Safely Remove Hardware Icon Missing, How To Restore

At random times for whatever reason, the “safely remove hardware icon” disappears from my task bar  Some of us know that its not a good thing to just unplug our USB items without safely removing it via the “safely remove hardware icon” for various reasons.

If it is a mass storage USB device like flash memory or a hard disk, especially in an external enclosure, just pulling the plug could render the device unusable and data loss can follow if there is still some data still in a cache waiting to be written to the device when you just plug it out. By using the “safely remove hardware icon” it ensures that all caches are flushed and the device is in a sleep state and any tasks assigned to it is completed.

Another reason why you should use the “safely remove hardware icon” is that in a USB port, there is a current running through it to your connected device when its in use! So if you just pull out the USB device without the “safely remove hardware icon” the power shock caused by unplugging your device with a current running through it can corrupt it’s data! Using the “safely remove hardware icon” tells Windows to turn off the power to the USB device and then tells you that it is safe to remove the device.

Well lets get right to it with the instructions below.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Click Start > Run > and type in without the quotes: “RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll” ; Then click on OK.
2. Now you should see the “Safely Remove Hardware” window pop up.
3. Now you can choose the USB device from the list and safely remove it by selecting it and pressing stop. When Windows pops up a balloon saying “Safe To Remove Hardware” then you can remove the device. You will also notice that the “safely remove hardware icon” is now restored back in your taskbar.

You can also create a shortcut to run so that you don’t have to go do it the Start > Run way as shown above:

1. Right click on your desktop and click on New > Shortcut. In the “Type The Location Of The Item” space, type in without the quotes: “RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll“
2. Then click Next, Now give it a name like “Start Safe Remove Hardware” and click on Finish.

Now when the “safely remove hardware icon” is missing again, simply run the shortcut and remove your USB device easily!

Talking Business: Meetings

Meetings: agenda setting

This module focuses on the language of meetings, which are central to business communication. Most meetings have an agenda - a list of matters to be discussed in the meeting. When you decide what to talk about in the meeting, you 'set the agenda'. The person in charge of the setting the agenda and running the meeting is the 'chairperson'.

Imagine that you are the chairperson in a meeting. It is the start of the meeting and you are telling your colleagues about the items on the agenda. What phrases might you use?

Check your understanding by reading the scripts below:

Sarah: Right then, Alex, let’s get down to business. On the agenda today for our public relations meeting are the research project, the launch of the website, the timeline for press releases, and the secretary of the year award. Are you quite happy with those points? Alex: Yeah, that’s fine. If you could go through them in order, that’d be great. Alex: Okay everybody, thanks for coming. Let's keep this meeting fairly brief, really just a couple of things on the agenda. First of all, as you can see, the news on the book re-launch; and secondly, the office move; and finally, we'll have a little bit of time for any other business. Meeting - Agenda Setting Quiz Instructions: The following sentences are in the wrong order. Cut them out and re-arrange them, or simply write them in the correct sequence so they all make sense. Scroll down for the answers. Secondly we want to have a look at the production budgets.

And then we’ll see if there’s any other business.
OK, everybody thank you all very much for coming today.
If we could go through each of them in order.
And finally we need to look at the staffing levels for the project.
Just three things on the agenda today.
First of all we need to discuss our aims for the project.
Right let’s start with item number one. 

Meetings: interruptions

In business meetings it is sometimes necessary to interrupt a speaker. This is possible but it should be done politely. We'll be looking at some ways you can do this.

Imagine that you are in a meeting, and you want to interrupt to ask a question or make a comment. How might you do it?

Check your understanding by reading the script below:

Sean:	First of all, the book re-launch. I just wanted to remind everybody that we will be re-launching the fairy-tales range with new modern covers, and that this is going to happen at the beginning of next month. It's important that we get this right and there have been quite a few…
John:	Actually Sean, can I just ask you – sorry to hold the meeting up – can I ask you about those dates, because I thought that this was going to be published the month after next, and I understand that everybody has got their dates, but I do feel quite strongly that we’re bringing this out too soon.
Sean:	Well, any other thoughts before I comment on that?
Carrie:	I don’t think we’ve got any choice at all about it. If the radio programmes are going out at the beginning of next month, we’ve got to launch the book at the same time if we’re going to have any sales impact.

Meetings - Interruptions Quiz

Instructions: Finish the sentence with the correct phrase.

1.      ___________ , I would like to begin by saying that the company profits are up on last year's figures.

