New
#1
I had that issue awhile back I cannot remember what I did. I have reinstalled Windows since then.
ejecting flash drives
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 ?