my external hard drive wont disconnect

[what..the?]

I finish using files and then click bottom right ask to disconnect safely click on the right hard drive listed and then it says it is still using it, why??? nothing is on, open, or being used, it's so annoying, wouldnt be bad if I was at desk but in arm chair with laptop and the external hd gets in the way.

[MarkRae]

Shut down all applications, including Windows Explorer and then just pull out the USB cable...

[what..the?]

so internet explorer might keep it open?

[MarkRae]

Theoretically, especially if you saved something from the Internet directly to the external drive...

[what..the?]

i keep emailing attachments which come from the external, that must be it...

[VHG]

If you want to be totally sure, power off the PC, wait for 1 minute for the platter to stop spinning, the THEN unplug the USB cable.

[what..the?]

thanks