Issues with USB Devices

[gt1991]

I am having issues getting my Flash Drives and some other USB devices.
My 8 GB Kingston Data Traveler doesn't seem to work. Tried connecting it in both USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports. It is detected at times but then vanishes or is not functionable.
Seagate GoFlex 1TB does work in the 3.0 ports though.
Regarding my cellphones the Nokia N8 is able to connect in Media Transfer Mode but the rest like the Nokia 7230 and my E63 are not detected at all in any mode. I tried them all..PC Suite,Media transfer,etc.
I read a post on softpedia about this Windows 8 USB 2.0 and 3.0 Device Issues - Softpedia wish this gets fixed somehow. Not being able to use my USB devices is disappointing.

 

[whs]

I have two Kingston Data Traveler permanently attached to my system and they work perfectly well in W8.

 

[gt1991]

Which ports you using them in ? And the drivers you have ?

 

[gt1991]

Yeah I tried my Transcend 4GB and it worked like a charm.
I guess there is some issue with that specific Flash Drive. Dunno about my Cellphones though...will try something for them too.

 

[Mark Phelps]

One thing I noticed in my install of Win8 is that, unlike with Win7, there is no option to safely remove a flash drive. When I click on the green arrow icon, I get the same popup for the device, but it is greyed out. In Win7, I can click the device and safely remove it. So, I have been just pulling out the USB sticks and flash cards -- and so far, this has not posed a problem.

 

[Coke Robot]

It's an alpha build, so I wouldn't worry to much about that.

 

[Avalon]

Removing USB devices 'unsafely' is just a load of crap. As long as you are not reading or writing data to them, and a program is not interacting with it, pull it out!

Sounds like OP is having a software problem though, so wait for Beta/RC and see if it gets resolved.

 

[mikedl]

Removing USB devices 'unsafely' is just a load of crap.

Not necessarily, Avalon.
If you have a critical file that you must take to a client meeting, it's best you do all you can to be assured it's on the USB stick.

Haven't worked much yet in the real world, have you?

 

[whs]

Removing USB devices 'unsafely' is just a load of crap.

Not necessarily, Avalon.
If you have a critical file that you must take to a client meeting, it's best you do all you can to be assured it's on the USB stick.

Haven't worked much yet in the real world, have you?

That is a good point. But all you have to make sure is that the write buffer was emptied. And for that it suffices that you wait a few seconds whilst the system idles. But you could also turn off the write caching (you take a small performance hit though).

 

[mikedl]

Indeed, Wolfgang, even so, the action of removing a USB stick in the proper manner (or "safely") does not make the action of doing so "crap" as Avalon alleged.

 

[whs]

Indeed, Wolfgang, even so, the action of removing a USB stick in the proper manner (or "safely") does not make the action of doing so "crap" as Avalon alleged.

Agree, it is always prudent to follow "standard procedures". My point was that if you know how this stuff works, you can live without the "safely remove" - at least for now. I suppose that Avalon was implying the same thing.

 

[mikedl]

Indeed, Wolfgang, even so, the action of removing a USB stick in the proper manner (or "safely") does not make the action of doing so "crap" as Avalon alleged.

Agree, it is always prudent to follow "standard procedures". My point was that if you know how this stuff works, you can live without the "safely remove" - at least for now. I suppose that Avalon was implying the same thing.

When I have an important meeting, the last thing I have on my mind is "removing the USB stick (or drive) unsafely is crap."

 

[Avalon]

Okay, well... I'll let you know when I have issues with a USB. I have about 10 of them all containing critical files... No problems yet.

 

[mikedl]

I never said you had issues but when one is in a mission critical situation with thousands of dollars on the line, it's better to be safe than sorry.

That's all. It's not "crap."

 

[Avalon]

I never said you had issues but when one is in a mission critical situation with thousands of dollars on the line, it's better to be safe than sorry.

That's all. It's not "crap."

Well what does it actually do then? Ejecting a USB 'safely', I mean.
As far as I am aware, the only major concern is doing a major write to a USB and removing it too quickly, as the operating system writes files to the memory cache then transfers them in the background. I can't imagine reading files would be much of an issue?

 

[mikedl]

Indeed, Avalon, there are times wherein it is perfectly acceptable to yank a USB drive (or stick) but I'd rather not chance it when it's a mission critical situation.

How long do you want to argue about this?

The practice of removing a USB drive (or stick) "safely" is not "crap" no matter how much you might believe it to be so.

I know all of the particulars, Avalon, regarding read and write caches and USB devices.
I have yet to get burned because I take precautions in situations wherein thousands of dollars are on the line and an hour retrieving a file that didn't get correctly copied when I was in a hurry could mean losing an account.

Certainly, there are now better ways of transporting media (such as the cloud) but not all of my clients are tuned into those alternatives.

 

[Avalon]

I didn't think it was an argument... I just thought it was a civil discussion. Heh.

I've been reading up on the subject, and it would make sense when you are writing files, for sure, as it is extremely important the cache is emptied and data is finished being written. The last thing you would need is header data, pointers, and even the data files themselves being written incorrectly. As far as I can tell when reading files, it's not necessarily as important, but may cause issues when connecting to the same operating system in the future.
In fact, Windows has a built in scanner that checks pointers and sectors upon connect, and I believe that if there are no actual errors there won't be a problem.

It probably wouldn't make much difference to me if I removed them 'safely' or not, as often I will leave USB's plugged in for an hour after they have 'finished copying', so I've never really experienced issues.

As far as the cloud goes, I've been having a look into alternatives to USB's, such as Google Docs and Office Live, and other more direct options like Dropbox, etc., but haven't quite found something that really 'clicks' with me, yet, if you get what I mean.

Anyway, I think we have deviated from the original topic.

 

[aem]

USB ports gets corrupted also, and this relates to corrupt drivers or dlls. As for actively writing to the USB devices obviously you can't pull them out mid way. USB devices are always active when they are connected, pulling them out at any point without safe remove first always carry risks.

 

[Avalon]

USB devices are always active when they are connected, pulling them out at any point without safe remove first always carry risks.

Whilst that is true, how long before the USB stops exchanging critical cached data fragments (including headers and sectors)? Surely with the USB power saving modes built into Windows this wouldn't be such an issue?

 

[mikedl]

Just keep pulling your sticks willy-nilly, Avalon, and I hope you have no issues ever ... really.

For those of us who desire to "safely" remove a USB in the intended manner, don't tell us it's "crap," OK?