Unplugging usb's

Lucy Goose · Lucy Goose #1 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 01:38 PM

Hi All,

Still setting up my Mac and have a question. On a PC you have to click "Safe to remove hardware" before unplugging anything connected by a USB. Do you have to do something with a Mac or just unplug it?

Thanks,

Lucy Goose

Mamajag · Mamajag #2 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 01:46 PM

I know you should eject hard drives, usb drives, and memory cards. I'm not sure about printers and such.

Lucy Goose · Lucy Goose #3 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 01:53 PM

This is a SanDisk multiple card reader. Not sure what to do.

RavingMac · RavingMac #4 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 02:13 PM

If you are concerned about it grab the drive image and drag it to the waste basket and it will eject the drive.
On my Macbook Pro I then typically close the lid to unpower the USB port and pull out the device (though I don't think you actually have to do that).

MacGandalf · MacGandalf #5 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucy Goose

This is a SanDisk multiple card reader. Not sure what to do.

Lucy Goose: Surely the Sandisk shows on the desktop like an external hdd when a card is inserted, you should eject it first before unplugging.

Oneironaut · Oneironaut #6 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 03:37 PM

For any external drives, all you need to do is drag its icon from the desktop down to where the trash usually is. The trash icon becomes an eject icon. You can also eject it from the Finder.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #7 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 03:58 PM

The dragging the icon to Trash or selecting Eject under the File menu is the same as the Windows "safe to Remover Hardware' option.

Like Windows, simply unplugging may well cause corruption.

Lucy Goose · Lucy Goose #8 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 04:44 PM

Nope it's not on the desktop like a cd or dvd would be that is why I am asking.

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #9 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 04:55 PM

A card reader will not show anything on the desktop until you plug in a card to be read, at that point you will see a Media icon that you can use to copy files from/to and when you're done, drag that media to the trash to properly unmount the card. If you don't have any card inserted into the card reader, you can safely pull it out..

Regards

Lucy Goose · Lucy Goose #10 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 05:01 PM

Thank you!

ovbg · ovbg #11 (**permalink**)

01-18-2011, 05:49 PM

Look for the drive in Finder (when there is a card inserted) and to the right you will see a small triangle pointing up. Click that and it ejects the external drive, USB stick, memory card (or CD for that matter). You can also right click and select "Eject" which is similar to the Windows way you mention.

Oneironaut · Oneironaut #12 (**permalink**)

01-19-2011, 12:11 PM

You also may need to set the preferences in Finder to show external disks on the desktop. With the Finder as the open application, choose Preferences from the Finder menu on the top left of the menu bar. From there are options to check off boxes for which things you want shown on your desktop. Make sure the External Drives option is checked.

Mamajag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 28, 2010 Location: Podunk, MS Posts: 72 Mac Specs: 2012 MBP 16gb ram, 2.3 i7, 500 gb hd, 750 gb hd	01-18-2011, 01:46 PM I know you should eject hard drives, usb drives, and memory cards. I'm not sure about printers and such. Kim I may have moved to Mac to retire as my family's PC techie...
	QUOTE Thanks

RavingMac #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 07, 2008 Location: In Denial Posts: 6,794 Mac Specs: 4GB Mac Mini 2012, 13" MBA, 15" MacBook Pro OSX 10.7, 32 GB iPhone 3GS, iPad2 64gb 3G	01-18-2011, 02:13 PM If you are concerned about it grab the drive image and drag it to the waste basket and it will eject the drive. On my Macbook Pro I then typically close the lid to unpower the USB port and pull out the device (though I don't think you actually have to do that). Of course, I know everything . . . I just can't remember it all at once.
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,086 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	01-18-2011, 03:58 PM The dragging the icon to Trash or selecting Eject under the File menu is the same as the Windows "safe to Remover Hardware' option. Like Windows, simply unplugging may well cause corruption. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Unplugging CRT monitor	telecarver1	Apple Desktops	30	01-25-2012 03:32 PM
Formatting USB's on Macbook Pro?	missgiraffe	Switcher Hangout	3	12-29-2010 05:22 PM
Mac G5 USBs won't work	El-Presidente	Apple Desktops	4	03-08-2009 12:29 AM
Unplugging my iMac	wml2005	Apple Desktops	2	08-28-2008 11:40 AM
Switch between internal and external speakers without unplugging?	Dawson	OS X - Operating System	1	08-29-2007 03:04 PM

Unplugging usb's

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

Lucy Goose #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 02, 2011 Posts: 40	01-18-2011, 01:38 PM Hi All, Still setting up my Mac and have a question. On a PC you have to click "Safe to remove hardware" before unplugging anything connected by a USB. Do you have to do something with a Mac or just unplug it? Thanks, Lucy Goose
	QUOTE Thanks

Oneironaut #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2009 Posts: 1,262 Mac Specs: 21" iMac * 2.8 Ghz Intel Core i7 * 16GB 1333 Mhz DDR3 * 1TB HD *AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB	01-18-2011, 03:37 PM For any external drives, all you need to do is drag its icon from the desktop down to where the trash usually is. The trash icon becomes an eject icon. You can also eject it from the Finder.
	QUOTE Thanks

Lucy Goose #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 02, 2011 Posts: 40	01-18-2011, 04:44 PM Nope it's not on the desktop like a cd or dvd would be that is why I am asking.
	QUOTE Thanks

Raz0rEdge #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 17, 2009 Location: MA Posts: 5,822 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD, iPhone 3G & 4, iPod Nano 16GB, iPod Shuffle, iPad 2 16GB WiFi	01-18-2011, 04:55 PM A card reader will not show anything on the desktop until you plug in a card to be read, at that point you will see a Media icon that you can use to copy files from/to and when you're done, drag that media to the trash to properly unmount the card. If you don't have any card inserted into the card reader, you can safely pull it out.. Regards
	QUOTE Thanks

Lucy Goose #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 02, 2011 Posts: 40	01-18-2011, 05:01 PM Thank you!
	QUOTE Thanks

ovbg #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 22, 2010 Posts: 126	01-18-2011, 05:49 PM Look for the drive in Finder (when there is a card inserted) and to the right you will see a small triangle pointing up. Click that and it ejects the external drive, USB stick, memory card (or CD for that matter). You can also right click and select "Eject" which is similar to the Windows way you mention.
	QUOTE Thanks

Oneironaut #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2009 Posts: 1,262 Mac Specs: 21" iMac * 2.8 Ghz Intel Core i7 * 16GB 1333 Mhz DDR3 * 1TB HD *AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB	01-19-2011, 12:11 PM You also may need to set the preferences in Finder to show external disks on the desktop. With the Finder as the open application, choose Preferences from the Finder menu on the top left of the menu bar. From there are options to check off boxes for which things you want shown on your desktop. Make sure the External Drives option is checked.
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)