... as per pop-up image below. When I am done using my external drive I will go to the notifications and clik the safely remove icon I get this message. I have looked hi & lo and cannot for the life of me locate what is causing this. Can someone help please?
-thank you
.
I had that issue awhile back I cannot remember what I did. I have reinstalled Windows since then.
ejecting flash drives
I've had that as well....it's definitely in use somewhere. That said, have you shut down, pulled the USB, restarted and then reattach USB drive, use it and then see if you can safely remove it.
1. When you say
For what please - writing to, backing up to, or simply accessing data from.When I am done using my external drive I will go to the notifications and clik the safely remove icon I get this message.
please explain in detail.
2. What is the make and full model of this external drive.
3. Have you at anytime received a message it is not accessible.
4. There are many reasons, but one less commonly recognised one is that you have indexing enabled from windows system - on that drive.
Thx all for replies ...
For what please - writing to, backing up to, or simply accessing data from. - please explain in detail.
All of the above
2. What is the make and full model of this external drive.
I have several (Seagate, Calvary ...). It happens randomly with all of them.
3. Have you at anytime received a message it is not accessible.
Never
4. There are many reasons, but one less commonly recognised one is that you have indexing enabled from windows system - on that drive.
What steps to check this?
Please list other 'less common' reasons. -thx
1. Indexing on 10
Add or Remove Search Index Locations in Windows 10
2. Run command
type
resmon
when resource monitor opens
select disk tab
on the disk window -file column shows disks by letter and to the left what is accessing disk
scroll down on right side to the usb connected disk - shown by letter
Last edited by Macboatmaster; 22 Dec 2020 at 21:40.
Found this, here: Can Windows tell me what is using my USB drive? - Super User
Here's a quick PowerShell command to query the event log and show which application is blocking drive ejection (works for me with Windows 10, probably works with 7/8 too)
Get-EventLog -LogName System -after (Get-Date).AddHours(-1) | Where-Object {$_.EventID -eq 225} | Sort-Object TimeGenerated | Format-Table -Wrap
The output will list all instances in the past hour where the system couldn't eject a disk drive. The Message column shows the process that blocked ejection. In my example below, task manager was actually the culprit and I was able to eject after closing task manager.
PS C:\Users\Jonathan> Get-EventLog -LogName System -after (Get-Date).AddHours(-1) | \Where-Object {$_.EventID -eq 225} | Sort-Object TimeGenerated | Format-Table -Wrap
Index Time EntryType Source InstanceID Message
----- ---- --------- ------ ---------- -------
14692 Sep 07 10:50 Warning Microsoft-Windows-Ke 225 The application \Device\HarddiskVolume4\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe with process id 11972 stopped
rnel-PnP the removal or ejection for the device USB\VID_0781&PID_5575\200445301013C111B1A0.
14693 Sep 07 10:50 Warning Microsoft-Windows-Ke 225 The application \Device\HarddiskVolume4\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe with process id 11972 stopped
rnel-PnP the removal or ejection for the device USB\VID_0781&PID_5575\200445301013C111B1A0.
Apparently, event ID 255 is generated when a drive refuses to eject.
What program were you using on it before you decided to eject it ? What do you use the external for ?
Quote