Removing An External Drive - It Wont Let Me

joko | 16:57 Fri 20th Sep 2013 | Technology

16 Answers

over the last week or so, every time i plug in one of my external hard drives, i cannot remove it again.

it just wont let, it keeps saying its still in use - when i have closed everything down - even things that cannot possibly be using it

it still just wont let me eject.

it used to be fine and would eject them more or less straight away - but its doing it with all of them now - including flash drives

i seem to remember some drives (or is it on the computer?) that has a function where you can set it so you could just pull it out if you liked and it would be fine.
anyone know? i like to be in the habit of properly ejecting for safety but id like to set that if i can - because the only way i can disconnect now is to either risk just pulling it out - or restart the whole machine

any ideas?

thanks

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Buenchico

Try going into Task Manager to take a look at what (your PC thinks) might be using it. I've found that some programs (e.g. Firefox) can carry on running for several minutes after they appear to have been closed. Any program that has been used to send data to your external drive, or to retrieve data from it, during the current session could be to blame. (I've also had problems ejecting external USB drives but I've always managed to locate the rogue program, usually Firefox, via Task Manager).

It's also worth remembering that it's always perfectly safe to remove a USB device after the computer has been shut down.

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joko

Question Author

thanks all

i eject using the tray icon that says safely remove hardware - though because of this i have tried going through other routes - none work

not sure about the 'search desktop' thing... how would i check that?

chris, yes tried task manager - there is nothing there.
i have closed everything- all windows, all programs - everything - and it still says its being used

i have to switch the laptop off an unplug

it even did when i plugged it in an did not even open it - i just waited for it to show in my computer then tried to eject - and same message showed.

i have not touched it since i asked this question - just tried to eject again - still wont allow it...

it is an asus x54c on win 7

-- answer removed --

sidkid

I use UNLOCKER. This is a free to download executable. It will tell you what file is 'holding' your drive. You can then close that particular file. I used this recently and it was Realplayer that was the offending program. Hadn't even been using Realplayer!!

joko

Question Author

yes i am aware of that - that is what said i have been doing

but i don't want to have to shut the computer down single every time i want to change the drive

point is, it should not be doing this on every single drive every single time i plug one in
it didn't used to do this, so clearly something is wrong

joko

Question Author

cheers sidkid, i will try that

joko

Question Author

sidkid - can you tell me how to use it?

i have just opened is and just opened up my files ... it also says its for when you want to delete a file but windows wont allow it ... how does this work on ejecting a drive?

joko

Question Author

i just right clicked on it and opened Unlocker - and it says there is nothing locking it ...

joko

Question Author

argh ... i just tried to eject the sd card, and it just said i can safely remove it - so i did

then about 30 secs later a window came up saying windows cant stop the sd card and not to remove it while its in use!
i hadn't even used the card!

sidkid

Firstly download and install UNLOCKER. I believe the latest version is 1.9.2 Then right click on START and click on EXPLORE. Scroll down to the drive that won't eject. Right click on it and one of the options should say UNLOCKER. Click on this and you will see a small window. This should detail what is locking the drive. You then highlight the offending file and click on the UNLOCK button at the bottom. You can then eject the drive safely.

joko

Question Author

i have done all that sidkid - it says nothing is blocking it.

i have also downloaded process explorer and that also says nothing is being used

it does this on every drive i attach even if i dont even use it, so im inclined to think there is some error with the eject process somewhere rather than just one process blocking a drive

sidkid

Do you know if the drive is optimized for quick removal. This can be found by double-clicking on the drive in device manager (under disk drives). Then clicking on the policies tab.

joko

Question Author

i have just looked and it is set for quick removal, but this is obviously a fault as i say because its not just this drive, and it used to be ok, so not sure if its safe to remove in that case

ive been researching and everyone seems to have the problem with one drive in particular - haven't yet found any advice about the problem being something internal

joko

Question Author

strangely after a good while, i noticed that the drive seemed to have 'powered down' - the light was on but there was no gentle whirring sound or gentle vibration when you touch it - it was as though it was totally off

so i tried once again to eject - and it started up again! - and wouldn't let me!
i figured it had disconnected itself after so long

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