USB
I.T. guru mate "Always use the thingy in the toolbar to remove your USB stick"

Me "Yeah ok" having never had anything bad happen up to this point the advice was ignored. You know where this is going.

Important files on memory stck, check. No backup, check. Pulls memory stick out without using the icon. Plugs stick into other PC. Empty.

ALWAYS have a backup. And use the "Safely remove hardware" icon. That is all.
(Outrun Is it the weekend yet?, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 21:24, 8 replies)

No change there then
Users never take advice, their loss!
(Catrim, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 22:41, closed)

Don't worrry
That'll never happen......
(Pill Popper Thank you Sasha Shulgin, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 23:07, closed)

why?
I have never understood this. I work with USB down at the interface level. Once the read/write has been finished, there is no further problem. Perhaps the OS can't find a device, but that wont affect your USB. Can someone please tell me why this myth persists?

PS I always yank my USB out when I am finished.
(justin(e), Fri 16 Nov 2012, 1:29, closed)

On Windows
You can cache writing to USB devices. When 'Copy complete' is shown it can still actually in a buffer being written to the device.
I think this feature is off by default though.
(BlondeBombshell Small but perfectly formed., Fri 16 Nov 2012, 6:59, closed)

sudo umount /dev/sdx (x = appropriate drive letter)

(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 16 Nov 2012, 5:30, closed)

Or 'free'
If you're writing directly to /dev/sdx/ whilst it's unmounted.
( Slippery Mick ‏, Sat 17 Nov 2012, 23:07, closed)

How old a version of Windows are you using???
Safely remove hardware hasn't been needed since XP at least, just don't yank anything out while it's copying, patience !
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Fri 16 Nov 2012, 9:49, closed)

Pen drives are so last week
Nowadays all the kids use dropbox, google drive, sky drive, iCloud.
Or just email the important stuff to yourself.
(GingerIrishTosser isn't dead yet., Mon 19 Nov 2012, 13:31, closed)