[plug] USB Flash Drives - A word to the wise...

[Craig Foster]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: plug-bounces at plug.linux.org.au 
> [mailto:plug-bounces at plug.linux.org.au] On Behalf Of Brad Campbell
> Sent: Friday, 17 December 2004 8:54 PM
> To: plug at plug.linux.org.au
> Subject: Re: [plug] USB Flash Drives - A word to the wise...
> 
> Jim Householder wrote:
> > Hi
> > 
> > A word of caution.  When removing a USBKey flash memory device, the 
> > proper removal process is *highly* recommended.  I assumed that the 
> > only purpose was to make sure buffers were flushed, and if 
> I had made 
> > no changes just pulled it out.  (However after the odd problem with 
> > linux I decided it was best to explicitly umount it first.)
> > 
> > My USBKey has failed after only 3 months and only 20 or so uses.
> > 
> > It appears that another function of the removal process is 
> to make it
> > *electrically* safe to remove the device.  A $39 lesson...
> 
> Actually no. Electrically there is absolutely no difference 
> you can make by mounting/unmounting/removing usb-storage or 
> doing anything short of unloading the usb host drivers.
> 
> You got a dud I'm afraid. I have several USB-keys here that 
> have survived hundreds of plug-unplug cycles under the most 
> adverse conditions with no damage. Nothing more than ensuring 
> the drives have been synced before removing them. One has 
> been used so much I have almost worn out the connector.
> 
> 
> --
> Brad

I'll agree with that. My original 64Mb only died after the third wash :)
Oh, and I always set my Windows PC to 'no write cache' for the sync
reasons...

CraigF.