Need to safely remove hardware or just pull out USB?

**pcguys** · 08-08-2012, 05:58 PM

I connected my S3 to my windows 7 pc.

I am able to copy files to and from the phone.

When done, can I just yank out the USB plug?

Thanks,

Mike

**Razelus** · 08-08-2012, 06:02 PM

Yes just remove usb cable

**pcguys** · 08-08-2012, 06:05 PM

Thanks!

Consider it yanked!

Mike

**Rev2010** · 08-08-2012, 06:43 PM

I'm an IT Tech and used to always just pull the cable. I don't do that anymore though. In rare instances you can corrupt the sd file system. Sometimes it doesn't corrupt but windows keeps reporting it as needing a scan to correct it. You can cancel the pop up and just go about your business but it is annoying. Always eject/safely remove the device first, trust me.

Rev.

**jeffreii** · 08-08-2012, 11:00 PM

For me on Windows 7 64 Bit there is no "safely remove hardware" for my S III. Unlike mass storage mode with other USB devices, it seems like it's ok to remove it without ejecting first. I figured this was a feature of MTP since the card isn't actually "mounted".

**Rev2010** · 08-08-2012, 11:02 PM

@Jeffreii - the card is always "mounted" per se. With Windows 7 simply right click the drive letter and choose "Eject".

Rev.

**walcolm** · 08-09-2012, 03:12 AM

Originally Posted by Rev2010

I'm an IT Tech and used to always just pull the cable. I don't do that anymore though. In rare instances you can corrupt the sd file system. Sometimes it doesn't corrupt but windows keeps reporting it as needing a scan to correct it. You can cancel the pop up and just go about your business but it is annoying. Always eject/safely remove the device first, trust me.

Rev.

the S3 doesnt identify itself as an external storage to windows although you still have all the functionality so you dont get the 'safely remove usb' option

i have used the S3 on both vista and windows7 and its the same way, so yanking is the only option u have with the GS3

**Ricky Babalu** · 08-09-2012, 03:25 AM

I always use "Safely Remove Hardware".

**lbkiml** · 08-09-2012, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by Ricky Babalu

I always use "Safely Remove Hardware".

Same here. It's 2 extra clicks and 3 extra seconds.

**jeffreii** · 08-09-2012, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Rev2010

@Jeffreii - the card is always "mounted" per se. With Windows 7 simply right click the drive letter and choose "Eject".

Rev.

I'd have to read up on the technical details behind MTP mounting...but I believe that there's no "safely remove hardware" because of the way it's "mounted".

I believe the danger in removing most UMS devices is that, as mounted drives, Windows can continue performing processes on them in the background. If you don't eject them before removing, those processes can be interrupted and the file system can become corrupted.

If no processes are allowed to be run in the background, which I think is the case with MTP, that danger is not there. Again, I haven't done significant research on this so I could be wrong.

**leftyman** · 08-09-2012, 09:50 AM

The S3 uses media transfer protocol (MTP) there is no option to eject the drive, simply unplug your USB cable.

**Soundtrack to Chaos** · 08-09-2012, 10:08 AM

I didn't see the option on my pc so I always pull out

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Android Central Forums

**pcguys** · 08-09-2012, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by walcolm

the S3 doesnt identify itself as an external storage to windows although you still have all the functionality so you dont get the 'safely remove usb' option

i have used the S3 on both vista and windows7 and its the same way, so yanking is the only option u have with the GS3

If there was a "safely remove option", I totally would have done that.

But, I agree: if there isn't a safely remove option, then that's all you can do.

It's not like I'm going to shut down my desktop to remove the USB cable.

Mike

**Roboticz** · 08-09-2012, 12:20 PM

Theoretically you should "Safely Remove It"... but I never do it. I typically just unplug the phone. Just make sure there isn't any IUSB based operation going on so that you don't corrupt any data.

**jeffreii** · 08-09-2012, 11:23 PM

In Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit there is neither the "safely remove device" in the tray nor the "eject" option when right clicking the device or individual cards (phone/sdcard) in My Computer.

As such I don't think it's even possible without turning off the computer. As per my previous post I think MTP does not need to be safely removed and is designed to be unplugged at any time without risk.

**samanthanielquel** · 08-09-2012, 11:51 PM

Its a better option to safely remove device. When you always yank the plug your sd card might be damaged.

**isabel95** · 09-04-2012, 06:11 AM

On my Vista machine there is no Safely Remove option for the phone so I searched the web for a solution - couldn't find one - and then checked the manual that came with the S3. Just says to disconnect the cable. See page 108 of the manual.

isabel

Originally Posted by Rev2010

I'm an IT Tech and used to always just pull the cable. I don't do that anymore though. In rare instances you can corrupt the sd file system. Sometimes it doesn't corrupt but windows keeps reporting it as needing a scan to correct it. You can cancel the pop up and just go about your business but it is annoying. Always eject/safely remove the device first, trust me.

Rev.

**Madness87** · 09-05-2012, 12:27 AM

Going on nearly 9+ years of just unplugging devices without "safely ejecting". Have yet to corrupt anything including memory cards, digital cameras, hard drives, flash drives, etc.

**lbkiml** · 09-05-2012, 09:05 AM

When going between Mac OS and Windows, you have to safely remove device or else the Mac OS will give you a warning.

Afraid of losing data, I went back to a PC and safely removed it then put it back on a Mac without problems.

**isabel95** · 09-05-2012, 11:54 AM

I would be happy to use "Safely Remove" in my Vista system, but no such option appears when I right click on the Phone "drive".

Only option would be to shut down the computer as far as I can see.

Isabel

Originally Posted by lbkiml

When going between Mac OS and Windows, you have to safely remove device or else the Mac OS will give you a warning.

Afraid of losing data, I went back to a PC and safely removed it then put it back on a Mac without problems.

**evq.003** · 09-05-2012, 12:32 PM

Careful... All this talk about "yanking, mounting, and pulling out" might get you in trouble at work or with the Mrs.

**John Gate** · 02-21-2013, 02:07 AM

@Madness87: That doesn't mean it is good advice. You are obviously careful about when you remove it and take care not to interrupt a critical action. Many who ask these questions don't have your knowledge. Saying that here is a like telling a little kid: "I cross in the middle of the street whenever I want to." Not nice.

**meyerweb** · 02-21-2013, 09:05 AM

All these people saying they always "safely remove" clearly don't have an S3 running ICS or JB on a Windows system. As many have already stated, that option doesn't exist when using MTP. Just don't yank the cable in the middle of an operation when you're moving data to or from the phone (SD card or otherwise).

Edit: it occurs to me that OS's prior to Windows 7 might not understand what MTP is, and still offer the eject option. If your computer does offer this option, it's probably not a bad idea to use it, since your OS may not be smart enough to avoid background writes.

**Nick DeJacimo** · 03-04-2013, 03:38 AM

When I right click the drive there is no eject option. Windows 7 64 bit Pro

**isabel95** · 03-04-2013, 04:50 AM

I recently set up a new machine with Windows 7 and found that when you have a usb device plugged in there is an icon on the taskbar which looks like a usb connector.. If you hover over that you will see "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media". Click on it and you will see your usb devices listed.
You can also see that you don't have to fear removing some devices without doing the safely remove thing by looking for a default in device manager - read about it here: