10-26-2007, 12:09 PM

Is it possible for OS X to let me remove a USB flash drive without first ejecting it and without receiving the device removal warning?

I have a Macbook Pro and a Windows desktop PC that I regularly use a USB flash drive with. In Windows I have no trouble just pulling the drive when I'm done with it, but in OS X I have to manually eject the drive before removal or I get the typical warning about removing without first ejecting.

Does it really hurt anything to remove a drive from under OS X without ejecting? If not, is there a way to disable the warning that pops up every single time? I always wait for any read/write to finish before I remove it so I don't see how that would hurt a thing.

It just becomes time consuming and annoying as I'm having to stop and wait to eject all throughout the day. (I use this thing a lot!)

10-26-2007, 12:13 PM

Back in Tiger, I removed a 2gb drive without ejecting. I still have it... it just doesn't do anything anymore.

I wouldn't risk it. Watch the activity lights on your key when you eject and then watch them on a PC when you tell it to disconnect. OS X is doing something hardcore.

10-26-2007, 12:16 PM

It's not a good idea, because it could potentially lead to a corrupted disk or incomplete files. Ejecting it lets the Mac finish any activity in progress.

Similarly you shouldn't disconnect a device from a Windows PC without using the "Safely Remove Hardware" command.

10-26-2007, 12:26 PM

Yes, I understand the risks, which is why I say I wait for any operations to complete (I wait for the drive light to stop flashing). Despite the risk, I'm not dealing with anything I can't stand to lose but I am dealing with copying small files back and forth several times a day. Windows at least lets me do it my way without nagging me about it and I was hoping OS X would do the same.

Is there at least a hotkey for ejecting, rather than alt-clicking or dragging the drive icon to the trash?

I'm just looking to cut down on steps in what's already a repetitive task.

10-26-2007, 12:31 PM

The keyboard shortcut for ejecting is command+E.

10-26-2007, 12:58 PM

Does command-E do if you have multiple removal drives attached? Eject everything at once?

Thanks for all the info, BTW.

10-26-2007, 01:56 PM

Does command-E do if you have multiple removal drives attached? Eject everything at once?

It only removes the volume which you selected.

10-26-2007, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by tyson0016

Does command-E do if you have multiple removal drives attached? Eject everything at once?

Thanks for all the info, BTW.

Cmd+E will Eject whatever drive is highlighted... even multiple drives.

10-26-2007, 02:58 PM

In Windows I have no trouble just pulling the drive when I'm done with it

Sure, you have no trouble doing it until you wipe your data. It's not just about the drive being in use, but also that it is powered, and so you can cause a surge! Be careful