A To begin at
B First of all
C And start with
D And for starters

2.   ___________ about the plans for next month's meeting?
A Can I hear you
B Can I clarify you
C Can I ask you
D Can I include you

3.  ____________ , but I just wanted to clarify a couple of points before continuing.

A Sorry to hold the meeting up
B Sorry to hold the meeting down
C Sorry to hold the meeting around
D Sorry to hold the meeting along

4.  ___________ that all of the staff members should have an opportunity to give their opinion about the company review. 

A I don't feel very strongly
B I am feeling quite strongly
C I am feeling more strongly
D I do feel quite strongly

Meetings: agreeing and disagreeing

Inevitably, people will agree and disagree with one another during meetings. It’s important to make your position in a debate clear, while being polite to people you disagree with.

Imagine that you are in a meeting and you disagree with someone over an issue. How might you make your point politely?
Check your understanding by reading the script below::

Sean:	The office move, as you know, the plans have been up by the main exit for a week now. I just wanted to see what kind of feedback you’ve got.
Tim:	Yeah, Sean, I’m sorry, but I really strongly disagree with the new floor plan. I think it's divisive to separate the secretaries and the assistants out from the editors and managers. I’d be much happier if we could be located in teams.
Carrie:	Actually, I think Sean is right. I’ve been chatting to some of the secretaries and they’re quite keen to all be sitting in the same area, and, speaking as an editor, I think I’d like to be with other editors so that we can bounce ideas off each other and things. So I think Sean’s floor plan is right.

Complete the following sentences by underlining the correct word from the options given. Scroll down for the answers.
During the meeting, the managers asked everyone present to give them [ agreement / feedback / information ] on the presentation that they’d just seen.  Some people said that they strongly [ disagreed / unhappy / prohibit ] with the new direction that the media company was taking.  They said that they would be much [ comfortable / happier / prefer ] if there were more opportunity to discuss the plans before any final decision was reached.  In his role as[fireman / editor / director ], Tim Peacock said that he would look into the possibility of holding workshops to allow more time for discussion between staff.

Meetings: any other business

Business meetings typically end with the chairperson asking if there is ‘any other business’. This is an opportunity for anyone present to raise an issue that isn’t on the agenda. After any other business, the chairperson closes the meeting.
Imagine that you are a chairperson ending a meeting with any other business. What might you say or hear?

Check your understanding by reading the script below:

Sean:	Okay - any other business?
Will:	Yes, I would like to say something. An illustrator came in last week, and I think she's very good and it would be wise to put her on our books.
Sean:	… okay …
Will:	I would like to be able to show her drawings and her portfolio in the next couple of days. If that’s all right...
All:	That sounds good…
Sean:	Yes, I'll look forward to seeing those. Right, I think that’s probably about it, but anybody got anything else that they desperately want to raise before we wrap up?
All:	Nope.
Sean:	No? Okay. We'll be having another meeting, but there are a couple of conflicts in the diary so I think the best thing is if I email the date of the next meeting.

Meetings - Any Other Business Quiz

Instructions: Finish the sentence by chosing the correct words and writing them into the empty boxes.

1. Well, we’re almost at the end of the meeting so is there
__________ ______________ _____________ ?
say / other / thoughts / business / all / any / things
2. Just before we go on to the next point,
__________ ____________ _________ ______________ _________ _________ .
nothing / to / say / like / now / something / I / don't / would
3. Does anyone have anything they want ________ __________ before we close the meeting?
on / at / raise / to / question / rise
4. Just looking in the diary, I see there are a couple ______ _________, so we may need to reschedule our next meeting.
errors / in / conflicts / at / of / mistakes

Meetings: language expert

Meeting style and etiquette can change from country to country, company to company, and even from meeting to meeting, but generally speaking, it is important to be polite in meetings, even if the meeting is quite informal in tone.

If you are interrupting or disagreeing with people, it is even more important to be polite: your views are more likely to be respected if you present them in a professional and non-confrontational (non-argumentative) way.

