HI Deborah,

I'm glad you've been so lucky.

I would ignore that warning, too (like "Illegal operation" which got so
many users riled up about years ago) but one day I inserted the flash drive
and it wouldn't open that file I update daily.

Later, I learned from others you can NOT just ignore  that Windows warning.

So, I ensure I get the Free to Remove window now.

Again, the issue with W10 (not 7 and not XP in my experience) is that even
when I hover over ever application along my toolbar (bottom of screen) and
none are open it still says I must close all applications I may have had
open having nothing to do with my flash drive.

Mostly I open word processing software to save files to my flash but even
when I close them I still get the W10 error message.

I'm on the run  all day from makerspace to running AV to tech
troubleshooting to issuing library cards to the plethora of tasks so I
can't be late to any station or assignment and Windows either makes me late
with this or I have to just shut the laptop down and reboot later.

Charles.

Charlotte County Public Library


Date:    Tue, 5 Mar 2024 00:29:50 +0000
From:    "Fitchett, Deborah" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Windows 10 - Safe to Eject Flash Drive

Tbh if a computer refuses to eject a flash drive I just pull it out. Then
it'll complain, and I'll click "Okay", and that's the end of the matter.
I've never seen any other consequences.

Does anyone know, could doing this even theoretically cause data
corruption? Or is it just a safeguard to prevent people ejecting the drive
while a file is open, then later trying to save the file and getting upset
that they lost their work?

Deborah