"Safely remove" drive before hibernation?

Do one have to "safely remove" (with that icon in the system tray) a drive (e.g. an external USB hdd) before hibernation? Or can one plug the plug off when / while the computer / Notebook hibernates?

I agree with AddRAM

When a computer goes into hibernation the contents of RAM is saved to disk. This includes portions of the disk that may be in the file cache. It is critical that this cached copy remains in sync with the data on the drive or results are unpredictable, but generally unpleasant. With a local disk it is difficult to be otherwise. Normally Windows will flush the cache of removable drives before hibernation. The problem is that sometimes removable drives do not get recognized as such and then you have a potentially serious problem. If you use the safe removal procedure the cache will be flushed properly and no problems should occur.

I agree with AddRAM & for precisely the reason that LMiller7 has described!

(I can't say I always practice what I preach though, I've often done what ThrashZone suggests but it's a "BIG FAT do it @ your own risk scenario. Unwise if you have important data stored on it - and what else, pray tell, would one have on such a drive? Hmm..) ....Now that's a real thinker!

Many thanks.

It would be very smart to, it may show up as unallocated one day

So that is the answer to my first question. It sounds very frightening, it really can be like that (after hibernation)?

I usually just shutdown to connect and disconnect external hdd's in an enclosure

But it might be a bit inconvenient and if you need the computer kept running not possible.

Very often it is not possible to remove a drive safely, a message is often shown saying either an unknown error occurred the drive cannot be removed or some process is accessing it. But I cannot find any process accessing the drive, e.g. "Unlocker" does not show any. And if shutting down the computer is not possible at the moment...

When a computer goes into hibernation the contents of RAM is saved to disk. This includes portions of the disk that may be in the file cache. It is critical that this cached copy remains in sync with the data on the drive or results are unpredictable, but generally unpleasant. With a local disk it is difficult to be otherwise. Normally Windows will flush the cache of removable drives before hibernation. The problem is that sometimes removable drives do not get recognized as such and then you have a potentially serious problem. If you use the safe removal procedure the cache will be flushed properly and no problems should occur.

Sorry, I do not understand, if an external drive is not recognized (as such) why is it accessible?

Actually I would have thought according to the default settings (deactivated cache on the external drives) (screenshot) something like that, data loss, cannot / should not happen.



All of what is being said here applies to Win 10 also?

Sorry, I do not understand, if an external drive is not recognized (as such) why is it accessible?

I meant that sometimes a external drive gets recognized as an internal drive and not as an external. This is usually a driver issue.

The screenshot refers to the drives internal cache, not the system file cache which is usually much larger. This must remain consistent with the data on the drive or results are unpredictable.

The basic principles of hibernation haven't changed since it was introduced so everything said applies to all versions.

I don't have a great deal of experience with hibernation but I do understand how it works quite well and the potential dangers. This isn't apparent to the user but the details of hibernation are really very complex.

I meant that sometimes a external drive gets recognized as an internal drive and not as an external. This is usually a driver issue.

I understand, I have never encountered such a problem.

The screenshot refers to the drives internal cache, not the system file cache which is usually much larger. This must remain consistent with the data on the drive or results are unpredictable.

I am not quite sure, the text says "deactivates the writing cache of the drive and in Windows" and "the drive can be removed without using the icon 'safely remove'".

I don't have a great deal of experience with hibernation but I do understand how it works quite well and the potential dangers. This isn't apparent to the user but the details of hibernation are really very complex.

Yes, I could imagine that. What are the "potential dangers"?

Many thanks

I understand, thank you for the link.