There are several ways to make what you say sound more polite and less confrontational:

Use 'can' or 'could'.  
In unit 4, John says; 'Sean, can I just ask you…?'
In Unit 1, Alex says 'If you could go through them in order…'
Both expressions above are more polite than simply saying 'I want to know…' or 'Go through them in order…'

Use 'would like'
In unit 2, Tim says '…I'd like to be with other editors…'
In unit 3, Will says 'I would like to be able to show her drawings…'
This sounds much more polite than 'I want…'

Say 'sorry'
In unit 2, Tim says: 'I'm sorry, but I really strongly disagree…'
In unit 4, John says: 'Sorry to hold the meeting up'
This is a very common way to 'soften' what you say. Tim and John are not really apologising for what they say - using 'sorry' is telling the listener: 'I'm going to say or do something you might not like, so please don’t get upset'.

Use 'just'
In unit 2, Sean says: 'I just wanted to see…' 
In unit 4, John says; 'Sean, can I just ask you…?'
The word 'just' gives the listener a message that you are not asking them to deal with something difficult or time-consuming; that it is not going to be a problem.  

Use 'I think' or 'I feel'
In unit 4, John says: 'I do feel quite strongly that we're bringing this out too soon…'
and Carrie says 'I don’t think we’ve got any choice…'
These phrases have the effect of softening what they are saying, by presenting their ideas as opinions, not orders or instructions.

Acknowledge people
In unit 1, Alex says; 'Okay everybody, ….' '…as you can see…'
In unit 2, Tim says; 'Yeah Sean, ….'
It's important to acknowledge the other people in the meeting, by using their names, or words like 'you', 'we', 'everybody', 'my colleagues' etc. If you don’t use these words and expressions, you may give people the impression that you are rather detached and/or authoritarian.

Preparing for meetings

Participating in meetings which are conducted in a foreign language can be nerve-wracking – people may speak very quickly, they may use words that you do not understand, they may have strong accents, or they may talk about topics which are outside your area of expertise.

 All these factors can make meetings difficult, but if you prepare for meetings by studying the agenda, researching the topics that are likely to be discussed, and preparing vocabulary that you think you might need during the meeting, you will feel more confident and your performance in the meeting will be better

Talking Business: Telephone

Imagine you are calling a company and want to speak to someone who works there. Can you think of any phrases you might use, or that you might hear?

Michelle:	Hello, you've reached the marketing department. How can I help?
Male:	Yes can I speak to Rosalind Wilson, please?
Michelle:	Who’s calling please?
Male:	It’s Richard Davies here
Michelle:	Certainly.  Please hold and I’ll put you through.
Male:	Thank you.
Michelle:	Hello, marketing.  How can I help?
Male:	Could I speak to Jason Roberts please?
Michelle:	Certainly. Who shall I say is calling?
Male:	My name’s Mike Andrews.
Michelle:	Just a second -  I’ll see if he’s in. Hello, Jason, I’ve got Mike Andrews on the phone for you ... OK - I’ll put him through.Hang on a moment, I’m just putting you through.

Telephone –Connecting Quiz

Instructions: Choose the one correct answer

      1. When you telephone a company the person answering the phone may ask you a question. Which is the correct question?

A) Who’s calling please?

B) Who calls?

C) Who it is?

D) Who called?

     2.    Which Phrase means the same as ‘hang on a moment?’

A)     Just a second

B)     I’ ll put you on

C)    Go ahead

D)    I’m ready

    3.  Choose the correct word: “ Please …… and I’ll put you through.”

A)     Stop

B)     Stay

C)    Talk

D)    Hold

4.     What is the expression used to connect two people on the telephone?

A)     I’m sending you through

B)     I’m putting you through

C)    I’m calling you through

D)    I’m talking you through

Telephone: messages

In this section we'll learn some phrases you might hear if the person you wish to speak to is busy.

Imagine you work as a receptionist and you receive a call for someone who isn't there. What might the caller say, and what would you say in reply?

Now listen to a telephone conversation between the finance department of a company and Jennifer McAndrews. Jennifer wants to talk to Adrian Hopwood but he's not available so she has to leave a message.

Check your understanding by reading the script below:

Claire:	Hello, finance department
Female:	Hello, can I speak to Adrian Hopwood, please?
Claire:	I’m afraid he’s in a meeting at the moment. Can I help?
Female:	No I need to talk to Mr Hopwood, I think. What time will he be out of the meeting?
Claire:	In about an hour. Can you call back later?
Female:	Okay, I’ll do that.
Claire:	Or can I take a message?
Female:	Actually, would you mind? Could you tell him that Jennifer McAndrews called and that I’m in the office all day if he could call me back.
Claire:	Can I take your number, please?
Female:	Yes, it’s 5556872.
Claire:	5556872.  Okay, I’ll make sure he gets the message.
Female:	Thanks very much for your help, bye!
Claire:	Goodbye!

