Removing a USB external hard drive from computer?

July 30, 2010 in usb external hard drive | Comments (5)

Lately, whenever I try to eject my external hard drive from my computer (it connects via USB), it says something about how the device is in use and it cannot be stopped and it won’t give me that message that it is safe to unplug the device. It does this even though all applications and folders are closed, and nothing appears to be running on the computer. Is it safe to just unplug it? Why does it say it cannot be stopped when I am not using it? Can this be fixed?

Right click in task tray and end all or any programs running in back ground and see if this helps. If you have an icon in task tray for external hard drive right click on and choose exit and remove. It should show an icon for any devise connected by USN, you might try reinstall the external hard drive soft ware this might correct problem.


5 Responses to “Removing a USB external hard drive from computer?”

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  1. Comment by Shantanu D — July 30, 2010 at 6:28 pm  

    that means you have a program running that is requring the external HD
    i recommend turning of all the programs includin the program on teh task menu
    References :

  2. Comment by Shampoo — July 30, 2010 at 7:03 pm  

    This is just a warning. It’s safe to unplug, just make sure you are not doing any updates or transfers while you are unplugging it.
    References :

  3. Comment by Bassman1 — July 30, 2010 at 7:21 pm  

    Right click in task tray and end all or any programs running in back ground and see if this helps. If you have an icon in task tray for external hard drive right click on and choose exit and remove. It should show an icon for any devise connected by USN, you might try reinstall the external hard drive soft ware this might correct problem.
    References :

  4. Comment by mark h — July 30, 2010 at 8:09 pm  

    Mine does the same thing sometimes, i just select eject a couple times repeatedly 2 or 3 times and it eventually says you can turn off.
    References :

  5. Comment by Kevin M — July 30, 2010 at 8:55 pm  

    Right-click the drive in My Computer, select properties, select advanced, and turn-off "delayed write". Never unplug the drive until it says safe to remove or you risk corrupting the file system.
    References :

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