Problem ejecting USB Mass Storage Device - error

On one of my Win 7 Pro computers, I almost always get the following error message when trying to *eject* a flash/thumb drive:

PROBLEM EJECTING USB MASS STORAGE DEVICE

This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again.

This occurs ALL the time.... even when I close down Adobe Illustrator, the program I usuall copy a file from onto the flash drive.

Any help or suggestions here? Thanks good people.

Toddsta.

There are a number of different circumstances that prevent an external device from being able to be safely ejected.

First, take a look at these tutorials + 3rd party apps:
Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device – from Microsoft
Try using Process Monitor to find out what process is stopping the drive from being ejected.
Download USB Safely Remove 4.4.2.1087 Free Trial - USB device manager, a must have tool for active USB user - Softpedia

Then, try this method: To eject an external drive or memory stick from Windows Explorer single-click (highlight) Computer or My Computer in the left-hand column Navigation Pane so that all of the drives are displayed in the right-hand column. In the right-hand column, right-click on the drive with the memory stick and select "Safely Eject."
Give it a second or two, and the drive icon with the memory stick should 'disappear' --- allowing you to safely remove the memory stick. If there's any problem with removing it, you'll get an error message displaying the reason.

You can also set it to "Quick Removal" (in Policies), so that you do not have to worry about safe removal, but they will read/write a bit slower.

You can also enable your Group Policy - Open Device Manager, Disk drives, disk in question – Go to Policies, Write Caching Policy and check Enable Write Caching on the Device.

If you get an ERROR MESSAGE not allowing you to eject an external drive or memory stick: In Windows Explorer try removing the external drive or memory stick from the right-hand column, not the Navigation Pane. To do so, single-click (highlight) Computer or My Computer in the left-hand column Navigation Pane so that all of the drives are displayed in the right-hand column. In the right-hand column, right-click on the drive with the memory stick and select "Safely Eject." Give it a second or two, and the drive icon with the external drive or memory stick should 'disappear' --- allowing you to safely remove it. If there's any problem with removing it, you'll get an error message displaying the reason.

If that doesn't work, check Task Manager to see if it shows that any USB files/programs are open. If so, of course check End Process to officially close that file/program.

If Task Manager doesn't see anything open, go into your Start menu's Recent Items list, select the most recent item opened from the external drive or memory stick, and with that file open, go back into Task Manager. Highlight that file in Task Manager and “End Process.” Then go to Windows Explorer and you should be able to remove it with the Safely Remove link or Eject. You may have to repeat this process several times, each time selecting the next most recent item in the Recent Items list.