up vote 7 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

Eject would normally make sense for CDs etc., and safely remove tends to be used with USB media. However, my Kindle(which connects over USB) shows distinct behavior when using the two options.

So, what is the difference between "Eject" and "Safely remove" on a windows machine? What is the "intention" associated with the two terms?

link|improve this question
78% accept rate
2  
I assume part of the intention is to do with the difference between read only media (which can be safely ejected at any time, and left in a coherent state). Versus read/write media like a USB disc, which might still have pending writes and where immediate removal can leave the media in an inconsistent state. – cbz Mar 8 '11 at 11:18
However, my Kindle(which connects over USB) shows distinct behavior when using the two options. Can you explain the difference? – Beaming Mel-Bin Mar 11 '11 at 14:10
After ejecting a Kindle, you can use it normally(i.e. read books). But after safely removing it shows the same screen as it did before (i.e. it shows a screen roughly saying the kindle must be ejected before it can be used). – apoorv020 Mar 11 '11 at 18:04
feedback

3 Answers

up vote 6 down vote accepted

Eject removes the media from the device (e.g., ejects the CD tray) but doesn't remove the device itself.

Safely Remove flushes any pending writes from the cache and removes the entire device.

link|improve this answer
1  
What would "removing the media" from a Kindle look like? iow: What you say sounds reasonable, but it doesn't answer apoorv020's question. – Ian Boyd Mar 11 '11 at 14:44
1  
Without knowing how the Kindle communicates with the computer - whether it presents itself as a mass storage device, or uses a propriatory system, it is impossible to say. As for answering his question, I believe that was what is the difference between eject and safely remove - which I have done. The Kindle was just mentioned in passing as an example of observed differences (which aren't elaborated on, despite a request for more information) – Majenko Mar 11 '11 at 14:52
can you point me to a source for your answer? – apoorv020 Mar 11 '11 at 18:08
How do the media and the drive differ in the case of USB drives? I can usually choose to either eject, remove or do both of them. What's the purpose of giving the user the ability to choose one, the other or both? – roseck Oct 25 '11 at 23:33
The 'media' is the filesystem - the 'drive' is the device. In the case of a flash drive they both perform the same function. They provide both for those USB devices with removable media. – Majenko Oct 25 '11 at 23:58
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

During the time of Windows 98 there was only one option Eject. Any USB device like pen drive required that the driver for that device be manually installed.

To remove the device you had to select Eject from the context menu.

Since Windows XP the driver gets automatically installed and a new improved feature is provided to remove the USB device which is Safely Remove Hardware.

And as Matt Jenkins said

Eject removes the media from the device (e.g., ejects the CD tray) but doesn't remove the device itself.

Safely Remove flushes any pending writes from the cache and removes the entire device.

Try both the features with a memory card reader.
When you select Safely Remove Hardware the Card Reader device is disconnected from the system while when you select Eject the device is still connected to the computer but you can safely remove the card from the card reader.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

They both make sure all the pending writes to the device are executed, and they both unmount the device afterwards. So I'd say they're the same.

@Matt Jenkins is right, the difference lies with cd-drives where the Eject option only removes de cd, but doesn't remove the cd-drive device. Where as with usb-disks, the behavior is identical.

link|improve this answer
As I said in my question, there is a difference in behaviour when I "eject" my kindle as opposed to when I "safely remove" it. – apoorv020 Mar 8 '11 at 11:25
1  
@apoorv020: and what exactly might that different behavior be then? – fretje Mar 8 '11 at 11:26
On "safely removing" the device, the drive is unmounted but the kindle cannot be used, while "ejecting" it does both (As far as I have been able to determine) – apoorv020 Mar 8 '11 at 19:52
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.