external hard drives

Peter2

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Power User
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Hello
When I want to connect or disconnect my external drive with my os images in it, should I turn the pc off or can I do this on the fly? I have been doing it on the fly for years but someone said it is not the right way.
Thank you
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8300, Dell Inspiron 15 R N5010
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE force 420
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, MBAM, Router
It's USB attached so on the fly is fine. I would connect it then turn it on.
When you're done, use the Safely remove function (not sure how you access this in Metro) before you power it off then remove it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
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    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
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    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
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    Lenovo
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ac

It's USB attached so on the fly is fine. I would connect it then turn it on.
When you're done, use the Safely remove function (not sure how you access this in Metro) before you power it off then remove it.

>.Good to c u.
What about ac power; can it be turned on and off on the fly too?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8300, Dell Inspiron 15 R N5010
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE force 420
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, MBAM, Router
It's USB attached so on the fly is fine. I would connect it then turn it on.
When you're done, use the Safely remove function (not sure how you access this in Metro) before you power it off then remove it.

>.Good to c u.
What about ac power; can it be turned on and off on the fly too?

It CAN, but it's not a good idea. When you do a safely remove, that shuts down the drive. IF you turn it off while the drive is being accessed, that risks corrupting the filesystem -- which is why there is a safely remove option in the first place.
 

My Computer

ac power

Please bear with me.
if I safely remove the usb cable from the external drive, should I then unplug the ac to the drive?
OR, do I need to shut off the pc in order to install or uninstall the external drive?

I get the usb safety remove but the ac is not clear.
Thank you
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8300, Dell Inspiron 15 R N5010
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE force 420
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, MBAM, Router
Hello
When I want to connect or disconnect my external drive with my os images in it, should I turn the pc off or can I do this on the fly? I have been doing it on the fly for years but someone said it is not the right way.
Thank you
For all external dirives, including flash drives, I don't hesitate to attach on the fly. On the other side of the coin, I always try to use "safely remove" when I want to disconnect a drive. If for some reason that does not work, then I go Computer > right click on the drive and look for eject. If eject is not there, then I just disconnect the darn thing--unless I want to be very careful with its contents. Then, I shutdown before disconnecting. Once disconnected and I can tell a drive is spun down, then I disconnect the power if I want. There is no reason to do so at this time, though, unless I want to move the drive, etc.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
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    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
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ac power

Let us assume the usb safety issue is resolved.

Is it safe to unplug the ac power while the pc is on or do you need to turn the pc off?
Thank you for the patience.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8300, Dell Inspiron 15 R N5010
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE force 420
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, MBAM, Router
If there is no "safety issue," then, if you are talking about, power to an external drive, then, by all means, take the power away from the drive--whenever you want--PC on or off.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
For a powered USB external drive, I try to do the "Safely Remove" or "Eject" first. If there is some application "holding" the drive (like software you installed when you first installed the drive), shut that down.

I have a portable USB 3.0 hard drive that doesn't show the "Eject" option and doesn't show up in the "Safely Remove Hardware" list. I have gotten into the habit of simply unplugging when I am done using it, and I haven't had any problems.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64
I appreciate the information. I will safety remove the external drives and when notified will remove them. I will then unplug them from the surge suppressor with the pc on.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8300, Dell Inspiron 15 R N5010
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE force 420
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, MBAM, Router
I'm a HP man, exclusively. That's all that I will buy. It include computers, printers, ink, DVD's and external hard drives, ex- modems, routers, network adapters. Oop's except flash drives too and I buy SanDisc.

I'm strictly an American patriot that believes in buy American. *( My last computer was shipped from Mexico. I have components from Ireland, China, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam ----........ !!! ). When I meet my next computer made in America it will be my first. I won't be able to describe it but I'll know it when I see it. *( If I live long enough )>

The OFFICIAL HP recommendation is to power down before unplugging the HP hard drive. And power up after it is plugged back in. However, I like so many others, just unplug it and plug it back in powered up. I don't know what the detrimental effects are but I have been doing it for some time and I really haven't noticed any adverse effects. If your friend told you to power down before he/she was absolutely telling you the correct manufacturers information.

But I did notice that on my new HP computer with Windows 8 sometimes the hard drive isn't showing and sometimes it is. And if I plug in two hard drives called HP Pocket Media Drives, only one will show. But I think that's due to the USB 2's on the same system.

I read on HP's website that 1 TB cost $2,000 10 years ago. I was in Costco, a national membership wholesale chain here in the USA a couple days ago and they had a Seagate 4 TB Backup Plus External Hard Driver USB 3 or 2.0 plug and play connectivity *( That's plug and play connectivity BTW ! ), preloaded with automatic backup software. Works with PC's and Mac's. Item 695080.


Warehouse price $179. Instant savings *( at cash register ) $20. Your cost $159.99 !!!! Offer good Jan 31 - Feb 24, 2013.

___________________________________________________________________________

Bottom line. Both schools of thought are correct as it applies to specific manufacturers.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
hunt and peck typer

I cannot type well but I agree with your comments over all.
I usually use the safety disconnect feature with the external as well as the usb flash drives. Once disconnected the ac power is what is still debatable for many, HP excluded.
I usually just unplug the ac on the fly as the drive is now detached from the machine.
Now installing it is another story which I am unsure about. I think it best to plug ac in while the pc is off and it makes no difference whether the pc is on or off when I plug the drive's usb in but I do it when it is off.
Thank you for the interesting information.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8300, Dell Inspiron 15 R N5010
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE force 420
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, MBAM, Router
I have two external drives on docks. 200GB and 500GB. I used to just remove until someone said no, right click on drive and select eject, then it says you can remove, and do.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    pc specialist made to order
    CPU
    Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Processor i7-4790 (3.6GHz) 8MB Cache
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    ASUS® H81M-PLUS: Micro-ATX, LG1150, USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs
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    Monitor(s) Displays
    iiyama 24 inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB 3.5" SEAGATE SSHD, SATA 6Gb/s 7200 RPM (64MB + 8GB SSD CACHE)

    2TB Seagate SATA HDD

    500Gb SATA docked
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    152mb
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    FF, IE11
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    AVG Internet Security 2015
    Other Info
    16x BLU-RAY WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW

    10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
I understand and thank you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8300, Dell Inspiron 15 R N5010
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE force 420
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, MBAM, Router
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