Is hotplugging dangerous?

[MrCoffee]

OK the strict and sensible answer is NEVER EVER hotplug anything that isn't specifically hot pluggable. I've seen literally dozens of fried ports, especially parallel ports - however its much less common these days because these ports rarely get used.

Pretty much the only cable that is designed to be hot pluggable is USB.

Network Cable = No
Serial Port = Big no
Parallel Port = Big no
ps/2 = No
VGA/DVI = heck no

However I hotswap network cable all the time and not had a problem. Basically do it if you want, you probably wont get a problem but don't go crying if it breaks.

 

[TheMajor]

I hotplug any cable; mostly VGA, PS/2, USB, UTP. Serial and paralell also, but you still have to do the hardware wizard.

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

You can hot plug network cables... :-\ If you can't then we would have to shut our entire network at votech down when we was installing a new gigabit switch for my class. VGA, not a big worry, hundreds of people hot plug that, it's like saying you can't hot plug your headphones or digital out cables for audio.

 

[MrCoffee]

I'm sure you're right there actually, but the only cables i've heard can be safely hot swapped for sure are firewire and USB