What's hot-swappable or can be unplugged while computer is on?
A hot-swappable device is hardware that can be safely connected and disconnected while the computer is powered on and running. In this article, we'll examine which components in a computer are hot-swappable.
Always consult your computer's documentation. Never disconnect a powered component unless you're sure it's hot-swappable.
What can be plugged in or unplugged while the computer is on?
- Audio ports. (E.g., speakers, microphone, headphones, etc.)
- FireWire devices.
- Modem/phone cord (RJ-11).
- Monitor, flat-panel, or another display (VGA, SVGA, HDMI, and DisplayPort).
- Network cable (RJ-45).
- SATA (Serial AT Attachment) devices.
- USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices.
USB drives should be ejected before they are disconnected.
Although the interface may be hot-swappable, some devices, such as disk drives, may need to be shut down before they can be hot-swapped.
What should not be disconnected while the computer is on?
- AT port and devices.
- Internal hardware - Devices attached inside your computer, such as your sound card, video card, CD-ROM, IDE hard drive, etc., are not hot-swappable.
- Parallel port and parallel port devices.
- PS/2 port and devices (e.g., PS/2 keyboard and mouse).
- Serial port and devices.
Disconnecting a device that is not hot-swappable while the computer is on causes the device to stop working and can also cause physical hardware damage.
Computer or device no longer works after hot-swap
If your computer or a device no longer works after hot-swapping turn off your computer and all connected devices, wait 5 seconds, and turn it back on. If you're still encountering problems try the following documents.