Ext USB HDD suddenly non-removable


  1. Posts : 143
    Win 10 Pro 64bit
       #1

    Ext USB HDD suddenly non-removable


    Running Win10 Pro v1803. Update KB4340917 installed yesterday on 7/25/18. Now the Safely Remove Devices icon is nowhere to be found but I manually ran it with a run cmd. The app sees the external device but trying to remove it gives an error claiming the device is not removable. I think this started when yesterday's update happened. The drive is working fine.
    Suggestions about the sudden non-removabilty of the external drive?
    -- Larry
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,099
    Win 10 pro Upgraded from 8.1
       #2

    I would check in device manager and the properties of the hard drive ensure quick removal is selected on the policy tab.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 31,468
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #3

    larrymcg said:
    Running Win10 Pro v1803. Update KB4340917 installed yesterday on 7/25/18. Now the Safely Remove Devices icon is nowhere to be found...
    That shouldn't have happened. I'm running exactlty the same as you, including KB4340917. My eject icon is still there. There have been lots of threads on this icon going missing with suggestions for restoring it, such as this one...
    Safely Remove Hardware Icon in Taskbar has disappeared - Windows 10 Forums

    ...trying to remove it gives an error claiming the device is not removable.
    Even with the eject icon I've been told the HDD couldn't be removed. Usually this is due to the drive being in use, though it's not always obvious what's using it. I've found that Task Manger is often the culprit. Occasionally with no apps open it still won't eject. If signing out then back in again doesn't stop whatever process it is, then I have to shut down or restart to eject safely. There's no obvious pattern to this, thankfully it happens rarely.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 143
    Win 10 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Bree, The error is not that it can't be removed because it is busy, the error is that it is not a removable drive and can not be ejected or unplugged. Quite different errors.
    As an experiment I plugged in another external USB HDD. Get the same error with it.

    The safe removal icon is listed in Settings - Select icons to appear on the taskbar -- the safely remove icon is listed as ON.
    The icon is not in the hidden icons area of the taskbar.

    In the Device manager, both drives have: Quick Removal set; Safe Removal Required is true.

    -- Larry
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 143
    Win 10 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I also tried changing Quick Removal property to Better Performance. No help. Changed it back to Quick Removal. No help.
    -- Larry
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 31,468
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #6

    larrymcg said:
    Bree, The error is not that it can't be removed because it is busy, the error is that it is not a removable drive and can not be ejected or unplugged. Quite different errors.
    As an experiment I plugged in another external USB HDD. Get the same error with it.
    As an experiment, does a usb memory stick show as removable and cause the eject icon to appear?
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 143
    Win 10 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Bree,
    I inserted a USB memory stick. The safely remove icon was still nowhere to be found.
    I used my previously created shortcut to get the safely remove app to run. It gave the same error as the other disks got.
    Device manager showed the memory stick as removable, etc.
    I right clicked the USB Memory stick, got its properties and there was an Eject option! I selected that and, as if by magic, the Safely Remove icon appeared in the taskbar and it allowed me to safely remove the memory stick.
    Encouraged by the progress, I powered up my external hard disk and the safely remove icon let me remove it.

    So, for the time being things are back to normal.

    Aren't computer systems fun??

    -- Larry

    PS: None of this addresses the side issue that since these disks are set for Quick Removal, using the safely remove icon shouldn't be needed anyway! Quick Removal property has been a joke in Windows forever!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 31,468
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #8

    larrymcg said:
    ...as if by magic, the Safely Remove icon appeared in the taskbar and it allowed me to safely remove the memory stick.
    Encouraged by the progress, I powered up my external hard disk and the safely remove icon let me remove it.

    So, for the time being things are back to normal.

    Aren't computer systems fun??!
    Yes!

    at least it's behaving normally now - even if we don't know quite how you fixed it.
    Quick - make a system image before it breaks again!
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 143
    Win 10 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I'm the OP. The problem reappeared again after a Win 10 update yesterday.
    Fortunately, the same solution solved the problem again! I wonder if others see this issue? My other Win 10 PC does not.
    Cheers,
    Larry
      My Computer


 

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