Telephone - Messages Quiz

Instructions: Finish the sentence by chosing the correct words and writing them into the empty boxes.

1. He’s not in his office at the moment,
__________ ______________ _____________ ___________ _______?
take / can / your / message / I / a / please

2. She’ll be back in the office this afternoon,
__________ ____________ _________ ______________ _________ ?
later / call / can / back / you / soon / message

3. Can I speak to June Wilkinson please?
__________ ____________ _________ ______________ _________ _________.
meeting / afraid / I’m / she’s / a / in / at / on

4. Could you ask him to ring me back please? My number is 020 7558 4567.
__________ , ____________ _________ ______________ _________ _________
_________ ________________.
message / I’ll / sure / make / OK / gets / he / the / an / on 

Telephone: wrong number

If you dial the wrong number it can be confusing and embarrassing. But how do you find out that you've made a mistake? And how can you check to be sure?

Imagine you've dialled the wrong number. What might the person who answers your call say? What would you say in reply?

Check your understanding by reading the scripts below:

Male:	Hello, this is the press office.
Michelle:	Rachel Allsop please.
Male:	I’m sorry, you must have the wrong number. There’s no-one of that name here.
Michelle:	Oh. Can I check the number I’ve got…. is that not  5568790?
Male:	No, it’s 5558790.
Michelle:	Oh sorry about that.  I must have dialled the wrong number.
Male:	No problem!  Bye!
Male:	Hello, press office, can I help you?
Ruth:	Hello. Paul Richards, please.
Male:	I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong number, but he does work here.  I’ll try and put you through.  In future his direct number is 5558770.
Ruth:	Did I not dial that?
Male:	No you rang 5558790.
Ruth:	Oh, sorry to have troubled you.
Male:	No problem.  Hang on a moment and I’ll put you through to Paul’s extension.
Ruth:	Thanks.

Telephone - Wrong number Quiz

Instructions: Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. You ______ have the wrong number.
A should
B would 
C must 
D can 
2. His _______ number is 998922.
A straight
B direct 
C certain 
D sure 
3. I'm ________ to have troubled you.
A upset 
B apologise
C sorry 
D sad 
4. I'm sorry, you've _______ the wrong number.
A got 
B had 
C have
D put 

Telephone: appointments

Making an appointment can be complicated if two people are very busy. How do you find a time that is convenient for both of you?

Once again, imagine you are making a telephone call. This time you are arranging an appointment to see someone. What phrases might you use or hear?

Check your understanding by reading the scripts below:

Michelle:	Mr Hibberd’s office!
Peter:	Hello, can I speak to Brian Hibberd, please?
Michelle:	I’m afraid he’s in a meeting until lunchtime. Can I take a message?
Peter:	Well, I’d like to arrange an appointment to see him, please.   It’s Peter Jefferson here.
Michelle:	Could you hold on for a minute, Mr Jefferson. I’ll just look in the diary. So when’s convenient for you?
Peter:	Some time next week if possible. I gather he’s away the following week.
Michelle:	Yes, that’s right, he’s on holiday for a fortnight.
Peter:	Well, I need to see him before he goes away. So would next Wednesday be okay?
Michelle:	Wednesday . let me see . he's out of the office all morning. But he's free in the afternoon, after about three.
Peter:	Three o'clock is difficult. But I could make it after four.
Michelle:	So shall we say 4.15 next Wednesday, in Mr Hibberd's office?
Peter:	Yes, that sounds fine. Thanks very much.
Michelle:	Okay, then. Bye.

Telephone - Appointments Quiz

Instructions: Finish the sentence with the correct phrase.

1. I’d like to ___________ an appointment
A arrange
B have
C do
D save
2. I could ________ it after four
A take
B fake
C get
D make
3. Let’s meet next Wednesday… shall we _____ 4.15?
A arrange 
B say
C suggest
D see
4.  Would next _________ be OK?
A day
B morning
C week
D afternoon

Telephone: flights

Modern business often involves international travel. When booking a flight, what questions do you need to ask?

Imagine you are booking a flight and a hotel over the phone. What words and expressions do you use?

