Removing USB items from computer

[techwtr]

I always remove things like digital cameras, PDA's, etc... using the eject hardware icon in the system tray of the computer. Recently I have had to train some employees on using recorders that attach to their computer via USB to transcribe recording on that USB recorder.

I tell these folks to use the eject hardware icon to remove the recorder, but many of them just want to pull the recorder off the USB cable and go about their way. Question....does this cause any damage to anything???

 

[ImpetusEra]

It shouldn't damage anything but it can cause the computer to hang or lockup after the item is unplugged.

 

[chylok]

Removing USB peripherals from a PC like this can sometimes damage any new data on the USB device. Although with Windows XP it doesn't seem to happen as much as it did with Windows 2000.

 

[techwtr]

Thanks for the replies. It hadn't caused a problem yet, but I wanted to check with others to be on the safe side.

 

[edfair]

With the release of 98 Bill Gates was showing off the USB features and bragging that they could be added or pulled without disrupting the OS. While he was talking one of the other people on the stage added a device and the demo machine BSOD'd.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[ImpetusEra]

With Windows 98 the machine could have just been sitting there in the background with no one touching it and have a BSOD pop up.