USB drives - eject - then what ?
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From: - Bobb - on 2 Dec 2009 17:31 Suggestions ? I just rearranged my PC desk and routed cables (to make it neat) and now it occurred to me: I have 2 "MyBook" USB drives (500gb and 1 Tb) that do NOT have a power off/on switch. Normally I would plug in the cables (power/usb) when I wanted to use a drive, and disconnect when I shutdown. BUT with things neatly wrapped up in the back, I won't be able to plug/unplug from FRONT USB connector and I can't see the rear connections ( tower in a PC desk), SO - the easiest way to keep drives independent is to use power strip (with switch) for each drive - ? http://www.superwarehouse.com/Tripp_Lite_Under_Monitor_6_Outlet_Surge_Suppressor/TMC-6/pf/1487604 anyone prefer another ? I know I can right-click /eject , but if I later want to use drive, how to tell PC to use THAT drive ? Other than to unplug drive /reconnect. I wouldn't want to remove/reattach either cable with PC on. So I think this is the way to go.
From: Jeff Strickland on 2 Dec 2009 17:41 "- Bobb -" <bobb(a)noemail.123> wrote in message news:hf6prb$cr9$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > Suggestions ? > > I just rearranged my PC desk and routed cables (to make it neat) and now > it occurred to me: I have 2 "MyBook" USB drives (500gb and 1 Tb) that do > NOT have a power off/on switch. Normally I would plug in the cables > (power/usb) when I wanted to use a drive, and disconnect when I shutdown. > BUT with things neatly wrapped up in the back, I won't be able to > plug/unplug from FRONT USB connector and I can't see the rear connections > ( tower in a PC desk), SO - the easiest way to keep drives independent is > to use power strip (with switch) for each drive - ? > > http://www.superwarehouse.com/Tripp_Lite_Under_Monitor_6_Outlet_Surge_Suppressor/TMC-6/pf/1487604 > anyone prefer another ? > > I know I can right-click /eject , but if I later want to use drive, how to > tell PC to use THAT drive ? Other than to unplug drive /reconnect. I > wouldn't want to remove/reattach either cable with PC on. So I think this > is the way to go. > > > > Why have two USB drives connected at the same time? But, whatever ... You do not eject USB drives. You find the Safely Remove icon in the tool tray -- next to the clock -- and select the drive you want to remove. When the drive is removed, you can unplug it and leave the cable on your desk so it can be used to plug in the next drive when you want it. You can leave the drives connected all of the time though. There is no reason to unplug them if you don't want to.
From: "Repelsteeltje" henbrosj.2 on 2 Dec 2009 18:01 "- Bobb -" <bobb(a)noemail.123> schreef in bericht news:hf6prb$cr9$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > Suggestions ? > > I just rearranged my PC desk and routed cables (to make it neat) and now > it occurred to me: I have 2 "MyBook" USB drives (500gb and 1 Tb) that do > NOT have a power off/on switch. Normally I would plug in the cables > (power/usb) when I wanted to use a drive, and disconnect when I shutdown. > BUT with things neatly wrapped up in the back, I won't be able to > plug/unplug from FRONT USB connector and I can't see the rear connections > ( tower in a PC desk), SO - the easiest way to keep drives independent is > to use power strip (with switch) for each drive - ? > > http://www.superwarehouse.com/Tripp_Lite_Under_Monitor_6_Outlet_Surge_Suppressor/TMC-6/pf/1487604 > anyone prefer another ? > > I know I can right-click /eject , but if I later want to use drive, how to > tell PC to use THAT drive ? Other than to unplug drive /reconnect. I > wouldn't want to remove/reattach either cable with PC on. So I think this > is the way to go. > >Use a external USB-Hub. Mayby that solve your problem. Janus > >
From: - Bobb - on 3 Dec 2009 09:55 "Jeff Strickland" <crwlrjeff(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message news:hf6qe9$g6g$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > > "- Bobb -" <bobb(a)noemail.123> wrote in message > news:hf6prb$cr9$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> Suggestions ? >> >> I just rearranged my PC desk and routed cables (to make it neat) and now >> it occurred to me: I have 2 "MyBook" USB drives (500gb and 1 Tb) that do >> NOT have a power off/on switch. Normally I would plug in the cables >> (power/usb) when I wanted to use a drive, and disconnect when I shutdown. >> BUT with things neatly wrapped up in the back, I won't be able to >> plug/unplug from FRONT USB connector and I can't see the rear connections >> ( tower in a PC desk), SO - the easiest way to keep drives independent is >> to use power strip (with switch) for each drive - ? >> anyone prefer another ? >> >> I know I can right-click /eject , but if I later want to use drive, how >> to tell PC to use THAT drive ? Other than to unplug drive /reconnect. I >> wouldn't want to remove/reattach either cable with PC on. So I think this >> is the way to go. > > Why have two USB drives connected at the same time? But, whatever ... > They have different stuff on them - using them rather than internal to have the portability. One has My Stuff - images , videos, backups - other used for family pictures etc so I can bring to kin's houses to copy their recent pix , show them others etc. SO - for a while will be on my desk and plugged into the back of PC ( which I can't get to easily). > You do not eject USB drives. You find the Safely Remove icon in the tool > tray -- next to the clock -- and select the drive you want to remove. When > the drive is removed, you can unplug it and leave the cable on your desk > so it can be used to plug in the next drive when you want it. > > You can leave the drives connected all of the time though. There is no > reason to unplug them if you don't want to. BUT, after using the 'Safely Remove icon' to remove the drive, if 30 minutes later you find that you need something off that drive again - how to have XP see it again ? Other than physically touching a cable ? My way was to 'Safely Remove it' then power it off with strip - if later needed I'd turn back on and system will notice. My objective is - not to have to get behind PC ( requires sliding tower out of desk to get access) and only have the drive spinning when I need it ( not often), rather than having it spinning whenever I'm on the PC. I bought an under monitor power strip and a few 6 inch extension cords to allow me to plug in 3 devices with "transformer connector " at the outlet end if cord. Works good. Now a power switch for each, so a power cycle will get XP to see it again.
