Windows 10: How do I eject a USB drive with a scheduled task that renders it inaccessible eg to hackers...

I have a Samsung T7 with Samsung’s encrypted password option enabled. I want a daily scheduled task that will take the drive offline and the only way to access it again is to unplug and replug it - alternatively put it in such a state that even if something malicious was to run code on my pc to re-enable it it wouldn’t get past the password prompt. Manually I tried ejecting it via safely eject hardware to see if this was a possible option to schedule via a batch file or similar and then I disabled/enabled in device manager as malicious code might do but this brings it back onlin

:)

 

Task Manager Locks USB Drives

Hi LuizScruz,

Thank your for the quick response.

I can rule out that the problem relates in an way to Windows Explorer. There is no foreground instance of WE running, and there are no other processes accessing files on the drive as well. Even shutting down WE via the task manager does not release the device. Only closing the task manager helps.

I may reproduce the problem by the following steps:

1. Insert the memory stick (i. e. USB drive) into the USB port.
   
2. Start the task manager.
   
3. Try to eject the drive safely. The error message pops up.
   
4. Close task manager.
   
5. Try to eject the drive safely again. The device is released instantly.
   

Interestingly, you must not reverse steps 1 and 2 to reproduce the error.

I suspect that the problem relates to task manager's monitoring of disk activities.

Best regards,

DW

 

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.

 

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