How to remove USB from CLI without damaging usb-drive

**Psil0cybin** · February 11th, 2014

If I use the command

Code:

sudo umount /media/usbname

would that remove my usb stick via the terminal properly without damaging it? If not, what is the proper way of removing a USB media point from the CLI? Thanks in advance.

**Bucky Ball** · February 11th, 2014

Yes, that would unmount it and then it would be safe to remove. Any particular reason you are not simply right clicking on it in a file manager and 'Eject'?

**slooksterpsv** · February 11th, 2014

If you know the device name you can umount it that way as well:

Code:

sudo umount /dev/sdb1

@Bucky - he asked how to do it via CLI - maybe Server? Trying to get install working? Graphics drivers? Various reasons possibly.

**tfrue** · February 11th, 2014

Just to note, issuing the command:

Code:

mount

Will show you what is currently mounted to your system which would not be safe to remove, so after issuing the sudo umount command, you could run the mount command again and see that it has successfully been unmounted and safe to remove.

**Psil0cybin** · February 11th, 2014

Yes, that would unmount it and then it would be safe to remove. Any particular reason you are not simply right clicking on it in a file manager and 'Eject'?

Thank you for your fast reply. I am just interested in learning how to use the CLI more, as I really do prefer it, I think of it this way, Linux is like a stick shift car, so I like to go through the extra work in order to learn a few things about how the operating system functions, although If I am not mistaken umount is just a script for much bigger commands, that would be a pain to execute? Correct?

@Bucky - he asked how to do it via CLI - maybe Server? Trying to get install working? Graphics drivers? Various reasons possibly.

Nope, not server, just for education purposes - for learning how my linux desktop functions perhaps If I am already in the terminal to remove the USB (as I like to use nano to edit files)
hope I did not ask a silly question!

Thanks Ubuntu community!

**sudodus** · February 11th, 2014

Welcome to running your computer 'like a stick shift car'

When you have collected enough experience, you will be enjoy reading man and info pages. Sometimes there is more information in the corresponding info page.

man program and info program, for example

Code:

man mount

and

Code:

man umount

and

Code:

man udisks

Udisks is used by the file browsers in 12.04 LTS to automount partitions.

**Psil0cybin** · February 16th, 2014

Originally Posted by sudodus

Welcome to running your computer 'like a stick shift car'

When you have collected enough experience, you will be enjoy reading man and info pages. Sometimes there is more information in the corresponding info page.

man program and info program, for example

Code:

man mount

and

Code:

man umount

and

Code:

man udisks

Udisks is used by the file browsers in 12.04 LTS to automount partitions.

Thank you so much, very helpful!

**wiremoons** · February 16th, 2014

An alternative command you can use in your Terminal window is: lsblk

This also shows you what drives are mounted currently on you computer - but includes a line diagram to show the device name, and the partitions and mount points that belong to that device. Might be useful to know about...

Nothing wrong with the mount commands and instructions in the previous posts of course - just thought you might like to know about this one too