What devices are affected?
These steps apply to USB keychain drives, cameras, memory card readers, etc.
Why do this? Why not simply yank it out?
If you don't safely eject the drive, you may corrupt the drive and individual files or completely destroy data.
This process takes just 5 or 10 seconds; there is no reason to skip it and important reasons to do it.
Find the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon.
Attach a USB device which causes an icon to appear in the notification area in the lower right corner of the screen near the time.
The icon has a grey USB plug andejecejecejejvi green circle with a white check mark. If you pause the mouse pointer over the icon, its name will pop up.
Request safe removal.
Single-click the icon. A list of removable drives appears. Pick the USB drive.
Note for the image: This portable computer has 2 removable drives: CD-ROM as D: and a USB keychain as E:.
But I can't tell which drive to select!
If you cannot tell which is your key chain drive, look for the drive letter in the list of devices.
Start button → Computer
This example shows two removable drives.
The silver platter icon is the DVD RW drive. In this case, drive D:
The generic icon represents a removable USB keychain drive, E:.
Now that you know the drive letter, repeat the 'safe removal' process outlined above.
Now you may remove it.
Related Topics
Safely eject a USB drive on Mac OS X
Safely eject a USB drive on Windows XP
Maintained by Brien G. Muller, IT Computer Help Desk
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Revised 08/16/2007