Safely Remove eSata Drive

[SiM]

Is this possible? Or do I have to shutdown?

[this_is_gav]

Uninstall it in Device Manager. Though some controllers don't allow it without a restart anyway, or if the device is in use. Even if you uninstall it, then restart Windows, it will still be there, or if you reinsert the drive.

Some controllers/drivers have the safely remove hardware option, though I presume since you've mentioned that, it's not in there.

[Funkstar]

should be able to safely remove like you would a USB drive, hen just unplug it.

Does it show in Windows "Safely Remove Hardware" utility?

Thinking about it, I think you can change this with most SATA controllers. They can make windows see a fixed or removable disk.

I think my HTPC can even present the boot drive as removable.... even though it obviously fails every time you try and do it. Windows isn't actually stupid enough to let you remove the drive it booted from

[SiM]

should be able to safely remove like you would a USB drive, hen just unplug it.

Does it show in Windows "Safely Remove Hardware" utility?

Unfortunately it doesn't show there. If it did I think I would have figured it out

I have been "disabling" it in device manager up to now, is that safe?

Should I uninstall it instead?

Thinking about it, I think you can change this with most SATA controllers. They can make windows see a fixed or removable disk.

I think my HTPC can even present the boot drive as removable.... even though it obviously fails every time you try and do it. Windows isn't actually stupid enough to let you remove the drive it booted from

"Optimise for quick removal" is greyed out for me (Vista x64)

[Infinite]

I think my HTPC can even present the boot drive as removable.... even though it obviously fails every time you try and do it. Windows isn't actually stupid enough to let you remove the drive it booted from

Yeh, all my hard drives appear there as well, lol.

Would it really damage the drive if you just ripped it straight out like a usb drive?

[peterb]

Sata can be hot unplugged - ie the drive doesn't have to be powered down. However on OS systems that dodelayed write if the drive is unplugged while it is mounted, there is a risk of data loss. Unmounting the drive ("safely remove hardware" - as MS outs it) flushes the disk buffersfirst. This is also drive for USB devices.

The controller is another issue though and while no ohysical damage will be caused, a controller that isn't designed for (or configured for) hot plugging won't recognise a SATA drive when it is hot plugged, or necessarily recognise its removal when unplugged.

[Funkstar]

Would it really damage the drive if you just ripped it straight out like a usb drive?

You should always safely remove your hardware. Helps prevent data corruption and loss.

Admitedly I don't do it every single time, most of the time I do, especially if I have be writing to the drive.