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Post your comments for I Can't Eject This Flash Drive (or External Hard Drive) here

[KLanD]

I love unblocker. It's also good when I'm helping someone delete pesky malware apps that you wouldn't normally be able to delete cause they are running in the background.

[bikdav]

KLanD, on 29 March 2012 - 10:07 AM, said:

I love unblocker. It's also good when I'm helping someone delete pesky malware apps that you wouldn't normally be able to delete cause they are running in the background.

Thanks for the heads up on that.

[Moodie1]

Ever since I got my first PC I've used third-party filers to manaqe my files rather than MS Explorer. I used to use PowerDesk, now I use FreeCommander but regardless of which program I used I would always have this problem with certain external drives. I soon figured out that it wasn't enough to just display a different drive, I actually had to close the program to allow disconnection of the drive. Just one more Windoze function Microsoft should have debugged a long time ago.

[sellyerminutu]

wonderful

[bobc4012]

I have had "hit and miss" with Unlocker. Especially files in the TMP directories. I realize there may be some third party program that gets started at startup time (like checking for updates), but I have run an Ubuntu "Live CD" and deleted those temp files and when I restart Windows a lot of them are gone (I also know which get invoked at startup too). BTW, the same holds true for Linux too. I check the /tmp directory and there a a lot of files wasting space. Again, running the live CD and deleting those files gets rid of a lot of poor implementation practices files (just like memory not being freed when no longer needed).

[gzuckier]

I've always assumed that flash drives, thumb drives, USB sticks, etc., anything that was memory rather than disk, could pretty much be unplugged with vanishingly low risk of catching it in the middle of an open file or some such, and I've never had a problem, even when Windows was being obstreperous. Real disk drives are, of course, a different matter.

[ChristopherChick6d72]

gzuckier, on 31 March 2012 - 12:12 PM, said:

I've always assumed that flash drives, thumb drives, USB sticks, etc., anything that was memory rather than disk, could pretty much be unplugged with vanishingly low risk of catching it in the middle of an open file or some such, and I've never had a problem, even when Windows was being obstreperous. Real disk drives are, of course, a different matter.

yeah you will get away with it 99% of the time, it's that 1% that really gets you. a perfect example of this is when i was on site fixing a few pc's at my clients house and i have my jump drive filled with useful programs i use while onsite. moving my jump drive from 1 machine to the next with out removing safely ( nothing was running from the jump stick or being used so i unplugged like i have several hundred times before ) only to plug it into the next machine to discover my jump drive needs to be formatted to be read. that is the problem with flash memory, it can't just read and write it has to flash the information, and if the flash gets interrupted, you can lose all data you had on the drive. (yes i know several hundred to one is not exactly 99% and 1% just using round numbers)

[wth1954]

I don't know about flash drives but often when a regular USB drive isn't identified and looks like it needs formatting, the real problem is that it needs a drive letter/path assigned. Disk Management fixes this. I think the problem has something to do with Windows remembering what disk was assigned to a letter. If I use unique letters on my machine for my varous external drives I don't have the problem.

[PcClive]

Could try USBSecure it is easier to use than true-crypt and is installed on the drive so no need for other computer have have it installed or for admin privileges. Only requires a strong password.

[panosg78]

The solution offered on the article (shutdown PC, disconect, restart) is going too far. Without third-party apps, the general solution for Windows 8 would be:
- Open "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Performance Information and Tools\Advanced Tools" and check if any indexing is turned on on the drive X:\ (the one you want to remove)
- any apps and their plugins that you may be running might have referred to X:\ at some point during your session
- to see what's going on in Windows, use Process Explorer from Sysinternals Suite. Search for X:\ and kill the owner (one way or the other)
- log out to close *really* everything, and login again
- bring up the Safely Remove Hardware dialog: open Cmd.exe as admin and type "C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll" (you can make a shortcut of this for later)
- select X:\ and eject it
I have not come across any situation where this process fails yet.

[SgtRockE5]

The issue I had was safely removing my Seagate Backup Plus portable backup hard drive from one of my two USB ports. The other was dedicated to my wireless keyboard. Obvisouly, to use the other port I had to unplug the hard drive.

Every time I would click on the USB icon in the system tray (lower right of screen) and clicked to eject the external hard drive (Drive J: in the case), I would get the message that the drive was being accessed by other files or programs, and they should be first closed. Seagate's response was to shut down the computer and remove then reboot. That is awfully time consuming.

Finally resolved on my own. Here's a quick summary. It may help you? We all have different set-ups, but possibility enough commonality this may be useful.

Me:
Windows 7
HP Pavilion a6152n
IE 9

Other program and files accessing your USB drive may not be your issue, it was mine though.

How to discover which files/programs are accessing your external hard drive, or other component, plugged into your USB port. I found a FREE program offered by Microsoft (I think?) called "Process Explorer." I downloaded the files and ran the executable. Once the program is open,
click: File>Show Details for All Processes
click: Find> Find handle or DLL
in the box that appears I simply typed in my drive letter, J:
click Search
I received a list of executables accessing my J drive. I left all System exe's alone, as well as something called svchost.exe - I'm no expert and have no clue what those do. I also found an exe - Google QuickSearchBox.exe - which made me wonder if this could be the culprit. Googled that name and from what I read, appears to be a useless exe that drains computer resources. Some of you may use it, I have not clue of its purpose.

Opened Tasked Manager > Processes and found the file and ended the process. Clicked on the USB icon in the sys tray, clicked to eject the external backup hard drive, and "bless pat" the message that appeared was, "safely remove device" or whatever the exact words are. I did this several time to insure that was the issue and it was.

Finally, I wanted to disable the exe on startup.
Click the Microsoft Start button in lower left screen.
In the box that appears - "Search programs and files" type in msconfig
On the pop-up that appears, click on the "startup tab"
Scroll down till you find the exe(s) that are causing you grief, and uncheck the box.
Answer yes to restart your computer.

Tested several times now and I can now safely remove my external hard drive from the USB port.

Sorta a moot point because I went out and bought a powered USB HUB (Belkin) with 7 ports. However, I knew there had to be a fix.

Wanted to share this experience with the masses. NOTE: If your problem is with an external Seagate hard drive, like mine was, Seagate fixes are not correct for Windows 7. So just be forwarned.

Best to ALL!!
Sgt Rock
(Vietnam 70-71)