Found Solution in Creators Update 1703 15063.138 that may work for others, Open Devices and Printers, Hit Troubleshoot, it states device may have stopped responding, resets it appears, then allowed removal via Safely remove Icon
Drive is Western Digital Passport Ultra Metal
07/01/17 . . . I'm using Win 10 Pro 64-bit
Run - winver / Version 1703 (OS Build 15063.447)
I have a couple of 1TB SATA external drives, to which I backup my files, and it's always telling me that it can't "Eject" them, because some program is using the drive.
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. . . Have you checked the indexing options in Control Panel? If could be always checking the drive for changes, to update the search index.
I keep every thing in one folder, that I want indexed. I see that it was indexing some other things. I got rid of those, and then it successfully "Ejected" with one click the first time.
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I also double checked this, while the two drives were running. I have it set on the "default" of these two:
Control Panel / Device Manager / Disk drives / Generic External USB Device / right-click - Properties / Policies tab . . .
[dot] Quick removal (default) . . . Disables write caching on the device and in Windows, but you can disconnect the device safely without using the Safely Remove Hardware notification icon.
Better performance . . . Enables write caching in Windows, but you must use the Safely Remove Hardware notification icon to disconnect the device safely.
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So, I am going to assume that after I do my backup (I make a mirror copy using SyncBackPro), I can then just "power off" the drives, and not worry about the write head striking the platter, and ruining the hard drives. Only time will tell.
Here's my current thinking in 3 points, based on this page: Do You Really Need to Safely Remove USB Flash Drives? . . . https://www.howtogeek.com/118546/htg-explains-do-you-really-need-to-safely-remove-usb-sticks/ 1.) "Quick Removal" is the default (to minimize the chances of data corruption), because many people forget, or never use, the "Safely Remove Hardware" option. 2.) Put the Policy on . . . Better performance . . . Enables write caching in Windows, but you must use the Safely Remove Hardware notification icon to disconnect the device safely. 3.) Use the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon, and eject your device before unplugging it, eliminating any chances of data corruption . . . This advice doesn’t just apply to Windows, but also to Linux and Mac OS X
1.) Make your external drive(s) "Exclusions" in your anti-virus
2.) I have a .BAT file, where I launch SyncBack Pro and this program:
USB Disk Ejector | Quick And Easy Software . . . USB Disk Ejector | Quick And Easy Software
After I make my mirror copy, I was doing Safely Remove with USB Disk Ejector, more easily than I was with the Win 10 icon in the Notification Tray.
Then, I noticed that if I closed both SyncBack Pro, and USB Disk Ejector, then the Win 10 icon in the Notification Tray worked more consistently to disconnect the drives with one click, then before. Maybe USB Disk Ejector wakes up Win 10.
I see that they have a new version of USB Disk Ejector, 1.3.0.6, maybe there was in improvment, I'll have to try this . . . anyway, that's where I'm at.
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