Question About Removable Device Ejection in Metro Start Screen

Question

Hi,

I get some questions about removable device ejection.

Till now, I cannot find any icon/tab in Metro Start Screen (& Charm pane) to eject my removable device (ex. USB dongle)

Does it mean that we can only remove it in Desktop mode?

If the answer is yes, I got little bit confused.

Since WinRT contains the property Windows.Storage.KnowFolders.RemovableDevices to "access" removable devices, it means that user can browse or do some allowed actions in a Metro app (if any programmer implements one) without entering Desktop mode anymore.

However, user "MUST" enter Desktop mode to eject a removable device. It looks like inconsistency.

May I know the answer for my question? Thanks.

BTW, if MS allows removable device ejection in Metro Start Screen, is there any API which I can do it within my Metro app?

Answer 1

nomoney,

I will look into this for you.

Best Wishes - Eric

Answer 2

nomoney,

The “Safe Removal” feature can be found on the Desktop.  The “Eject” command is available for drives in Explorer, and the Safely Remove command lives in the SysTray, the same place where users found it in previous Windows releases.

Best Wishes - Eric

Answer 3

Hi Eric,

   Could you please explain this solution more detail:

   1. What kind of properties we need to set?

   2. How to set it to optimize for quick removal?

Thanks a lot!

Answer 4

I have updated my response. 

Answer 5

nomoney,

The “Safe Removal” feature can be found on the Desktop.  The “Eject” command is available for drives in Explorer, and the Safely Remove command lives in the SysTray, the same place where users found it in previous Windows releases.

Best Wishes - Eric

This is interesting.  So there is no Metro control for ejecting USB drives etc ?  I checked the Metro Settings / Change PC Settings / Devices page and Remove actually uninstalls the USB drive instead of just ejecting it.  Microsoft are trying to encourage Win8 users to go Metro so it seems almost like an oversight that you have to go to Desktop to eject an external drive safely.

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"Keep a cool head and always carry a lightbulb."

Answer 6

So there is no Metro control for ejecting USB drives etc ?  

Correct.

Answer 7

Why?? It's extremely inconvenient for users to constantly have to enter Desktop mode just to do that, as nomoney pointed out.

Answer 8

Tom,

I will forward your feedback.

Best Wishes - Eric

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