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Thread ID: 91325 2008-07-03 05:13:00 Plugging a flash drive into a running computer. worl (8599) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
684908 2008-07-03 05:13:00 I just plugged a flash drive into a running Linux computer and then mounted it and viewed the files in it. Is this good practice? Downside to it? How about if it was a Windows OS in the computer? worl (8599)
684909 2008-07-03 05:16:00 Thats the only way you're going to see whats on it, plug it in

Just remember to remove it either by ejecting it in my computer (XP) or the add/remove icon on the taskbar.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
684910 2008-07-03 05:22:00 Thanks for the reply Speedy.

Usually I shut down the computer before I plug a flash drive in and then reboot. Is this not really necessary?
worl (8599)
684911 2008-07-03 05:24:00 No, not really.

Good to err on the side of caution sometimes, but that's definitely not necessary.
Thebananamonkey (7741)
684912 2008-07-03 05:30:00 If you mean a USB flash drive, no you dont have to shut down before plugging it in. Just remember to eject it, before removing or it may corrupt it.

If youre writing something to it
Speedy Gonzales (78)
684913 2008-07-03 08:46:00 Flash drives are hot swappable - you don't need to reboot to insert it into the computer. Blam (54)
684914 2008-07-03 20:24:00 If you are using Vista you click on
system tray icon which brings up
" Safely Remove Hardware ".
No probs with insertion. Thought
you might be interested.
blanco (11336)
684915 2008-07-03 22:34:00 like the others said, usb drives are hot swappable. Just make sure you remember to unmount it before pulling it out; I know linux writes to memory and only physically writes to the drive when you unmount (for small files anyway) utopian201 (6245)
684916 2008-07-03 22:50:00 If you mean a USB flash drive, no you dont have to shut down before plugging it in. Just remember to eject it, before removing or it may corrupt it.

If youre writing something to it

I didn't know that. In 12 years of messing about with computers I have never used the "safely remove" thing. In fact I tend to just pull the devices out. My grandchildren barked at me recently for not doing the right thing but in fact I have never ever had a problem or lost anything doing this. Am I just lucky or what?
Tom
Thomas01 (317)
684917 2008-07-03 22:56:00 Well that may depend on whether it was writing to it, when you pulled it out.

You may have been lucky, but I wouldnt do it too often, you'll end up with a corrupt flash drive, if you pull it out at the wrong time
Speedy Gonzales (78)
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