Windows 10: Can't eject External Hard Disk because it is in use

Why doesn't the laptop want to eject external drives / USBs and keeps saying they are in use even though i just plugged them in? Is there a way to eject them safely that does not require me to shutdown the laptop or turn off the antivirus?

:)

 

External Hard disk contents are not visible.

Hi Pranoti,

For us to narrow down your concern with your external hard disk, we would like to know the following:

• Were there any changes made on your computer prior to the issue (e.g., updates, software installation)?
• To make sure that we have not missed on anything, what troubleshooting steps have you done so far?
• Do you hear any clicking sound when connecting your hard disk?

In the meantime, we suggest that you update all your device driver.

We look forward to your response.

 

Problem ejecting hard disk

Hi

I have been using my laptop for 2 years now

And I have an external hard disk I was even using that for a while now on my computer

But recently when I plugged in my hard disk and after using it when I clicked on eject

This message poped up

The application\device\harddiskvolume3\windows\system32\searchindexer.exe is preventihg this device from being stopped. Close the applicatian and then try to stop the device again.

After that I thought it's a virus so in the evening I purchased an antivirus software and scanned the hard disk and dint even used it dint opened any folder from that hard disk after the scan was completed I again rejected the hard disk but same message
appeared

I even tried few more methods of ejecting it but same message kept on popping up

And after ejecting manually I was using my computer and after a while I face a blue screen

With a code : kernel_mode_heap_corruption

What should I do

Is it a malware?

 

Windows10 randomly refuses to safely eject external disks

Hello there,

More than 11 months ago I expose in these forums some problems in Windows10.

One of them is the denial to safely eject external disks.

Here is what happens: I connect one of my external disks to my pc, then I move/copy/delete/edit/view some files, and later, after closing EVERYTHING, Windows10 refuses to safely eject my disk. It replies, "Windows can't stop your 'Volume' device because
a program is still using it".

Windows doesn't tell me what program is employing my drive. And I know for sure there is nothing employing it.

That issue happens randomly. I mean, sometimes I can safely eject the disk, and sometimes I cannot.

Today I downloaded from Microsoft the app named "procexp64.exe" which showed me what is employing my external disk.

And, they are Windows processes only!

Let's say my disk's root ID is "M:\"

The Process Explorer found:

• Four "system" processes with open files in M:\$Extend\$RmMetadata\$Txf.........
• Two "explorer" processes with open directory M:\

Hence, Windows doesn't allow me to safely eject my external disk because Windows forgot it was itself the one using my disk!

Almost 1 year has passed, and the issue still persists.

Annoying!