Check your understanding by reading the scripts below:

Dolores:	Hello! Dolores speaking…
Tim:	Ah yes, hello. I’d like to enquire about flights to Hong Kong from Kennedy Airport in New York, please. I’m off to a conference at the end of the month - Thursday 22nd until Tuesday 27th. Could you tell me about the flight availabilityand prices?
Dolores:	Certainly. Do you want to go economy, business or first class?
Tim:	Well, I’d like to go first class, but unfortunately I’ll have to go economy - company rules, you see.
Dolores:	Yes, sure, I understand. How many of you will be travelling?
Tim:	Ah, it’s just me.
Dolores:	Okay, so that’s one seat … economy … New York - Kennedy to Hong Kong Airport.
Tim:	And how much will that be?
Dolores:	Let me see … to qualify for the discount rate, you need to stay over a Saturday, which you are doing … Yes, that’ll be $830.
Tim:	Right, and does that include airport tax?
Dolores:	No, tax is another $70 on top of that.
Tim:	Okay. Can I book that, then?
Dolores:	Certainly.
Dolores:	Can I help you with anything else?
Tim:	Yes, I'd like to book a hotel room too, for the full five nights.Could you check if the Regency Hotel has any rooms free?
Dolores:	Yes, they do.
Tim:	And is there a discount rate for conference delegates?
Dolores:	Yes, there is. I think it's 10% but I can check that for you.
Tim:	Okay, do you mind if I book it provisionally for now and I'll call you back later to confirm? I just need to check one or two details.
Dolores:	That's fine, sir. Can I help you with anything else?
Tim:	No, that's all for now. As I said, I'll call you back.

Telephone - Flights Quiz

Instructions: Finish the sentence with the correct phrase.

1.   I’d like to    ___________ about flights.
A find 
B enquire 
C question you 
D tell me
2.   Tax is $50 on ________ of that.
A plus
B end
C bottom
D top
3.  I’d like to book a hotel room ___________.
A proficiently
B provisionally
C professionally
D prescriptively
4.  I’ll call you back later to  ___________.
A speak
B assure
C confirm
D certify

Telephone: language expert

A lot of people find it difficult to make phone calls in a foreign language – and that's understandable. 
You can't see the person you are talking to, their voice might be unclear, and you might find it difficult to find the right words.

Multi-word verbs:

One thing you can do to improve your telephone skills is to learn some of the multi-word verbs that are commonly used in telephone conversations. Most of them are featured in this module. Hold on means 'wait' – and hang on means 'wait' too. Be careful not to confuse hang on with hang up! Hang up means 'finish the call by breaking the connection' – in other words: 'put the phone down.' 

Another phrasal verb with the same meaning as hang up is ring off.  The opposite of hang up / ring off is ring up – if you ring somebody up, you make a phone call.  And if you pick up the phone, (or pick the phone up) you answer a call when the phone rings.

"Hang on a second..."

If you are talking to a receptionist, secretary or switchboard operator, they may ask you to hang on while they put you through – put through means to connect your call to another telephone. With this verb, the object (you, me, him, her etc.) goes in the middle of the verb: put you through.

But if you can't get through to (contact on the phone) the person you want to talk to, you might be able to leave a message asking them to call you back. Call back means to return a phone call – and if you use an object (you, me, him, her etc.), it goes in the middle of the verb: call you back.

Level of formality:

Another thing to think about when talking on the telephone is formality. It's important to use the right level of formality – if you are too formal, people might find it difficult to feel comfortable when they talk to you. On the other hand, if you are too informal, people might think you are rude!

Generally speaking, if you are talking to someone in a business context, you should use could, can, may or would when you make a request:'Could I speak to Jason Roberts, please?' 'Can I take a message?' 'Would next Wednesday be okay?'. You should also use please and thank you or thanks very much whenever you ask for, or receive, help or information.

It's important to show politeness by using words like would, could, please, thank youetc. But it's also okay to use some of the features of informal/spoken English - short forms, phrasal verbs and words like okayand bye - in other words - everyday English! So phrases like I'm off to a conference..., no problem, bye! and hang on a moment and I'll put you through are perfectly acceptable, as long as the overall tone of the conversation is polite.

One last tip - it's better to ask for help or clarification when you're having a telephone conversation, than to pretend you understand something that you didn't. It's perfectly acceptable to use phrases like'Could you repeat that, please?' 'Could you speak a little more slowly, please?' and 'would you mind spelling that for me please?' Using phrases like these will help make sure that you have a successful phone call, and may save you from lots of problems later on. You could always say that the line's very bad today if you can't hear very well. And it's also a good idea to practise words, phrases and vocabulary before you make the call!