New External Drive not visible in "This PC"

FreeBooter · 26 Jan 2018

Restart your computer see if you can disconnect external HDD from Safely Remove Hardware icon.

battlezone · 26 Jan 2018

That used to work, but now I get this popup, although all programs are closed. The Task Manager shows there's nothing running.

FreeBooter · 26 Jan 2018

Some program have a open handle on the external HDD that can't be closed make sure antivirus program is not configured to scan the external drive see if this will resolve the issue but you will need to restart after configuring antivirus program.

battlezone · 26 Jan 2018

My guess is that Avast is causing the problem. I see no option for excluding an external drive. I turned off Avast Shield Control and the external drive chirped a few times, but I still could not eject it via the Safely Remove Hardware tray icon. Since Quick Removal is activated for the drive, can't I just turn it off without ejecting? Can I trust Quick Removal?

I tried one more thing: I turned off Safe Removal for the external drive, hoping I'd get an eject option when right-clicking in This PC. No joy. Isn't it weird that there is no eject option?

zbook · 26 Jan 2018

Find another computer and connect the external hard drive.
Report into the thread your findings when viewing:
a) disk management
b) device manager > disk drives
c) file explorer > this PC
d) ability to properly disconnect the external hard drive.

battlezone · 26 Jan 2018

I plugged the drive into my laptop, which is configured identically to my desktop. I got this right away:

Windows is unable to stop the device 'USB Mass Storage Device.' Don't remove this device while it is still in use. Close any programs using this device and then remove it.

Per the Task Manager, no program was running.

a, b, c, d, all show identical to the desktop.

The drive had a different drive letter when I plugged it into the laptop. It showed as F, while I assigned it Z on the desktop.

zbook · 26 Jan 2018

Until the problem is solved these are some options:
1) use task manager
2) log off
3) shut down the computer
4) use 3rd party software

When Windows refuses to eject mass storage: 5 ways to safely remove a USB drive | PCWorld

How to Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device| Solved

battlezone · 26 Jan 2018

1. In the Task Manger, I do not see "." I also tried with Process Explorer.

2. I logged out of both accounts - no go.

3. Did it. No go.

4. I installed USB Disk Ejector. Same popup as with Safely Remove Hardware icon.

zbook · 26 Jan 2018

Turning off the computer has to work as it is safe to remove the drive when the computer is off.
With task manager > click the details tab > look for WUDFHost.exe
It is the WUDFHost.exe that disappears and reappears each time I connect and disconnect a drive.
See if ending this task works.

battlezone · 26 Jan 2018

I clicked end task (WUDFHost.exe) in the admin account, but it didn't end the task. Still running.

I also tried this, per a suggestion I read on a Microsoft help forum:

In Disk Management, I right-clicked the drive and changed the setting from Quick Removal to Better Performance and rebooted. Supposedly, the eject option should become available when right-clicking the drive in This PC. The eject option did not show up.

I also uninstalled Avast to see if that would help. It didn't. I still get the "a program is still using" popup.

Nobody has yet commented on the default Quick Removal setting. Can it be trusted or not?