I think as long as you get the pop up that says drive is disconnected your ok.

The only info I could find was at the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: flash-drives-active-light

Like zep says, don't worry. I used to pull out my flash drives all the time without using the Safe Disconnect feature, and never lost anything. However, I now use that feature and have the same situation as you on all of my computers: message says it's safe to disconnect, light stays on. I pull it out...no problem. It would only be a problem if you were saving/using a large file and you pulled the drive out in the middle of that operation. It's an unnecessary waste of time to shut down the computer to remove a flash drive.

I have noticed on my Windows 7 laptop that the same thing happens---the light does not go out even though I get the safe to disconnect message. So I believe the message and all has been fine.

The worst it can happen would be your flash drive get mess up, in which case you just re-format the drive.

I have pluged and un-pluged flash drives, external drives, digital cameras, etc. without going thru software disconnect. I have never gotten any problems. I used XP and Vista.

dcarch

Seems like the worst that could happen is I would loose all the data on my flash drive. Most of the stuff on there is backed up some where, but since I use it all the time to transfer work between various offices I work at and home, slip ups could be costly in lost time. I have three different jobs and it is all I can do to keep them straight, if I go through a hectic spell, which is most of the time, I don't always remember to back everything up religiously.

The light on the flash drive actually pulses, which makes me sort of think it is doing something. This is LONG after I have ceased to be using the port for accessing data from the flash drive. If it was just that the light was on it wouldn't bother me as much as the pulsing, which is maybe how I'm describing a slow flashing.

You're worrying way too much about this. I'm betting that the pulsing is quite regular, rather than flickering...correct? If you get the message that it's safe to disconnect -- and you've selected the correct drive to disconnect -- then it's safe to disconnect. I don't know what else I can tell you.

I figure if the file section of the flash drive isn't active then it is OK, so I'm not terribly worried, I'm just curious. If there is a light on coming from the flash drive, then obviously there are electrons moving from the computer to the flash drive, so something is connected. It's not a worry, I'm just trying to figure out how it works and why it does this. I would assume that the program on the computer in Windows disengages that area of the computer that is interacting with the flash drive (again, I don't know the names of all the parts). What you see on the screen isn't necessarily a reflection of what is actually going on with the electronic parts, it's just a representation. Anyway, it's just a puzzle.

The light (or pulsing light) is an indicator that power is available to the drive...not that something is going on that you have to worry about. Think about all the other electronic devices you have in your home that have a power indicator light but aren't otherwise "doing" anything.

I have a Cruzer flash drive that keeps on flashing after I get the 'ok to remove' message. Today I used it on my new computer, and I kept getting the message that 'it could not be removed because it was being used', and it wasn't. I didn't want to take any chances, so I copied the Cruzer files to a folder on my hard drive, and then just unplugged the Cruzer. All my files are still in tact on the Cruzer. I then plugged it into a different USB and this time I got the 'ok to remove' message, but the light was still on. I removed it and all is OK again. The Cruzer is the only one that keeps on flashing after the 'ok to remove' message.

Jean

Intersting Jean, because that's the kind of flash drive I am using, (a Cruzer one). I haven't used another kind yet, so will have to experiment.

Yes, it is an interesting comparison to other appliances I have around the house. Like a coffee maker for example, that has a green light for on. It is OK to unplug it while the green light is on, but it still means the device is "on" which to me says the program that supposedly disengages the flash drive doesn't work. It would be like having the "Off" button broken on your TV. Yes, if you wanted to turn off the TV you could uplug it and then plug it in when you wanted to turn it on, same with a lamp or something. Like I said, I'm not worried per se, just curious as to what is going on inside the computer.

Well, one solution is to use a flash drive that doesn't have a power light! I've got quite a few of those...

I use pretty much exclusively kingston flash drives none of them have any lights on them have never had one that said it was unable to remove.

I am using Windows XP Professional on desktop & laptop. Earlier I had Transcend 1 Gb USB pendrive. The light use to "switch off" after clicking "Safely Remove Hardware". "My Computer" also did not show the USB drive after disconnect. Now I have bought Transcend 8 Gb USB pendrive. But the light still remains ON even after clicking "Safely Remove Hardware". Again "My Computer" does not show the USB drive after disconnect.
Is it safe to pull out the USB pendrive without any data loss?

I use various brands of memory sticks, including Kenston, Sandisk, PNY and Cruzer, as well as an external hard drive. With the hard drive and the sticks with lights, the light stays on even after using the "Safely Remove" disconnect and the sticks don't show on the computer. I asked a tech support person and he said as long as it isn't showing as connected it can be unplugged safely.

As for the "it is in use" I get that sometimes and have just unplugged it anyway without losing any data.

To be honest, long before I realized there was a "safely remove" option I used to just pop it out and never had a problem.

I use a small program that I bought after trying it out as freeware. It is called USB Safely Remove. It will stop the USB flash drive when you click on it and choose the Drive letter it appears as. Right now I have my printer, my cooling pad for the laptop a wired USB mouse and a 4 port USB hub all plugged into the laptop. It shows that I have 4 items plugged in that are hidden from view. But if I plug in a flash drive it will appear as a drive letter that can be then clicked on and choose stop and eject. It can be found at the link below

Here is a link that might be useful: USB Safely Remove program