose breaks) the brakes

automatically lock and the truck can't move. This is another passage

from a Microsoft training book/kit:

Voice coil hard disk drives offer several advantages:

* The lack of mechanical interface between the motor and the
actuator arm provides consistent positioning accuracy.

* When the drive is shut down (the power is removed from the coil),
the actuator arm, which is spring-loaded, moves back to its initial
position, thus eliminating the need to park the head. In a sense, these
drives are self-parking.

[end quote]

http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/sampchap/4433.aspx#11

John

Unknown wrote:

> If you can, please explain. When I do a backup to my external drive and it
> finishes, I shut down my backup program.
> I use a Seagate HD. At this point, I click SRH and the HD sounds as though
> the heads are retracting. I then shut the power off on the HD. I am not
> using XP Pro.
> "John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:ga3rlh$ddg$1@aioe.org...
>
>>No, it ensures that all the data is flushed to the disk.
>>
>>
>>
>> When removing a device from a bus that supports hot plugging, if the
>>Safely Remove Hardware icon appears in the notification area, use the
>>Safely Remove Hardware application as explained later to ensure a safe
>>removal of hardware from the system. The Safely Remove Hardware
>>application informs Windows that the user intends to remove a device. This
>>gives Windows an opportunity to prepare for the removal by taking steps
>>such as halting data transfers to the device and unloading device drivers.
>>
>>When hardware is removed from a running system without using the Safely
>>Remove Hardware application, it is often referred to as surprise removal
>>because the operating system is not notified in advance of the removal.
>>Surprise removal is particularly a concern for storage devices for which
>>write caching is enabled, because when such devices are surprise removed,
>>data loss or corruption might occur. To reduce the likelihood of data loss
>>or corruption as a result of surprise removal of consumer-oriented storage
>>devices, Windows XP Professional disables write caching by default for
>>these devices (such as cameras that include IEEE 1394 or USB storage,
>>small form factor storage devices such as compact flash, and so on). While
>>write caching policy addresses this particular issue, it is recommended
>>that users continue to use the Safely Remove Hardware application when it
>>appears in the notification area. Also, disabling write caching might slow
>>the performance of consumer-oriented storage devices.
>>
>>[end quote]
>>
>>http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457107.aspx
>>
>>
>>
>>Unknown wrote:
>>
>>
>>>That is precisely what SRH does, makes sure heads are retracted. .
>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>news:eQ7tvmdEJHA.1272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Same place they are after power fails, retracted.
>>>>
>>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Where are heads when HD is being shipped? Parked???
>>>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I
>>>>>>believe applies to voice coil head actuators.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.
>>>>>>>"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is
>>>>>>>>an "old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered off.
>>>>>>>>Sounds like urban legend to me.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>"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
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>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
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>
>
>

September 9, 2008

Re: USB - Safely Remove Hardware utility

Thanks to both. H--- getting old. Technology is really advancing.

"John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

news:uer%237LpEJHA.4420@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> It works the same way with XP Home as it does with XP Pro. The head

> parking business along with the Park command is stuff for the museum of

> antiquities. As Bob said in another post, voice coil hard disks are

> "self-parking", the actuator is spring loaded, you need power to "unpark"

> the heads and as soon as the power is removed the heads are "sprung" back

> to the parked position. Sort of the same as air brakes on a large tractor

> truck, you need air pressure to unlock the brakes, as soon as air pressure

> is lost (if an air hose breaks) the brakes automatically lock and the

> truck can't move. This is another passage from a Microsoft training

> book/kit:

>

>
> Voice coil hard disk drives offer several advantages:
>
> * The lack of mechanical interface between the motor and the actuator
> arm provides consistent positioning accuracy.
>
> * When the drive is shut down (the power is removed from the coil),
> the actuator arm, which is spring-loaded, moves back to its initial
> position, thus eliminating the need to park the head. In a sense, these
> drives are self-parking.
>
> [end quote]
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/sampchap/4433.aspx#11
>
> John
>
> Unknown wrote:
>
>> If you can, please explain. When I do a backup to my external drive and
>> it finishes, I shut down my backup program.
>> I use a Seagate HD. At this point, I click SRH and the HD sounds as
>> though the heads are retracting. I then shut the power off on the HD. I
>> am not using XP Pro.
>> "John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>> news:ga3rlh$ddg$1@aioe.org...
>>
>>>No, it ensures that all the data is flushed to the disk.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> When removing a device from a bus that supports hot plugging, if the
>>> Safely Remove Hardware icon appears in the notification area, use the
>>> Safely Remove Hardware application as explained later to ensure a safe
>>> removal of hardware from the system. The Safely Remove Hardware
>>> application informs Windows that the user intends to remove a device.
>>> This gives Windows an opportunity to prepare for the removal by taking
>>> steps such as halting data transfers to the device and unloading device
>>> drivers.
>>>
>>>When hardware is removed from a running system without using the Safely
>>>Remove Hardware application, it is often referred to as surprise removal
>>>because the operating system is not notified in advance of the removal.
>>>Surprise removal is particularly a concern for storage devices for which
>>>write caching is enabled, because when such devices are surprise removed,
>>>data loss or corruption might occur. To reduce the likelihood of data
>>>loss or corruption as a result of surprise removal of consumer-oriented
>>>storage devices, Windows XP Professional disables write caching by
>>>default for these devices (such as cameras that include IEEE 1394 or USB
>>>storage, small form factor storage devices such as compact flash, and so
>>>on). While write caching policy addresses this particular issue, it is
>>>recommended that users continue to use the Safely Remove Hardware
>>>application when it appears in the notification area. Also, disabling
>>>write caching might slow the performance of consumer-oriented storage
>>>devices.
>>>
>>>[end quote]
>>>
>>>http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457107.aspx
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>That is precisely what SRH does, makes sure heads are retracted. .
>>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:eQ7tvmdEJHA.1272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Same place they are after power fails, retracted.
>>>>>
>>>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Where are heads when HD is being shipped? Parked???
>>>>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:e5vSMzcEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Probably flushing the cache. Parking heads isn't a "command" that I
>>>>>>>believe applies to voice coil head actuators.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Unknown wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>You run SRH BEFORE powering off the external drive.
>>>>>>>>"JohnB" <jbrigan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>news:OMP4rBcEJHA.5732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I don't buy the "parking heads" thing either. Parking the heads is
>>>>>>>>>an "old school" thing. Modern drives park the head when powered
>>>>>>>>>off. Sounds like urban legend to me.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>>news:eiDVDRMEJHA.3288@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>"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
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>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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