When 'Safely Remove Hardware' does now work - what now?
- Thread starter DLambie
- Start date
D
DelJo63
usually, you have a window open on one of the directories of the device.
Close all programs
Close all explorer windows
try the Safely Remove Hardware again
if it fails, do it still once more - - sometimes TWICE is require - - hey, it's windows
Close all programs
Close all explorer windows
try the Safely Remove Hardware again
if it fails, do it still once more - - sometimes TWICE is require - - hey, it's windows
ComputerGuy55
Posts: 393 +16
Jobeard is right, but sometimes closing all visually open windows still doesn't let it close.. If you still have the problem and are comfortable with closing processes via Task Manager, close explorer.exe and reopen it with New Task, also close dumprep if you see it, and see if your able to go ahead and Safely Remove.
Closing explorer.exe should force all open explorer windows (copying, viewing, "open" files on that device) to close and refresh, and when you open Explorer.exe again with the New Task button (just type explorer.exe and hit enter..) it should allow you to safely remove the hardware. Post back with the outcome if your problem has been fixed..
Closing explorer.exe should force all open explorer windows (copying, viewing, "open" files on that device) to close and refresh, and when you open Explorer.exe again with the New Task button (just type explorer.exe and hit enter..) it should allow you to safely remove the hardware. Post back with the outcome if your problem has been fixed..
LookinAround
Posts: 6,429 +188
Hmmm.. Are you suggesting killing the explorer processes (i.e. to kill the desktop) using Task Manager? As that's an interesting approach... but (and i'm just speculating here) i think that approach circumvents the purpose of Safely Remove Hardware
as i think (not 100 sure) killing processes is pretty much equivalent to just unplugging the USB drive because it doesn't allow Windows to finish it's I/O "gracefully". Just my guess...
/* edit */
Note the distinction to closing explorer windows which doesn't kill processes or close the desktop
ComputerGuy55
Posts: 393 +16
You would be correct in the fact that it kills the process while it is in use. But sometimes processes Loop so that it really never is Safe to remove it.. This is more of a last resort to come to. But more so, if he is just copying something over it will corrupt what ever is being copied at the time, he can delete and do it again, but I have done this a few times myself and never had a problem with it.
When you hit Cancle on your copying of a file and it goes away but still says it is not safe, closing explorer wont harm it more as it really is just looping.. But I'd say only do it if you have let it sit for awhile and still cannot safely remove it. Thank you for addressing the possibility there LookinAround.
When you hit Cancle on your copying of a file and it goes away but still says it is not safe, closing explorer wont harm it more as it really is just looping.. But I'd say only do it if you have let it sit for awhile and still cannot safely remove it. Thank you for addressing the possibility there LookinAround.
LookinAround
Posts: 6,429 +188
no problem.. was just a note about it as sometimes one has limited choices at just what to do when Safely Remove don't want to do it for ya!
A couple other things i'd throw in the mix
> See [post=753513]How to Avoid Problems with USB Storage Devices[/post] to reduce the odds of any filesystem issues
> OpenedFilesView can sometimes be handy to see what has opened file handles to a device (though closing all explorer windows typically closes all those handles)
A couple other things i'd throw in the mix
> See [post=753513]How to Avoid Problems with USB Storage Devices[/post] to reduce the odds of any filesystem issues
> OpenedFilesView can sometimes be handy to see what has opened file handles to a device (though closing all explorer windows typically closes all those handles)
LookinAround
Posts: 6,429 +188
Oh. Another thing to add. So please forgive the double post but also wanted to be sure and highlight the following
I believe another common reason why a device stays busy (and Safely Remove won't work) is because of background processes which run and keep the device / a file open
Examples
> Antimalware (A/V and antispam)
> Automated backups
> Automated indexing services (such as Windows indexing and Google desktop)
One might also want to also configure their indexing services to only index their non-removable devices (if they so choose)
Oh. Which is also probably why trying Safely Remove a 2nd or more times seems to "sometimes" to work. Just as after subsequent tries and time goes by, the background service is done with the device
I believe another common reason why a device stays busy (and Safely Remove won't work) is because of background processes which run and keep the device / a file open
Examples
> Antimalware (A/V and antispam)
> Automated backups
> Automated indexing services (such as Windows indexing and Google desktop)
One might also want to also configure their indexing services to only index their non-removable devices (if they so choose)
<snip>
if it fails, do it still once more - - sometimes TWICE is require - - hey, it's windows
Oh. Which is also probably why trying Safely Remove a 2nd or more times seems to "sometimes" to work. Just as after subsequent tries and time goes by, the background service is done with the device
ucould2
Posts: 258 +2
What about logging out of the user profile and if you encounter a really long "Blue Screen" on log-out, check the Temp file for log-out process dump, (if this is not been disabled in the Services and Applications)? You may be told by Windows which application is still running (again if this process has not been disabled in the Computer Management)?
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DelJo63
beware of the Index Service; if it is enabled, it can be the culprit. Personally, I disable it on my laptop; waste of time, battery power, and hd space.
ComputerGuy55
Posts: 393 +16
I agree with jobeard. This service is more of a hassle then helpful.. You can simply disable it from your service's by going to:
Right click My Computer, go to Manage click on Services and Application, Services, Windows Search.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Right click My Computer, go to Manage click on Services and Application, Services, Windows Search.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
LookinAround
Posts: 6,429 +188
You're right. Just a typo: rt click My Computer, then Manage etc.
And, likewise, one should also consider other indexing services (e.g. Google desktop) and other background processes as [post=881868]outlined in earlier post[/post]
ComputerGuy55
Posts: 393 +16
Thank you for the correction LookinAround, I felt I had something missing and could not seem to spot it.
LookinAround
Posts: 6,429 +188
LookinAround
Posts: 6,429 +188
I don't think there's anyway to know by simply looking at taskbar (unless you spot a task you think would it have open).
Otherwise, best to
> Try closing all Explorer windows
> You can try closing all tasks (or use the OpenedFilesView tool i mentioned above)
Otherwise, take the steps (like reconfiguring index services/disable it) and in worst case shut down then remove
Otherwise, best to
> Try closing all Explorer windows
> You can try closing all tasks (or use the OpenedFilesView tool i mentioned above)
Otherwise, take the steps (like reconfiguring index services/disable it) and in worst case shut down then remove
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