[WEB4LIB] USB Flash Drives

[Alnisa Allgood]

Hi Tom:

Two things, first, the Stop USB Device, while in the Task Bar (actually its in the system tray), does not have to be there. You could place it on the desktop of the computer or elsewhere were users could access it. 

Second, typically speaking, removing the USB drive cold from the computer should be fine. But this is more dependent on the drive rather than the mechanism itself. Just like some USB drives require software, while most are interchangeable with no software other than USB2 required. 

My experience has been that if the drive required software to be installed before its first use, then it will occasionally have problems if the user doesn't follow the eject USB device method. Typically this problems aren't immediate, and even when they are they are rarely serious. For example, I've seen some drives that will display the this device wasn't properly removed message when placed into a new computer. Typically, the issue is small enough that Windows ScanDisk can repair.

But most drives are 'hotswapable' the message to eject the device is optional. But if you want to be safe rather than sorry, just place the eject USB Device icon on the desktop or in the allowed toolbar, or whatever you have set-up for users.

Alnisa

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Gardner <tgardner at mcl.org>
Sent: Fri, 04 February 2005 10:22:47
To: Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Subject: [WEB4LIB] USB Flash Drives

Hello.

I did some quick research on this issue and could not find anything that
directly related to it; so I figured I'd ask in these forums. Any
insights you can offer would be appreciated. (Please excuse the
cross-posting.)

Currently, at our library, we do not allow patrons to use Flash drives
on our public PCs because we have Fortres on all public PCs and Fortres
is set to disallow access to the taskbar. Of course, to stop the USB
device, you have to be able to access the little icon that appears on
the taskbar. With Fortres, access to the taskbar is, as far as we can
figure, an all-or-nothing proposition: we'd like to be able to allow
patrons access to the "Stop USB Device" icon if doing so didn't give
them access to everything else you can get to from the taskbar - which
is virtually everything.

My question: USB devices are supposedly hot-swappable, so taking them
out without stopping them first should pose no risk to the PC. Assuming
the patron has saved the document she is accessing on the USB device,
and has closed the associated application, there *should*, as well, be
no risk to the data or USB device itself when you remove it without
stopping it first.

That, at least, is my understanding.

I know of one public library in our county - one that is not part of the
county system - that disallows access to the taskbar on public PCs (as
we do), but still allows the use of USB drives. In over a year, they
have had no problems with data loss or equipment failure that could be
attributed to failing to stop the USB drives before removing them.

Does anybody else out there disable access to the "Stop USB Device" icon
yet still allow the public to use Flash Drives/USB drives? 

I would also be interested if anyone has any experiences of equipment
damage - eith to the USB drive or the PC - from removing the USB drive
from the port without first stopping it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

--
Tom Gardner
Mercer County Library
Webmaster
tgardner at mcl.org
609-882-2134