Safely removing USB External Hard Disk Drive

Melissa · 11 Mar 2013

If I did as carwiz #18 said to go into Resource Manager #18 - that will not stop it all the processes all the time.

I do wish to keep indexing on since you all have advised.

Does Windows index in the background? I guess that is why I am waiting long periods. May do the turn on and off of system in future, if taking so long.

Now to see this write protected disk -- I may have to just write that one off.

Thank you for your time and effort. I am learning quickly. But not too fast. As Process Explorer was suggested - glad someone thought that I should just install something easy.

Barman58 · 11 Mar 2013

Windows is set to index only when the system is on and has been idle for some time, so as to not interfere with anything the user is doing.

on a new system I normally set everything up and then leave the system running overnight, subsequent indexing will of course need less time but a major update will still take time

Melissa · 11 Mar 2013

So my screen shot and what I did will be alright until the next issue?

Thank you for the extra information on the behaviour of Windows. I thought I messed up with the settings

Layback Bear · 13 Mar 2013

Like I said before you are doing fine Melissa. Just let indexing complete it's job and things will be okay.

Melissa · 14 Mar 2013

I have not indexed my external hard drive - should I include this in my include this in indexed locations.

How do you do that?

It came up with that the external drive was not indexed.

Thank you for your assistance.

I will be posting another interesting thread soon

Barman58 · 15 Mar 2013

The the need for indexing of an external drive will depend on how you use the drive.

A drive that is basically used all the time as an addition to the internal drive(s), should be indexed

A drive that is only occasionally connected to the system, (for backup, auxiliary storage, purposes), need not be indexed as the time and overhead of creating and running the index will probably negate any advantages it would bring.
Basically each time you connect the drive the index would need to be updated, and it is likely that an un-indexed search would take no longer than an index update and indexed search.

If you do decide to index the external drive you should make sure that the drive has a volume name and is manually assigned a drive letter, to prevent windows from arbitrarily assigning a drive letter each time it's connected.

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...7-a.html?ltr=D

Drive - Rename

Melissa · 16 Mar 2013

I am still having issues with the attempts to dismount the drive.

Looking at earlier screen shots the drive letter F: has always been present. This was where three computers backups are located and manually hooked up.

I am looking at disposing a former E: drive that had many backups etc on it and transferring the data via drag and drop. Do you manually go in and change the letter or let Windows allocate the drive letter?

I think that is why I am running into a few issues as I do keep my USB External Hard Drives connected constantly. If the larger one becomes a bit large to locate I change it to another slot and visa versa.

I am still just unplugging or using the free download ejector.

I think I must be the only person that must have issues.

I have noticed that when I currently search - none of my external drives are included

ICIT2LOL · 16 Mar 2013

No Melissa you can change the letter for the partition or drive with Partition Wizard if I didn't quote it -

Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition. < free edtion is good enough

ICIT2LOL · 16 Mar 2013

Just as a matter of interest I cannot see us doing scannow or chkdsk so have you Melissa??
if not cannot do any harm i don't know what the others think?

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Disk Check

last one might take a while.

Melissa · 16 Mar 2013

I will use that method. I have just done the Windows update whch I thought would assist with my other problems.
I also did a Malware check - that took six hours that is how patient I am.
I am now running a disk check - I checked the two boxes.

It would not eject after numerous attempts and I am not sure why - I know that my Antivirus does back ups every so often - but checked that also.

As noted in a previous post - Process Explorer is perhaps too complex for me to get my head around. I just wish to get my External (Desktop).

I have attached my partition wizard - which I previously had downloaded - but it had a new version.

As it is a 1TB - it will take a while to run the scan - I hope that I get a great result. I also noted that you can not stop the scan.

If not - I will try the SCANNOW - hope that that works. I am not sure what is operating off my external hard drive