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Thread: Can't remove USB external hard drive

  1. #1
    Ed Y Guest

    Can't remove USB external hard drive

    I just purchased a USB hard drive to use for backup purposes. Ran complete
    image backups on the internal hard drive, no problems. Now when I try to use
    the "safely remove hardware" icon in the system tray, it keeps telling me
    that the device is in use. I checked Device Manager and the option "optimize
    for quick removal" is checked. Indexing is turned off. I can't figure out
    what's using it.

    What can I do????

    Ed



  2. #2
    Gilgamesh Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive

    "Ed Y" <edyoung39@hotmail.com> wrote in message
    news:eCsPeGqyIHA.5892@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    >I just purchased a USB hard drive to use for backup purposes. Ran complete
    >image backups on the internal hard drive, no problems. Now when I try to
    >use the "safely remove hardware" icon in the system tray, it keeps telling
    >me that the device is in use. I checked Device Manager and the option
    >"optimize for quick removal" is checked. Indexing is turned off. I can't
    >figure out what's using it.
    >
    > What can I do????


    Is System Restore active for the device?
    Do you have any other disk utilities that would access it (e.g. Norton
    Protected Recycle Bin).

    These have caused problems for me with USB drives

    >
    > Ed
    >




  3. #3
    Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive

    "Ed Y" <edyoung39@hotmail.com> wrote in message
    news:eCsPeGqyIHA.5892@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    >I just purchased a USB hard drive to use for backup purposes. Ran complete
    >image backups on the internal hard drive, no problems. Now when I try to
    >use the "safely remove hardware" icon in the system tray, it keeps telling
    >me that the device is in use. I checked Device Manager and the option
    >"optimize for quick removal" is checked. Indexing is turned off. I can't
    >figure out what's using it.



    Do you have a Windows Explorer window open to the drive?
    Or any file on the drive open in any program?

    --
    Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
    Do not reply with email


  4. #4
    Ed Y Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive


    "Gilgamesh" <gilgamesh@spam.me.not> wrote in message
    news:eW6SYQqyIHA.2340@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
    >
    > Is System Restore active for the device?
    > Do you have any other disk utilities that would access it (e.g. Norton
    > Protected Recycle Bin).
    >
    > These have caused problems for me with USB drives
    >


    No, system restore is not active for the disk. Can't think of anything else
    I have that might be using it.

    Ed



  5. #5
    V Green Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive


    "Ed Y" <edyoung39@hotmail.com> wrote in message
    news:u4T3oXqyIHA.3628@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
    >
    > "Gilgamesh" <gilgamesh@spam.me.not> wrote in message
    > news:eW6SYQqyIHA.2340@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
    > >
    > > Is System Restore active for the device?
    > > Do you have any other disk utilities that would access it (e.g. Norton
    > > Protected Recycle Bin).
    > >
    > > These have caused problems for me with USB drives
    > >

    >
    > No, system restore is not active for the disk. Can't think of anything else
    > I have that might be using it.
    >
    > Ed


    Could be antivirus.

    Try this:

    Close all open programs.
    Open Task Manager and get a list of all running processes.
    Log off. (NOT restart)
    Log back on.
    See if you can disconnect the drive. If you can disconnect,
    get a list of running processes from Task Manager again.
    Compare the two lists and try to find any "missing" processes.
    (hopefully only one)
    They would be what is using the drive.

    >
    >




  6. #6
    the wharf rat Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive

    In article <eCsPeGqyIHA.5892@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>,
    Ed Y <edyoung39@hotmail.com> wrote:
    >
    >What can I do????
    >


    Pick up the PC and shake it. That little USB drive will fall right
    out if you shake it hard enough!

    All kidding aside, just make sure all the (My) Computer windows
    and all the Word windows and all the Notepad windows and etc. are closed
    then click remove 2 or 3 times in a row. Bet it works.



  7. #7
    Ed Y Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive


    "the wharf rat" <wrat@panix.com> wrote in message
    news:g2kse3$2fa$1@reader2.panix.com...
    > In article <eCsPeGqyIHA.5892@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>,
    > Ed Y <edyoung39@hotmail.com> wrote:
    >>
    >>What can I do????
    >>

    >
    > Pick up the PC and shake it. That little USB drive will fall right
    > out if you shake it hard enough!
    >
    > All kidding aside, just make sure all the (My) Computer windows
    > and all the Word windows and all the Notepad windows and etc. are closed
    > then click remove 2 or 3 times in a row. Bet it works.
    >
    >


    No windows open at all. Tried to remove it 5-6 times in a row. Event Viewer
    shows "thread ID 4" in the error message but that might be the guy that's
    issuing the message. Guess I need to figure out in "process explorer" how to
    try and track it down.



