Windows 10: Explorer Folder/File Handle Leak? (USB Eject)

I am experiencing a problem regarding ejecting USB devices that may indicate a more fundamental issue with Windows/Explorer within Windows 10.

In the last one to two weeks (possible updates?) it has become increasingly difficult to eject USB devices.

Process Explorer handle search reveals Explorer is keeping open directory handles and thus preventing the ejection of the USB devices. Killing Explorer (or deleting the handles) permits ejection (obviously).

A slightly deeper look into this reveals that browsing to a specific directory will result in handles being opened for all sub-directories. Moving away from that directory and/or closing Explorer does not close those handles, and thus prevents any removable media from being removed "safely".

One of the possible problems is Context Menu hooks, so I've disabled all of those as a precaution but the problem continues.

Is anybody aware of any problems and associated solutions?

As an aside I looked on the Microsoft community forums, with a view to posting there, and commentary around this kind of issue is being directed toward TechNet.

EDIT: Digging a little deeper I was able to remove a lot more shell extensions and alleviate the mass folder handle leak. So Explorer is not the issue. When I get more time I will trawl the extensions to look for the culprit(s) and report back. Nothing out of the ordinary was extending; Dropbox, Notepad++ and a few other well used/known products, but nevertheless one or more of them is causing issues.

The problem persisted with system still holding handles to the classic $extend\$rmmetadata. Process Explorer was unable to close the handles (in admin mode).

Removing the drive letter in Disk Management released the drive I was testing with, and switching off indexing on the drive appears to resolve the issue for now. Will do more testing and report back.

If anybody else has information on this matter it will be much appreciated.

:)

 

Eject options inconsistent between USB stick and USB external drive - Windows 10

When I want to eject a USB stick I can do it 2 different ways (a) by clicking on the 'Safely remove hardware and eject media' icon in the notification area of the taskbar and selecting the device (b) in File Explorer by right mouse button on the drive letter
for the USB stick and clicking the Eject option

When I want to eject a USB external drive I only have one option, by clicking on the 'Safely remove hardware and eject media' icon in the notification area of the taskbar and selecting the device. In File Explorer if I right mouse button on the drive letter
for the USB external drive, there is no Eject option in the list of options.

Since I am usually in File Explorer when I have either a USB stick or a USB external drive plugged in, it is most natural to me to want to eject from within File Explorer after I have finished with the USB device.

Is there any way to 'switch on' an 'Eject' option within File Explorer for a USB external drive ?

Ron

PS this is true for both Windows 10 Home 32 bit and Windows 10 Pro 64 bit

 

Windows 10 cannot "Safe Eject" USB drive

This is ridiculous... If it knows it's in use when trying to remove, why not tell you what is using it and give you the option to kill those apps right then? My normal fix is to use "process explorer" and find handles that use the drive letter, then kill
those apps. LibreOffice in particular seems to hold on to handles to any drive you open a document from until you kill it.

However, recently process explorer has been reporting no handles for the drive letter I'm looking at and I still cannot eject it.

 

I'm having the same problem, and of course it's the early morning before and important meeting...help

 

There exists software (some free) that will kill the handles this "new" Explorer now keeps open. A quick Google search will reveal some. You need to find one that can either directly filter handles by device or provide a search mechanism that allows for device specific searching.

It would be nice if Process Explorer would provide a blanket handle delete after a search, but it doesn't appear to.

If we're going to delete the handles indiscriminately then we may as well just disconnect the USB device.

Deleting handles and pulling the connection is NOT a good idea, but until MS can provide a fix I'm not sure what else we can do?!? I can't be expected to shut my machine down just because I took a peek at one of my USB devices.

I'm surprised more folks aren't finding this an issue as USB devices are so well used these days. It's always been an issue with all the MS O/Ss, but in the last two weeks it's reached a stage were I cannot plug any USB device in and eject it cleanly without killing explorer.

It's worth noting that I have NO anti-virus running save Windows Defender.