Windows 10: why cant i eject my usb hard drive it says a program is using it and i shut down all...

i cant eject my portable hard drive or flash drives. i received a message that a program is still using the drive. i closed all programs and windows i have open. and still i cant eject my drive. i usually then shut my computer down to then remove the drive. i now have a computer with an always on usb port. i shut it down and the drive is still connected. i have been having problems with this for years. what program is using the drive and why can i not simply remove my portable drive. this now has me ultimately angry. someone please tell me what ghost program is using my drive so i can stop thi

:)

 

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

 

Problems ejecting a portable hard drive.

i have a solution for the problem with ejecting external hard drives this has worked for me on my windows 10 computer.

when typing use lower case letters and leave out the brackets ( ).

i have use capital letters in parts so it is easier for all people to understand.

i will do it in steps.

step 1. try and eject the external hard drive. when the message pops up saying (PROBLEM EJECTING USB MASS STORAGE) do not close it.

step 2. in the search bar type (EVENT VIEWER)

step 3. in (Event viewer) on the left side look for (Windows logs) then click (SYSTEM)

step 4. in (SYSTEM) tab go across to (EVENT ID) look for (EVENT ID 225)
there might be multiple (EVENT ID 225) in that case it will be the top one.

when you click on it. underneath it there will be two options named (GENERAL and DETAILS) select general.

it will tell you what has stopped the external hard drive from ejecting. it will have your device directory and in that it will say something like.

(The application\device\ the name of your external hard drive\program files\ X86\ what ever program is causing to problem).

step 5. when you have found out what program is causing the problem. open
(TASK MANAGER) by holding the
(ctrl+alt+delete)

at the same time. then click
(TASK MANAGER)

step 6. in
(TASK MANGER) go to the
(PROCESSES TAB) scroll down until you get to
(BACK GROUND PROCESSES) when there find the program name that was in
(EVENT VIEWER) click on it and end task.

step 6. close the
(PROBLEM EJECTING USB MASS STORAGE)

that popped up and now try ejecting the external hard drive again if the previous message doesnt pop up again you have fix the problem and the hard drive will eject properly.

step 7. if the problem happens the next time you turn on your computer just remember the program that caused the problem and go to (TASK MANAGER) and end the same task as before. if the problem
happens after then just repeat the step i have laid out and you will be able to find what other program could be the problem.

if when you have tried these steps and you still have a problem chances are it could be a hardware problem with either the external hard drive or the computer its self.

i hope this post will help people out to fix the problem.

please comment if you need further assistance.

thank you.

thomas.

 

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.