Is it safe to disconnect a USB flash memory without stopping it first?

An icon in the taskbar reminds us to safely remove hardware(USB flash memory). Is it absolutely necessary?

Is it safe to disconnect a USB flash memory without stopping it first?
It's advisable to do the safely remove thing first.





That way, any communication between the pc %26amp; the device is stopped. If you were to pull the device out while a file was being accessed, for example, you could corrupt the file itself.





Personally, I'm forever pulling them out without stopping them first %26amp; have never had any problems doing it, but I wouldn't recommend it. I'll probably become unstuck one day, I should take my own advice!





Hope it helps.
Reply:I actually destroyed one by removing it without stopping it, but it was a few years ago. Form what I understand the new ones are equipped to handle it. But just in case it never hurts to click the "safely remove hardware" icon.
Reply:It's safe if the USB flash memory supports hot sync. Nowadays, most do.
Reply:I have been using memory sticks for a number of years, now. I have found that if I don't turn them off before I remove them, I frequently have to re-start my computer to activate them again. My computer won't recognize them otherwise.