The safest way to remove a USB device from your PC is to use the “Safely Remove Hardware” tool. This tool will ensure that all data on the USB device has been written to your PC’s hard drive or other storage media before the device is disconnected.
Using the Safely Remove Hardware Tool
1. Before you remove your USB device, make sure that any files or applications that you were using on the device have been closed or saved to your hard drive. This will help to ensure that any data left on the device won’t be lost when it is removed.
2. Right-click the Windows icon in the lower left-hand corner of your screen and select ‘Device Manager’. This will open a window that lists all of the devices that are connected to your computer.
3. Locate the USB device that you wish to remove and double-click on it. This will open a window with details about the device including its name and manufacturer.
4. At the bottom of the window there is an option to ‘Uninstall’ the device. Click this option, and then confirm that you want to uninstall the device.
5. Once the device has been uninstalled, you can close the Device Manager window.
6. Now, click on the Windows Start Menu and select ‘Settings’. Then, click on ‘Devices’ and select ‘USB’ from the list of options.
7. In the USB settings window, click the ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ button. This will open a pop-up window asking which device you want to remove. Select the device that you wish to remove and click ‘OK’.
8. A message will appear telling you that it is safe to remove the device. You can now go ahead and remove the USB device safely.
9. Finally, make sure that you have securely stored any data that you had on the USB device before you dispose of it.
By following these steps, you can safely remove a USB device from your PC. Doing so will ensure that any data on the device is properly backed up before it is removed. It also allows you to safely dispose of any USB devices that you no longer need.