when i want to eject it, it said that the device is currently in use. Close any programs or windoows that might be using the device, and then try again. I close all programs and start task manager to confirm that no program in my usb drive is running, but it doesn" work.

Hi, Method 1: You might face this issue usually if an application, file, open document, music or video file or any other application which is in use (running from the USB flash drive) when you try to remove it by clicking on the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area. This can also be caused if your anti-virus is actively monitoring/scanning the USB drive. Normally, when removing a flash drive from a USB port, Windows should stop all the read-write operations on the drive so that it can be safely removed. If not, the flash drive can be damaged or data may be lost or corrupted. However, if Windows determines a file is in use, then it may provide a message which indicates the volume cannot be stopped right now. So, before ejecting or disconnecting any mass storage device, make sure none of the above activities are performed on the mass storage device before ejecting. Disconnecting a device Most USB devices can be removed and unplugged. When unplugging storage devices, such as USB flash drives, make sure that the computer has finished saving any information to the device before removing it. If the device has an activity light, wait for a few seconds after the light has finished flashing before unplugging it. If you see the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area on the right side of the taskbar, you can use this as an indication that devices have finished all operations in progress and are ready to be removed. Click the icon and you'll see a list of devices. Click the device that you want to remove. Windows will display a notification telling you it's safe to remove the device. You can also check Task manager to stop any processes used by the device. a) Then open “Task Manager” (Use Ctrl+Alt+Del ) b) Once the task manager is launched click the Processes tab. c) Examine the list of processes, if you find any process belonging to the drive or device, simply end all such processes. d) Try removing it now. Method 2: I would also suggest you to follow the steps and check. Change the Recycle Bin properties for the USB drive from "Custom" to "Don't Move Files to the Recycle Bin. Removed Files immediately when deleted." Empty all deleted files stored in the recycle bin. Method 3: I would also suggest you to scan your computer with Microsoft Safety Scanner, which would help us to get rid of viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free downloadable security tool that provides on-demand scanning and helps remove viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It works with your existing antivirus software. **http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx** Note: The Microsoft Safety Scanner expires 10 days after being downloaded. To rerun a scan with the latest anti-malware definitions, download and run the Microsoft Safety Scanner again. Important: While scanning the hard drive if any bad sectors are found, the scanner tries to repair that sector, any data available on that might be lost. Also refer: USB Port Remains Active for Disabled or Safely Removed USB Device http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2401954 Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 322756 ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ ) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

So why can't the message tell us the name of the program that is using the device?

That is what I am thinking all the time, TELL ME THE NAME OF THE PROGRAM, because i just looked on the USB Drive and run NO program in it.

None of the methods listed here helped me much at all. I have Windows 8, and I've heard a lot of people say just jerk the thumb drive out and don't worry about it with 8. Not so sure that is the right thing to do. Heck, plenty of folks do that already with ANY version of Windows. LOL Sooner or later the little things all add up to big problems. Gotta be careful with that. You can make sure all windows and known applications like Microsoft Word or whatever are finished with your drive, open a file explorer window and right click on the thumb drive or whatever folks call them these days. Choose the "eject" option, and if the famous error message still comes up, choose the continue button. This may not be any better than jerking the drive out but at least it makes me feel better. :-) Any other comments are welcome.

What should be a simple and straightforward task is driving me nuts, ejecting a floppy drive or CD didn't require rocket science to figure out, why in the world do I have to spent 30 minutes in vain figuring out how to eject a flash drive? I have files to swap constantly between computers, but the computer keeps preventing me from ejecting the drive. By 2015 and the release of Windows 8 one would figure this problem would be solved, but it isn't. Somebody, someone please fix windows so that we can easily eject our flash drives without having to shut down the computer or at least display a list of programs or processes that are using it.

how i can't eject my usb drive? even if i had already close all the running program..

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

2012-08-18T14:37:53+00:00
Hi,

Method 1:

You might face this issue usually if an application, file, open document, music or video file or any other application which is in use (running from the USB flash drive) when you try to remove it by clicking on the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area.

This can also be caused if your anti-virus is actively monitoring/scanning the USB drive. Normally, when removing a flash drive from a USB port, Windows should stop all the read-write operations on the drive so that it can be safely removed. If not, the flash drive can be damaged or data may be lost or corrupted. However, if Windows determines a file is in use, then it may provide a message which indicates the volume cannot be stopped right now.

So, before ejecting or disconnecting any mass storage device, make sure none of the above activities are performed on the mass storage device before ejecting.

Disconnecting a device

Most USB devices can be removed and unplugged. When unplugging storage devices, such as USB flash drives, make sure that the computer has finished saving any information to the device before removing it. If the device has an activity light, wait for a few seconds after the light has finished flashing before unplugging it.

If you see the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area on the right side of the taskbar, you can use this as an indication that devices have finished all operations in progress and are ready to be removed. Click the icon and you'll see a list of devices. Click the device that you want to remove. Windows will display a notification telling you it's safe to remove the device.

You can also check Task manager to stop any processes used by the device.

a) Then open “Task Manager” (Use Ctrl+Alt+Del )

b) Once the task manager is launched click the Processes tab.

c) Examine the list of processes, if you find any process belonging to the drive or device, simply end all such processes.

d) Try removing it now.

Method 2:

I would also suggest you to follow the steps and check.
1. Change the Recycle Bin properties for the USB drive from "Custom" to "Don't Move Files to the Recycle Bin. Removed Files immediately when deleted."
2. Empty all deleted files stored in the recycle bin.
Method 3:

I would also suggest you to scan your computer with Microsoft Safety Scanner, which would help us to get rid of viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free downloadable security tool that provides on-demand scanning and helps remove viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It works with your existing antivirus software.

**http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx**

Note: The Microsoft Safety Scanner expires 10 days after being downloaded. To rerun a scan with the latest anti-malware definitions, download and run the Microsoft Safety Scanner again.

Important: While scanning the hard drive if any bad sectors are found, the scanner tries to repair that sector, any data available on that might be lost.

Also refer:

USB Port Remains Active for Disabled or Safely Removed USB Device

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2401954

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ ) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows
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