Where's the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon?

Anonymous
2012-12-07T21:01:38+00:00

I just upgraded to Win 8 from Win XP. I'm used to seeing a popup or icon in my lower right taskbar to 'safely remove hardware' after plugging in my camera or phone but I don't see one in Windows 8. What happened to it? Will I have a problem if I just unplug my device or do I need to take other steps to make sure it's safe to unplug?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2012-12-07T21:02:28+00:00

Click on the upward arrow by the clock.  This will show the hidden items and allow you to safely remove the devices.

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Anonymous
2012-12-07T21:14:51+00:00

Hello PuzzledJane,

Follow the instructions supplied by Alex T Jr. This will allow you to see the remove hardware icon.

If you want the icon to appear permanently on display then click on the up arrow in the notification area and then, when the list of icons appears, click the Customize option. A list of all of the icons will now appear. Locate the safely remove hardware icon and click on the arrow in the dialogue box to the right of this option. From the drop down list select 'show icon and notification' and then press the OK button.

The safely remove hardware icon will now permanently be displayed in the notification area.

This forum post is my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of Microsoft, its employees, or other MVPs.

John Barnett MVP: Windows XP Associate Expert: Windows Expert - Consumer:  www.winuser.co.uk |  vistasupport.mvps.org | xphelpandsupport.mvps.org | www.silversurfer-guide.com

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-07-16T23:36:02+00:00

    Yes, I raised three.  My computer does seem equally good at screaming "Hey, Mom!  Look at me" and requiring two hours of face time thereafter.  Nice point.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-16T23:32:23+00:00

    I do appreciate all your replies, mainly because I realize I am not the only one with this problem.

    However, I don't even use Windows Explorer, not sure what or where it is.  I will never remember to right-click on it and then do six other things.  (My browser is Google Chrome.)

    My alternatives:

    1. post this reply thread on my bathroom mirror so I can find it the next time I need to eject a flash drive.
    2. forget the whole damn thing.  Live dangerously--eject my flash drives without trying to find and use a "safely eject" button.

    Lost in computerland,

    Anne

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-16T19:24:48+00:00

    I use Windows 7.  The "safe to remove hardware" icon was always hidden, until I clicked the little arrow to "show hidden icons", and then it appeared and it worked.

    Then it suddenly wasn't there any more.  And it had vanished from the list of icons that could be customised.

    So I tried the advice from redbear2.  BUT when I page down in  "Select which icons and notifications appear on the Task bar", I don't have anything called "Windows Device Installation."

    Any other ideas?

    Meanwhile I'll try to remember to right-click the drive in Windows Explorer, and click "eject".

    Hi CambridgeChris, sorry for the delay but I've been on vacation and just got back. I'll check out my Win7 and see if any change has been made. I haven't updated any Windows Updates and don't know yet if that may have anything to do with what you are experiencing.

    I did not have the "Windows Device Installation" either. I think it may be that once the "device" is selected the first time, that doesn't appear again. So I inserted my flash drive and then looked at the  "Select which icons and notifications appear on the Task bar" This time, the "Windows Explorer" with Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media was listed directly in small gray print underneath. I used the down arrow to the right of that and selected "show icon and notifications", hit ok and then ok again under the window "task bar and start menu properties (which was still opened)

    Now the icon is appearing in my system notification area. I will now eject my flash drive and see if the icon still appears. Will let you know if it doesn't.  Try this procedure and let me know if you are successful.

    Even tho I selected "show icon and notifications" for the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" the icon did not remain in the system notification area. I even rebooted. When I then inserted the flash drive, the icon appeared in the system notification area and can be used when needed. I hope this additional info is helpful.

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