Safely Remove hardware ..but how?

[Abhishek kapoor]

I have 2 external HDD 250GB (DATA) and 80 Gb (blank) when ever i try to remove the HDD i got error (see PIC) i also formatted 80 GB without checking "Quick Format" but still getting error .......

Installed Avast with full updates so no scope of Virus

[Joel]

Where's your page file? Is System Restore checking that drive?

[MR_Candyman]

Check that all video and audio players are closed (they could be accessing it). This is usually what I have this problem with.

[redvamp128]

Usually a quick log off and log back on then try stopping the device. Most of the time this works. Sometimes I get this when I use one of my Cruizer Mini drivers when working with MS Word Documents on that drive.

Though It may be like Joel said.... It could be System restore checking the drive. Or Windows Defragmenting the drive- Or quite possible Indexing Services. You probably could goto services.msc and stop indexing services then try stopping the device. Don't forget to restart the service if it then lets you remove the device.

[Abhishek kapoor]

Where's your page file? Is System Restore checking that drive?

I have pagefile in C drive .. internal HDD 40 Gb with 3 partition C(XP) D(2003 server) E (daily data)

Z drive 80 Gb (external)

NO,system restore is managing that drive ........

I had checked again and again no process running from that drive ..........

and i try right now also plug the HDD and then remove at same time then also it show error

[redvamp128]

Sometimes a quick log off and then Log back in will let you stop the device.

Though I think you may have indexing turned on for the device.

Also you may want to check the website for updated drivers for the device.

[Abhishek kapoor]

Index option .... General tab "allow indexing service to index this disk for fast file searching" ya i checked this BOX ....... should i unselect it or from services.msc

[redvamp128]

That is probably why the device is still in use.

Until the index is done the device will remain active and then upon every plug in until the index gets done every time.

You probably should remove the check mark. But if you are still trying to remove the device right now- You can stop the service ... stop the device then restart the service.

[Abhishek kapoor]

I unchecked and then try unplugging it , got same error ...... this service is used mainly for searching files and folder i really don't need it as i know which data i save where ...... for any other purpose it is used which may give error/problem later .......

[redvamp128]

You don't need that service for that device- But The effect on the device does not take until a Log Off and Log Back on. Then click the safely remove device. Now from that point on it should not turn back on the service- If that does not work then another program is accessing the drive. You could also check this while the device is plugged in... Right click on the drive then click properties... then hardware tab....then find the device select it...choose properties...then the policy tab... select the Quick removal option.

[Ghostdraconi]

Try Disabling Write Caching

Disk Properties - Hardware - Properties - Policies.

[DJ-Light]

Turn off your computer, unplug the drive, turn on your computer

[Abhishek kapoor]

You don't need that service for that device- But The effect on the device does not take until a Log Off and Log Back on. Then click the safely remove device. Now from that point on it should not turn back on the service- If that does not work then another program is accessing the drive. You could also check this while the device is plugged in... Right click on the drive then click properties... then hardware tab....then find the device select it...choose properties...then the policy tab... select the Quick removal option.

It works for 250 Gb now i can unplug easily with out error .......

but still getting problem in 80 Gb which is Blank

Un-check the last option .......

[redvamp128]

Check to see if AVast is set to auto scan the device. I know that with NAV it can cause USB devices not to be able to be stopped if Real Time Protection is enabled for the device. I ran into that issue with NAV while testing it and the solution was to turn protection off... Then stop device... then turn protection on.

Edited July 25, 2008 by redvamp128

[rustix]

download and use USB Safely Remove application

[random_n]

Run Process Explorer from http://live.sysinternals.com/procexp.exe (Part of Microsoft's Sysinternals Technet site)

Click on Find -> Find Handle or DLL, and enter the drive letter of your USB drive with the colon and backslash into the search box (ex: "G:\"). It should list the programs holding open handles to the drive and preventing removal. From there you may take appropriate action such as closing the programs, killing the process, or even breaking the handle (not recommended if you can avoid it!).

[PermaSt0ne]

Turn off your computer, unplug the drive, turn on your computer

this is exactly what you need to do

it could be any number of things accessing your USB drive. if you are on windows (32-bit) i highly recommend Unlocker. it's a very small program and only adds one thing to your computer, a "unlock" to your context menu. that means you can right click on anything (file, folder, drive) and free it up so you can delete, move, eject, safely remove, whatever you want to it

[Abhishek kapoor]

Check to see if AVast is set to auto scan the device. I know that with NAV it can cause USB devices not to be able to be stopped if Real Time Protection is enabled for the device. I ran into that issue with NAV while testing it and the solution was to turn protection off... Then stop device... then turn protection on.

where I can find that option .....

^^ will try this ....

Run Process Explorer from http://live.sysinternals.com/procexp.exe (Part of Microsoft's Sysinternals Technet site)

page not found ....

[suicide_pact]

Also, if you have a third party defrag utility (such as O&O Defrag), that runs as a service in order to derfrag in the background, you'll need to stop that service in order to eject externel HDDs. Happens to me w/ my external & O&O.

[Abhishek kapoor]

I don't use nay software for defrag ...... i have only avast & ccleaner, smithfraudfix ..nothing else in software

[redvamp128]

Right click on your avast options in your Tray (next to the clock) usually they have an option to turn off Antivirus and or disable- You only want to disable it long enough to stop the device to remove it... then you will need to Turn it back on or enable it after you remove the the drive. I don't use Avast but most Antivirus are made with similar features.

Or open up the Avast program and click on the help for the program and search for temporarily disable antivirus.

[Abhishek kapoor]

Done that ...but nothing happens still getting Error ....

[PermaSt0ne]

Done that ...but nothing happens still getting Error ....

shutting down your computer will do it

if you want to prevent it in the future, download Unlocker like i told you to

[rustix]

or use USB Safely Remove remove like i told you

[Abhishek kapoor]

Ok i m downloading right now UNLOCKER and see if it works on this or not otherwise i will download "USB Safely Remove" ...but why i m getting this problem i had also format HDD 2 times