Windows 10: removing usb drive from laptop

i am on an HP envy running Windows 10 home edition version 1903 build 18362.657. i have a PNY 128gb USB 3.0 drive that i use to store my pics and videos on. It never fails that every time i use it and try to remove it using the Windows 'eject' method, i get the error that "The device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device and then try again." Invariably i have to shut down every program that is open pain in the **** and then i can safely remove my drive. However this is a rdiculous solution every time i use the drive. And this particular time that i am using the drive, i have shut down EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM, WINDOW, PROCESS, ETC. AND I STILL CANNOT REMOVE THE DRIVE. There is nothing wrong with the drive. I have never had a problem with it. I have never removed it unless it was 'safe' to do so. No files are corrupt. THIS IS ABSOLULETLY ASSANINE. i am not buying any software to perform this simple obligitory process for removal. I have tries using task manager. i have tried using disk management, i have tried using device manager. There is no eject option. IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HELP ME WITH THIS AS MICROSOFT CLEARLY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE END USER OR THEIR NON BUSINESS PRODUCTS ANY LONGER. I NEED HELP. i am about to pack up this pc for air travel and i cant leave the drive in the port. HELP!

:)

 

help. USB drive isn't assigned a drive letter.

Any usb flash drive I plug into my computer isn't assigned a drive letter. The physical drive shows in the "safely remove hardware" but it doesnt show up in disk management. I have tried to populate the volume thru the safely remove hardware properties window and it does pop up in the list but it doesn't stay there. This isn't a format or assign a letter problem. It's more complicated then that. Maybe one of the services needed for usb drive management was disabled? Suggestions needed. btw external usb harddrives work fine.

 

need to (un)encrypt a usb flash drive

Hi Malcolm,

For clarification regarding formatting your USB flash drive, when you say "I've already ran CMD prompt", did you run it under safe mode? If not, we suggest that you follow the steps below:

• Shutdown your PC.
• Insert your USB Memory Stick into your laptop or Computer.
• Turn on laptop, and then immediately start pressing F8.
• Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
• After loading files, if your USB Memory Stick drive letter is G (for example), then write as:
  
  C:\windows\system32>G:, and press Enter.
  
  G:\>format G:, and press Enter.
  
• Press Y, and press Enter.
• Now a full format will start which remove write protection from USB Memory Stick.

We look forward to your response.

 

USB Drives plugged in but No Safely Remove Icon in Tray, and


....no drives listed in Hardware List.

When I plug USB drives in, the Safely Remove Hardware icon does not appear in in system tray (its not hidden either)

First, I went to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Select which Icons Appear on the Taskbar...





.. and found it was already on

Next I tried using the solution in this post...

Solved No safely remove icon in tray any more after Windows 10 Anniversary up - Windows 10 Forums

...making a shortcut from "rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll", but when I run the shortcut, there are no devices listed...





(in this screenshot, you can see two USB drives in the Explorer window in the BG but nothing listed in the panel. )

NOTE: They are listed in Disk Management and in the Device Manager under Disk Drives, and they function just fine..
I think the Safely Remove Hardware icon is not appearing because despite being detected and showing in Explorer, Device Manager and Disk Management, its not being listed in this panel for some reason.


NOTE2: I recently installed a new motherboard.

ASUS B150M-A
CPU Intel Core i5 - 6500 (3.2 GHz)
Mem 4096 MB (DDR4 - 2133)

I am 100% sure it was working before that, but I cannot say for sure if it was still working after that.
A friend suggested that it might be a setting in BIOS, but I have looked through it and nothing stands out.

Any suggestions would be welcome.


ETA: this is not the system listed in my System Specs page. That is another computer which I still have.