Windows 10: Did not eject USB HDD before unplugging it...

The USB HDD was idle...it was not doing anything and I unplugged it without ejecting it..all of the files were closed and not accessed by any program...Could some files get corrupted ?


Another Question...If I have a file open on the USB HDD or if something is being written or read from the USB HDD and then I eject the disk, Will I get a "Safe to Remove Hardware" notification ?

I am asking because I didn't know if the USB HDD was in USE and then I ejected and I received a "Safe to Remove Hardware" notification..so I unplugged the USB HDD..Am I ok ? was the USB HDD active when I ejected it ?

:)

 

Removing a USB drive without 'ejecting' first

Hello,

Normally I eject a USB drive within Windows 10 before unplugging the hardware. I once understood garbage can be left behind when not ejecting first.

Sometimes ejecting don't work because Windows says it's in use (for no reason according to me). In those cases I shut down Windows or I unplug the USB drive without ejecting first.

• Is this garbage being left behind in Windows or on the USB drive?
• How can I remove this garbage afterwards?

Thanks in advance

SJW

 

ejecting a usb drive in 10

Hi Walden,



I realize the inconvenience you are experiencing with accessing Safely Remove and Eject Media USB icon on the taskbar.



To assist you better, please provide us the below information:

• When you say that "not I can not get it to show up in bottom right lower", are you referring that you are not able to see the Eject USB icon under the show hidden icons?
  

I suggest you to follow the steps below to understand the system

1. Click on Search bar.

2. Then type "Select which icons appear on the taskbar" without the quotes in the search bar and click on it.

3. Turn on Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon.

Reply to us with the information, so that we can assist you better.



Please get back to us with an update on issue, we will be happy to help.



Thank you.

 

USB device is not removable and cannot be ejected or unplugged

Hi Ai-Ling,

Appreciate the troubleshooting steps that you have tried. I suggest you run Hardware Troubleshooter and check as it is an automated tool which checks the hardware connected to the computer for any known issues and provides the details on how to fix
them. Follow these steps to run the troubleshooter.

• 
  Type Troubleshooting in the search bar and press “Enter”.
  
• 
  In the “Troubleshooting” window, click on “View All” on the left pane.
  
• 
  Click on “Hardware and Devices”.
  
• 
  Click on “Advanced” and then click on “Run as Administrator”.
  
• 
  Click “Next” and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
  

I also suggest you to Disable & Enable all USB controllers and check if it helps.

• 
  Click Windows key + R, type
  devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
  
• 
  Expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
  
• 
  Right-click every device under the Universal Serial Bus Controllers mode, and then click Disable one at a time.
  
• 
  Restart the computer, and then enable the USB controllers.
  

Update USB Controllers: To update the USB Controllers from Device Manager follow these steps.

• 
  Go Select Device manager.
  
• 
  Double Click on USB Controllers to expand.
  
• 
  Right click on the USB Controllers that is listed and select
  Update.
  

How to Install and Update drivers in Windows 10

How to: Install and Update Hardware Drivers in Windows 10

Let us know how it goes, we’ll be glad to assist.