External HD refuses to safely eject!! help!!

Question

my external HD doesn't want to be safely removed from computers! it only happened after i transferred some files into the external HD. when i remove all the files i still cannot safely remove it. however when i reformat it, it could safely remove, but when i added the files again it couldn't! again! it keeps saying "Windoes can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is still using it. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and try again later". the thing is, NOTHING is running on it. even when i try to remove it IMMEDIATELY after i put it in my computer, it still won't eject! i scanned it with numerous scans (Malwarebytes [recommended by M.Murphy], eset online scanner, MRT and norton 360 [which came pre-installed on my computer, and my parents went to renew the subscription] and no viruses came out) and the symantec helper was dumbfounded, as (like i said) he couldn't find any virus or funny things.

btw, other external HDs (containing different folders) can be safely removed from computers 

could there be something wrong with the files?

a virus?

what can it be?

anyone out there that can help?

Answer 1

Hi FORGOODNESSAKE,

I hope I haven't missed the boat!!! as it's been a while since you have posted but here is my problem solved...

I am a novice user and I have had this problem (up until 2 days ago), where I was putting my Windows Backups, System Images etc. on my Seagate HDD (no other files.) I could eject using best practice (using safely remove hardware icon) when I hadn't written anything to the HDD (so I don't know if this will apply to you).  As soon as the above files were on there I couldn't remove it. I found some 3rd party utilities like Unlocker and Sysinternals Process Explorer but as I really didn't know what I was doing I didn't want to play around with these things, from what I have read these work really well for many people (Article ID: 555665 microsoft). I was totally frustrated so I trolled the net for a long while and I came across a thread in social.answers.microsoft.com/w7hardware from a person called dritch09 who wrote in thread - unable to eject usb - "that the likely solution was a change to the settings of Norton Anti-Virus". It was suggested to switch off the auto-protect scan 'Removable Media Scan' option. As well as doing this I excluded the drive (in my case E:) for Norton to check. Once you do this, apply and save, logout and then login again and see what happens.

I hope this works for you as it has for me - fingers crossed that it keeps on working.

I am using Windows 7 Home Premium, 32 bit.

Good Luck

Answer 2

1. the thing is, ALL programs are closed. like i said, "even when i try to remove it IMMEDIATELY after i put it in my computer, it still won't eject!"

2)...i'm scared that i accidentally end the wrong processes. if i end the wrong process will it do damage to my computer? (it will, right D: )

Answer 3

try this:

when you want to remove it, first make sure you have closed all programs then go to task manger by pressing ctrl+alt+del, in process tab, check that all programs you opened already closed if they are end process them specialy if there is windows media player prcessor in list, end process that one then try to remove it. (it definately works)

Answer 4

1. no, i only have 1 external HD.
2. when i put files into the external HD, but scans show that the files are clean. so i really don't know what's wrong

it's not just my computer that it won't be safely removed from, it's all computers, so i'm not too sure that reinstalling the external HD on just one computer would help...

Answer 5

Hi Plonk,

A.      Did you try to copy the same files on a different hard drive?

B.      From when are you facing this issue?

You may check if there is any firmware update for your external hard drive and update it accordingly.  You may also reinstall the USB controllers and check.

1. Click "Start" button, type “devmgmt.msc” (without quotation marks) in the “Search” bar and press "Enter". Click “Continue” if necessary.
2. In Device Manager, double click to expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers", right click on the Host Controller, click "Uninstall" and click "OK".
3. Repeat the step 2 to uninstall all items under "Universal Serial Bus controllers".
4. Reinstall the USB controllers.
5. Restart your computer and check if the issue persists.

Try these steps and post back the result.

Bindu S -- Microsoft Support

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