Look at the system tray, lower right, sometimes when hardware is pluged into the USB port, an icon appears which looks like a card with a green arrow. If you double click that icon, the scanner or whatever will be listed in a window that pops up. Select that listing, then select stop. You can then remove the scanner. As someone told you, control panel, scanners and camera, select your scanner, then right click, close. Hope this helps.

Message Edited by Augie65 on 01-14-2005 10:21 PM

I don't know what computer your running but on my laptop taskbar (bottom,right, by the clock) there's a icon labeled Safely Remove Hardware, click on it then go from there.

Yes, I know what you mean - I used to have an external hard drive that had the icon in the taskbar for easy removal, but this Visioneer scanner does not.  I have tried to contact the manufactuer, but get no reply.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I use a HP printer with my laptop and have unplugged it all the time with no problems. I always turn off the printer first, then I disconnect it and have not seen any problems or damage. I have XP and the hardware icon shows up when I connect my camera, but not when I use my printer. Hope this helps you.