USB storage device disconnect problems 2

[euston]

Windows will sometimes not allow USB file storage devices to be disconnected. A message box appears stating that a program is still accessing the device. Seems to happen after a device has been in use for a while. Quick use and disconnect seems to be no problem.

I shut the system down so that I can safely disconnect.

I have external HDD and memory stick drives with both FAT32 and NTFS file systems.

I use Windows XP Pro SP3 with VIA driver software (VIA_USB2_V270p1-L-M). The system board is a Jetway V400DB and there is a VIA chipped PCI USB adapter. The difficulty is regardless of whether the device is connected to system board USB ports or to ports on the PCI adapter.

This is my only problem (apart from a problem with Windows Explorer which dislikes the folder tree being displayed so I use Directory Opus 6 instead).

Owzat! On ya way, back to the pavilion!

 

[BadBigBen]

Good statement on the situation...

but frankly, I do not see any question to a problem?

so I am going to ask out straight: "What do you want, or need help with?"



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[euston]

You are right BigBadBen. I should have asked the following:-

I would welcome any suggestions about what might be the causing the problem of preventing disconnection of USB storage devices using the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the system tray.



Owzat! On ya way, back to the pavilion!

 

[BadBigBen]

No fret...

have a read, you are not alone with this problem:

Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device !! Then how can you remove your USB devices safely ?

http://justtechie.com/tips-and-twea...en-how-can-you-remove-your-usb-devices-safely

If the removal fails then someone still accesses the drive. This can be something banal like an open Word document, a mounted TrueCrypt container or some kind of monitoring tool like a virus scanner.

By means of SysInternals ProcessExplorer you may discover which program holds an open handle to the drive.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

After starting it go to 'Find' -> 'Find Handle or DLL', enter a part of the volume's or the drive's DOS device name (as volume12 or disk5) and search.
Searching for the drive's drive letter may give a hit too.

source: Uwe Sieber's RemoveDrive Program...

You could also take a look at the Group Policies Settings:

Control Panel >> Administrative Tools >> Local Security Policy >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> Devices: Allowed to format and eject removable media

Post back...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[euston]

Thanks for that information, BigBadBen. If it's a common problem, so be it. You have provided me with some keys to perhaps unlock the causes. I will now pursue these.



Owzat! On ya way, back to the pavilion!

 

[linney]

Many antivirus tools now come with a settable setting to scan USB flash drives every time they are inserted.

Rather than rebooting the machine you could look at deleting Explorer via Task Manager, and then starting Explorer via the Task Manager's File/ New Task box, where you just type in Explorer to relaunch it.

You also have an "Eject" option if you right-click on the drive name in My Computer.