Cannot eject external USB 3 hard disk after a while, so annoying

hi guys

so this is starting to get to my nerves.... after a few hours that you use the PC with the external usb 3 plugged on, win10 would not hear it and not let you eject it properly. if i do try lets say after 10-15 mins only it works fine. it seems that once defender drags its claws onto the hdd it doesn't let it go easily!

I went to event viewer and there you have it eVERY time is windows defender. - i tried to disable the scan on external drives as well, even though could be a bit of a risk but doesn't even work.

Event viewer:
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\4.18.2006.10-0\MsMpEng.exe with process id 5860 stopped the removal or ejection for the device USB\VID_

how can you fix it? even by a restart it works only 2 times out of 10, and dont really want to shut down but remove the hard disk and save its life without having it connected ALL the time. makes sense?

I am on 1909 64 bit
Version 10.0.18363.959

please help

thanks,
Gabrio

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oh and i dont want to use the quick removal, i like the "better performance" option.

dalchina said:

USB Safely Remove (not free) is a good tool - sometimes given away.

Try adding it as an exclusion.
Stop AV Defender from scanning my external backup drive
Exclude external drive from Defender Virus Scan

thanks, i just tried the exclude (first link) and restarted and ejected it and it works. i will try now another test with a program running from the external and then trying to eject after stopping it of course.

it still doesn't work

i did a bit of work with the hard disk plugged on, synced 2 programs that use default data partition on the external, shut them down now completely. yet again, doesn't work, now task manager is not happy.


Device\HarddiskVolume4\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe with process id 9972 stopped the removal or ejection for the device USB\VID

there is literally NOTHING going on.

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UPDATE: i tried one more time and killed task manager itself and look it worked! :)

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so it is Windows Defender and then oddly Task manager hangs a bit to it but then lets it go eh eh.

On the other hand i wonder if there's a safe way of keep having Defender while letting you unplug, because you could plug in an hdd with malware...

anyway thanks for the help!

dalchina said:

Try USB Safely Remove if the tutorials I posted don't help.

nifty little program, i just installed the trial and works well! thanks a lot! maybe i buy it eh eh

@dalchina
Thanks for your mention of USB Safely Remove. I have installed it and it works a treat.
I was getting so exasperated with not being able to remove my external HDD's, without a complete shutdown.

@gabgab
I googled Windows Giveaways and after looking through the results, came across the program to download. You also get a lifetime licence.