How to figure out what program or process is using my hard drive so I can safely eject it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ENzKxi0wM

I don't want to re format as I would lose all data which I'm using to edit, and I wouldn't want to re format every time I need to eject. When I set up the drive I formatted this way. 

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/this-device-is-currently-in-use-usb

Many of the suggestions in this link say to use Disk management to offline the disk to eject. Then online it when I plug it back in. While that may work to eject the drive, I am more looking for finding the exact process or app that is preventing it from ejecting so I can't end that task or change a setting so that in the future it doesn't prevent my drive from ejecting. 

However suggestion number 3) looks like it may work. I think using the process Explorer is what I am after. I currently am not using the drive so I will have to come back when I get the error message again to update this post if this is shows me the process or app preventing me from ejecting. 

Just curious why isn't this a feature (to tell you what app/process is not allowing to to eject) built into windows?

Thanks Greg

Because it's rare.

Who suggested to reformat every time you need to eject? That's absurd.

What about the Clean Boot? Many people have a bunch of freeloaders sucking up their resources and causing issues like this, and maybe one or two of them actually needs to be starting with Windows.

Glad to help Joe. Let me know if there's anything else.

Also when ready please mark the post which helped most as the Answer, to help others. A rating is also appreciated.

I'm not actually sure what I use Sentinel for. I had downloaded AVID media composer for a project, looks like it may have been included in that?? Otherwise I'm not sure. I don't think adobe products use it which I use to edit on and need verification keys to access. 

There was only one more when I scrolled down, steam, which I figured I could uncheck :)

Hi Joe. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 year Windows MVP, and Volunteer Moderator. If you will work with me I will be here to help until the issue is resolved.

See fixes for the error here:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/this-device-is-c...

https://www.minitool.com/data-recovery/problem-...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ENzKxi0wM

Establish a Clean Boot by disabling all Startup Freeloaders that cause issues like this and hog resources unnecessarily. Follow Step 4 in this checklist:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

For the first round you can leave Defender, any sync or a messenger that you absolutely need running and ready when you Start Windows. If the problem persists then disable those too to isolate which one is causing it.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you will wait to choose if I resolved your problem, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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