Thread: How do I safely unplug my WD Portable HD?

If on a PC you should see a small symbol in the bottom right corner of the screen (Near the clock). Mine is like a white box. Right click and select 'safely remove drive'. If you don't see a white symbol maybe you will see a small symbol that looks like the USB sign.

If not that then open 'My computer' and right click on the drive there and see if there is an option to disconnect/remove.

^ Thanks Satonic.

Will look for the icon next time I plug my Portable HD in.

So, it is BAD to just unplug it right? Even if I am not using any files on it at that time?

I have always been told to do it the proper way and a few times I have forgot with no adverse effects but I'm not sure to be honest mate.

i think you can safely unplug it when you have powered off no problem.

but to avoid mistakes and having to think
it's best to get into a habit of going to

''Safely remove hardware and eject media ''

like Satonic says should be next to the clock
if you cannot see it , right click on an empty space near there
and
'''customize notification items ''
and turn icon on

Thanks to all of you.

Much appreciated.

I'll try this tomorrow when I use it and move more stuff.

Cheers.

Look for this if you can't see the white box symbol. Either will allow you to remove safely.

Yeah, I'm on a PC. Thanks much again Satonic.

I'll try this when I get back from work tonight.

Thanks.

Thanks for the additional info adzt1.

I followed Satonic's advice. I found the icon on the lower corner of my lower bar and it worked.

I am now trying to learn a lot more about the basics.

Your info leads me to believe adzt1, that the WD Passport it a pretty sturdy product. But I definitely do not want to drop it or bang it around.

I am moving a ton of stuff over to my WD Passport b/c my beloved Acer laptop that I bought a full 6 years ago is getting clunky.

I'll be buying a new laptop in the US in December.

(Off topic here so I should go to the "new laptop" thread).

Debating whether to continue with the Acer brand or try something different such as a Sony Vaio 17" screen because I only use my laptop for home entertainment and home usage. .

My uses are simple: surf the internet, and watch movies and shows.

That is it.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by barbaro

Thanks for the additional info adzt1.

I followed Satonic's advice. I found the icon on the lower corner of my lower bar and it worked.

I am now trying to learn a lot more about the basics.

Your info leads me to believe adzt1, that the WD Passport it a pretty sturdy product. But I definitely do not want to drop it or bang it around.

I am moving a ton of stuff over to my WD Passport b/c my beloved Acer laptop that I bought a full 6 years ago is getting clunky.

I'll be buying a new laptop in the US in December.

(Off topic here so I should go to the "new laptop" thread).

Debating whether to continue with the Acer brand or try something different such as a Sony Vaio 17" screen because I only use my laptop for home entertainment and home usage. .

My uses are simple: surf the internet, and watch movies and shows.

That is it.

Cheers.

then why buy a laptop?
you pay and give up a lot of flexibility for the option of portability.

17" vaio goes a long way!!

Originally Posted by barbaro

So, it is BAD to just unplug it right?

Depends how quickly you pull the lead out

Originally Posted by Necron99

Originally Posted by barbaro

Thanks for the additional info adzt1.

I followed Satonic's advice. I found the icon on the lower corner of my lower bar and it worked.

I am now trying to learn a lot more about the basics.

Your info leads me to believe adzt1, that the WD Passport it a pretty sturdy product. But I definitely do not want to drop it or bang it around.

I am moving a ton of stuff over to my WD Passport b/c my beloved Acer laptop that I bought a full 6 years ago is getting clunky.

I'll be buying a new laptop in the US in December.

(Off topic here so I should go to the "new laptop" thread).

Debating whether to continue with the Acer brand or try something different such as a Sony Vaio 17" screen because I only use my laptop for home entertainment and home usage. .

My uses are simple: surf the internet, and watch movies and shows.

That is it.

Cheers.

then why buy a laptop?
you pay and give up a lot of flexibility for the option of portability.

I see your point Necron99,

I could buy a tower, but here is theee catch.

Living as an expat and traveling to the US and back and sometimes not knowing nor able to predict the future - a laptop is the best option, hands down.

I also have to store things occasionally.

A laptop is still the way to go.

If....and when....I return to the US one day, I will buy a tower and get a large monitor and possible even hook it up to a TV.

But that will be then.

Originally Posted by adzt1

17" vaio goes a long way!!

I presume you're being serious and not joking?

17" would be good as I am watch a lot of TV and movies on the laptop.

And it's still portable, even though I do not move it much outside the house. But when I need to be mobile I can.

My question now is: should I pay for a i-core 5 when all I do is watch movies and surf the web?

However, I do plan to keep my new laptop that I'll buy in December for 5 years, as that is my usual M.O.

Thoughts? Opinions?

Originally Posted by Neo

When you say i5... which one do you mean exactly!?

List of Intel Core i5 microprocessors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neo,

Thanks for chiming in.

I am *not* sure witch i5. Any recommendations? Or, does it matter as my needs/uses are so simple.

It's boggling, but do try and get the latest one.. and if you're thinking of getting a new laptop, be sure to do it before all new machines ship with Windows 8

I am actually waiting for Windows 8.

You think Windows 8 sux and I should be a model pre-Windows 8? Please give me your opinion.

I am going to buy in 7 weeks in the US.

I all you do is web and movies, you can do that on a cheap tissue box sized desktop unit nowadays with whatever monitor you want, or, alternately buy a 21 inch mac. Almost as portable as a laptop for storage and moving purposes.

I've got an i5-3470.. one of the later incarnations, not the most powerful.

If you are buying a computer off the shelf check that it's not an earlier version, as many mass produced computers will have been manufactured some time ago with what was the best available at the time.. you may be paying over the odds for an i5 chip that is now superceded.

The i core chips have in built graphics capacity but it's worth getting a graphics card to take the load off the chip and allow it to dedicate itself to processing. I went for an Nvidia Geforce 600.. a fairly basic card but adequate for handling movies and internet TV and upscaling to a monitor at 1080px60fps and with the all the required outputs hdmi etc

As for Windows 8.. I wouldn't touch it with a shitty stick. I ran XP for years and avoided Vista.. and now have Windows 7 on my new machine. Vista was a clusterfuck and Windows 8 will be too, Microsoft are doing the same thing over again, forcing their vision of an operating system onto a hapless public without considering that it's faults are going to cause untold frustration for it's millions of users. Windows 7 is what Vista should have been only 5 years down the line, now they have a stable operating system in 7 and they want to change it for a gimick.

Rant over, but seriously look before you leap, there are many concerned voices out there.

Here is an informed article on the frustration users can expect:
5 Unforgivable Windows 8 RTM Problems - CodeProject

Windows 8 is like a bad blind date

http://blogs.computerworld.com/windo...-warns-gartner

Originally Posted by Necron99

I all you do is web and movies, you can do that on a cheap tissue box sized desktop unit nowadays with whatever monitor you want, or, alternately buy a 21 inch mac. Almost as portable as a laptop for storage and moving purposes.

Thanks for the info, Necron.

I'll still stick with a laptop and not a desktop. A 21" inch Mac would be nice, but not the price.

That would be a bit pricey. I have the money, I just don't like spending hundreds more than the alternatives.