From: Jeff Strickland on 3 Dec 2009 12:47
"- Bobb -" <bobb(a)noemail.123> wrote in message news:hf8jgm$m5i$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > > "Jeff Strickland" <crwlrjeff(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message > news:hf6qe9$g6g$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> >> "- Bobb -" <bobb(a)noemail.123> wrote in message >> news:hf6prb$cr9$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >>> Suggestions ? >>> >>> I just rearranged my PC desk and routed cables (to make it neat) and now >>> it occurred to me: I have 2 "MyBook" USB drives (500gb and 1 Tb) that >>> do NOT have a power off/on switch. Normally I would plug in the cables >>> (power/usb) when I wanted to use a drive, and disconnect when I >>> shutdown. BUT with things neatly wrapped up in the back, I won't be able >>> to plug/unplug from FRONT USB connector and I can't see the rear >>> connections ( tower in a PC desk), SO - the easiest way to keep drives >>> independent is to use power strip (with switch) for each drive - ? >>> anyone prefer another ? >>> >>> I know I can right-click /eject , but if I later want to use drive, how >>> to tell PC to use THAT drive ? Other than to unplug drive /reconnect. I >>> wouldn't want to remove/reattach either cable with PC on. So I think >>> this is the way to go. >> >> Why have two USB drives connected at the same time? But, whatever ... >> > > They have different stuff on them - using them rather than internal to > have the portability. One has My Stuff - images , videos, backups - other > used for family pictures etc so I can bring to kin's houses to copy their > recent pix , show them others etc. SO - for a while will be on my desk > and plugged into the back of PC ( which I can't get to easily). > >> You do not eject USB drives. You find the Safely Remove icon in the tool >> tray -- next to the clock -- and select the drive you want to remove. >> When the drive is removed, you can unplug it and leave the cable on your >> desk so it can be used to plug in the next drive when you want it. >> >> You can leave the drives connected all of the time though. There is no >> reason to unplug them if you don't want to. > > BUT, after using the 'Safely Remove icon' to remove the drive, if 30 > minutes later you find that you need something off that drive again - how > to have XP see it again ? Just plug it in. Unplug the drive from the back of the drive and leave the cable connected to the PC. You do not need to disconnect the cable from the PC. It's exactly the same as having an extension cord plugged into the wall behind the dresser and sticking out so you can plug in the vacuum or a lamp. The cord (extension cord for electricity or for a USB device) is merely a means of moving the hole from one place to another. It sounds as if you might benefit from a USB Hub. This is a device that plugs into the USB port on the back of your PC and then brings (typically) four USB ports to the front where there is a small device that you leave on the desk that you can plug additional USB devices into. The hub knows to assign drive letters to the devices you connect. USB devices are discovered as they come and go, that's the beauty of them. Early implementations had USB ports only on the back of the PC, but it quickly became apparent that devices would be (or might be) transient -- the users would attach them as needed then take them away again -- and the ports on the back of the machine were not very useful, as you have discovered. All new machines have a variety of USB ports on the front to accomodate the many iterations of USB device -- memory cards come in several flavors that fit into four various sizes, and the standard USB port -- to accept these transient devices. Your USB drives are connected on the back where the permanant devices are found -- printers and scanners and such that get connected and remain in place -- but you want to remove them for any number of reasons that are all valid. Several options are available. You can install a PCI card that will give even greater USB capability at the back of your machine, if you need more capability. (this can be done for about $25). This will give you four more USB ports at the rear of your machine. There are USB ports that can be installed in an unused Expansion Bay on the front of your machine. Most machines still have extra bays where you can install a 3.5 and 5.25 device -- the old floppy drives and CD/DVDs for example. They make memory card readers that fit into the 3.5-inch drive bay and plug into a PCI port on the motherboard. Depending on the reader you select, you can have USB ports on it as well so that you can connect your camera without taking the card out of it. There are lots of things that you might want to connect for an hour or two, then remove, and the USB will see them come and go automatically. Your options are pretty much wide open. You can add additional USB ports on the back of your machine, install new USB support to the front, or buy a USB hub and plug it into an existing port on the back to bring that port out to where you can use it whenever you want. Many new monitors have a USB cable that plugs into the back of the PC, and this makes the monitor into a hub that you can plug your transient devices into. USB is highly versatile, but you are stuck in the stone age where you impose your own limits that don't exist anymore. The easist thing for you to do is to simply disconnect your external drives from the back of the drive itself and leave the cable in place. Then when you need the drive, plug it in again. You can use the cable with any USB device that fits on the exposed end. The device will report itself to the machine, and make itself ready to use. When you are done using it, Safely Remove it so the USB port will be prepared to accept the next device you want to plug in. Other than physically touching a cable ? My way was > to 'Safely Remove it' then power it off with strip - if later needed I'd > turn back on and system will notice. > My objective is - not to have to get behind PC ( requires sliding tower > out of desk to get access) and only have the drive spinning when I need > it ( not often), rather than having it spinning whenever I'm on the PC. > > I bought an under monitor power strip and a few 6 inch extension cords to > allow me to plug in 3 devices with "transformer connector " at the outlet > end if cord. > Works good. Now a power switch for each, so a power cycle will get XP to > see it again. > > Merely connecting a USB device will cause XP to see it. |