How to Safely Remove a USB Storage Device

Posted: June 29, 2015

[caption id="attachment_12361" align="alignright" width="425"] Image from pcworld.com[/caption] USB storage devices are a great way to easily make files transportable and accessible on any computer. However, if you don't eject the USB device correctly, there is a chance that the files could be deleted or corrupted. These five tips can help users safely eject USB drive in order to keep files intact. Lincoln Spector, writer for PC World, shares how to safely remove a USB storage device.

When Windows refuses to eject mass storage: 5 ways to safely remove a USB drive

If you unplug a USB external drive before making sure it's safe to do so, you're courting disaster. The sudden, unprepared removal of a storage device can corrupt files. I've even heard stories of it bricking flash drives. Here's how to remove the drive safely, even when Windows tells you it's not safe. Try these five steps in order until one of them works.

1: Use Windows' own tool

Click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area, then click your device. Wait until a message pops up. If the message says "Safe to Remove Hardware," remove the hardware. But if the message that pops up tells you that "This device is currently in use," you need to go on to step 2.

2: Make an educated guess

Think about what you're running and what might be holding on. Did you load a portable program from that drive? Read the entire article When Windows Refuses to Eject Mass Storage: 5 Ways to Safely Remove a USB Drive on PC World.