When finished updating GPS, there is no "safely remove device" in the right bottom tray. I click hidden icons and there is no normal device icon to click to safely remove device? I know there is potential for problems just disconnecting the GPS to the PC. The PC is recognizing the GPS and updating but no icon to safely disconnect as is for things like "thumb" drive device storage. I realize you must turn the GPS off. Windows 7 and GPS nuvi 57LM. Thanks,

Have been updating our maps for Garmin for years...only way I know to disconnect is to just pull the usb cable...It has never caused us any issues.

Apple devices are the same way. Just pull them out.

bcsdguy wrote:Apple devices are the same way. Just pull them out.Actually you eject Apple devices through iTunes by clicking on the small triangle by the name of the device.

Life is too short to mess around ejecting USB devices. Close Garmin basecamp or express and then pull the plug. :)

The reason why it is necessary to "Safely Remove" certain USB devices is because of cached writes. In order to improve performance, the Windows OS will delay writing data to a disk drive because it is a fairly slow operation. When you click on the "Safely Remove" icon, you are telling Windows to write any cached data to the disk. You won't get the safely removed message until the data is safely written.Since the GPS isn't a disk drive, writes aren't cached so there's no reason to "Safely Remove" it.You can turn off cached writes for a drive so that you never need to worry about safely removing it. You'll give up a little performance though. Enable/disable Disk write caching

Safely disconnecting Garmin GPs from computer | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

enblethen
Nomad
Jan 02, 2017
It could be an issue with the battery charge level. One of our Garmins needs to be nearly fully charged before updates install.
navybanker
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
Updates from Garmin Express were finished. Device was supposedly up to date according to website. Might have something to do with charging when device is connected to computer. We had a TomTom and don't recall this problem. Will use laptop from now on since we take it with us on trips. Thanks for the input!
enblethen
Nomad
Jan 02, 2017
It could have been something to do with updates.
navybanker
Explorer
Jan 02, 2017
Attempted to chat with Garmin but no one there to chat with. Assume holiday routine. Hooked the Garmin to the new laptop with 10 and was able to eject using device manager with no apparent problem with laptop. Then hooked back to desktop with 7 vista. I held the on/off button on garmin and as soon as off pulled the usb connection. Problems I had last time with freezing the screen for a few minutes didn't happen. Notice the garmin will come back on rather quickly and have to be ready to pull the usb plug quickly! Garmin Express was closed when I did this.
mr__ed
Explorer
Jan 01, 2017
I updated myGarmin yesterday. I waited until I was ready to shut down the computer, after which I disconnected the Garmin. Of course,there was no possibility of harming the GPS with the computer turne off.
deltabravo
Nomad
Jan 01, 2017
strollin wrote:
The reason why it is necessary to "Safely Remove" certain USB devices is because of cached writes. In order to improve performance, the Windows OS will delay writing data to a disk drive because it is a fairly slow operation. When you click on the "Safely Remove" icon, you are telling Windows to write any cached data to the disk. You won't get the safely removed message until the data is safely written.

Since the GPS isn't a disk drive, writes aren't cached so there's no reason to "Safely Remove" it.

You can turn off cached writes for a drive so that you never need to worry about safely removing it. You'll give up a little performance though. Enable/disable Disk write caching

COOL. I learn something new every day.
Fizz
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
You only have to kill one thumb drive to remember how to do it right.
Happened once, now I'm carefull.
Jack_Diane_Free
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
Just turn the computer off and remove it if you are concerned.
MarkTwain
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
Garmin----
Just call Garmin tech support to get the right answer.
navybanker
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
Hooked GPS back to computer. Garmin Express came up but didn't download available updates. Closed express and went to the "computer" and GPS was listed. Highlighted it and right clicked but no "eject" option. Went to device control and right clicked on GPS listed but again no eject option. It wanted to know if I wanted to "uninstall'. Back to starting screen and looked in right bottom of screen and clicked to show hidden icons. No option to eject. Pulled the plug and same problem as before. Took a few minutes to allow mouse to work. Message said Google was shut down incorrectly and to click restore. Have a new laptop with 10 but afraid to try it on that! May contact Garmin. Could not turn GPS off as long as connected to computer. Garmin purchased recently and had downloaded maps and software before today problems.