  8. #8
    Nial Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive

    Ed Y wrote:
    > I just purchased a USB hard drive to use for backup purposes. Ran complete
    > image backups on the internal hard drive, no problems. Now when I try to use
    > the "safely remove hardware" icon in the system tray, it keeps telling me
    > that the device is in use. I checked Device Manager and the option "optimize
    > for quick removal" is checked. Indexing is turned off. I can't figure out
    > what's using it.
    >
    > What can I do????
    >
    > Ed
    >
    >

    In my experience, it is Vista's indexing service which is using your usb
    hard disk. the same thing happened to me a while back. the moment i
    attached the usb hard disk, the light started blinking, even tho i
    hadn't done anything yet. when i tried to stop it, i got the same error.

    Some time later, while on another housekeeping chore, i was browsing
    through the indexing service properties -- forget where i saw them and
    noticed that there was an option to exclude external usb devices, or
    something to that effect ... ticked that and the problem went away.

    hope this helps.

  9. #9
    Ed Y Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive


    "Nial" <rusty.nial@nowhere.at.all> wrote in message
    news:uezwECvyIHA.4816@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
    > In my experience, it is Vista's indexing service which is using your usb
    > hard disk. the same thing happened to me a while back. the moment i
    > attached the usb hard disk, the light started blinking, even tho i hadn't
    > done anything yet. when i tried to stop it, i got the same error.
    >
    > Some time later, while on another housekeeping chore, i was browsing
    > through the indexing service properties -- forget where i saw them and
    > noticed that there was an option to exclude external usb devices, or
    > something to that effect ... ticked that and the problem went away.
    >
    > hope this helps.


    Read my 1st post. Indexing was turned off for the drive.

    Ed



  10. #10
    Nial Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive

    Ed Y wrote:
    > "Nial" <rusty.nial@nowhere.at.all> wrote in message
    > news:uezwECvyIHA.4816@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
    >> In my experience, it is Vista's indexing service which is using your usb
    >> hard disk. the same thing happened to me a while back. the moment i
    >> attached the usb hard disk, the light started blinking, even tho i hadn't
    >> done anything yet. when i tried to stop it, i got the same error.
    >>
    >> Some time later, while on another housekeeping chore, i was browsing
    >> through the indexing service properties -- forget where i saw them and
    >> noticed that there was an option to exclude external usb devices, or
    >> something to that effect ... ticked that and the problem went away.
    >>
    >> hope this helps.

    >
    > Read my 1st post. Indexing was turned off for the drive.
    >
    > Ed
    >
    >

    Yes I _did_ notice that. Just gave you my experience, because I didn't
    remember whether _my_ indexing was off or not for my drive. Sorry I
    wasn't able to be of much help...

  11. #11
    mikejb74 Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive


    I've had this happen a bunch, for me it always ends up being Google
    Desktop that's using it.
    If you don't see it in the list of processes, be sure to click on "see
    processes by all users," it may be indexing under multiple user
    accounts.


    --
    mikejb74

  12. #12
    ShaRay Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive


    Ed Y;1046961 Wrote:
    > I just purchased a USB hard drive to use for backup purposes. Ran
    > complete
    > image backups on the internal hard drive, no problems. Now when I try
    > to use
    > the "safely remove hardware" icon in the system tray, it keeps telling
    > me
    > that the device is in use. I checked Device Manager and the option
    > "optimize
    > for quick removal" is checked. Indexing is turned off. I can't figure
    > out
    > what's using it.
    >
    > What can I do????
    >
    > Ed


    Goto index service exclude, click on more locations, un-select
    "Off-line Files" That should do it.


    --
    ShaRay

  13. #13
    Ed Y Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive


    "ShaRay" <ray@sharay.com> wrote in message
    news:ShaRay.3cwune@no-mx.tabletquestions.com...
    >
    > Ed Y;1046961 Wrote:
    >> I just purchased a USB hard drive to use for backup purposes. Ran
    >> complete
    >> image backups on the internal hard drive, no problems. Now when I try
    >> to use
    >> the "safely remove hardware" icon in the system tray, it keeps telling
    >> me
    >> that the device is in use. I checked Device Manager and the option
    >> "optimize
    >> for quick removal" is checked. Indexing is turned off. I can't figure
    >> out
    >> what's using it.
    >>
    >> What can I do????
    >>
    >> Ed

    >
    > Goto index service exclude, click on more locations, un-select
    > "Off-line Files" That should do it.
    >
    >
    > --
    > ShaRay


    I don't understand what you're referring to. Can you expand on "index
    service exclude"??



  14. #14
    ShaRay Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive


    Control Panel > Indexing Options > Modify

    There you need to un-check the Offline Files Box


    --
    ShaRay

  15. #15
    Ed Y Guest

    Re: Can't remove USB external hard drive


    "ShaRay" <ray@sharay.com> wrote in message
    news:ShaRay.3cx14z@no-mx.tabletquestions.com...
    >
    > Control Panel > Indexing Options > Modify
    >
    > There you need to un-check the Offline Files Box
    >
    >
    > --
    > ShaRay


    There is no Offline Files Box. I have indexing turned off anyway.



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