Is it okay to leave a USB drive plugged in long-term?
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TechyNinja44
I'm using a USB drive specifically for updating my BIOS, and I'm concerned about the wear and tear of constantly plugging and unplugging it. Given that I might need to update my BIOS more often for troubleshooting, here are my two main questions: 1. Can I keep the USB drive plugged in indefinitely without damaging it, considering I'm limiting read/write operations? 2. Does Windows access this USB drive without me being aware? Should I eject it every time I boot up?
Answers
Leaving a USB plugged in won't typically hurt your computer, but it can depend on the drive. I’ve had a flash drive fail after being plugged in for about six months, but it was unusually hot, so maybe it had a defect. Other drives I’ve left in for years have been fine. If you're frequently plugging and unplugging the drive, it could wear out the port. Try using front USB ports if you can, as they are usually easier to replace than rear motherboard ports.
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Best advice I can give is to use a USB extender. That way, you can leave something plugged in without worrying about wearing out the USB ports on your motherboard. For sensitive tasks like BIOS updates, it’s generally best to connect directly to the motherboard though, so you might need to consider that balance.
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PracticalPanda007: Yeah, I get what you mean about being cautious. Given your history with motherboards, it sounds smart to stick with direct connections for important updates.