How do I safely remove a USB device?

Double-click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar, click the name of the device in the list, click Stop, then click OK, and finally remove the device. It is important to stop a USB device before removing it to prevent loss of information or an unresponsive system. Do not pull on the cable to remove the device, as this can damage the USB connector. (Page 6)