External Hard Drive Safe Removal Problem


  1. Enki40
    Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Home Edition 64-bit
       New #1

    External Hard Drive Safe Removal Problem


    So I ejected my external Hard Drive and looked away from the taskbar, checked computer and the icon lost the bar, so I thought it must have safely removed. I unplugged it and then it decided to warn me that a program was using it.

    Sorry I didn't copy the message. I'd try to get it, but I've done this to my drive twice and I'm afraid I'll lose my data.

    Does M$ have some kind of hotfix or is there some kind of workaround so it will either properly remove my drive when I ask or so it warns me BEFORE I unplug my drive that something is wrong?

    Thanks.
      My Computer
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  3. Baddog22556
    Posts : 216
    Windows 7
       New #2

    You probably had/have a background program that works with the external drive like backup, for instance.
    Download Process Explorer to check all background running programs. This little gem takes
    up where Task Manager leaves off.
    Good luck.
      My Computer
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  4. ThrashZone
    Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       New #3

    Hi,
    The safest way to disconnect a external drive is to shut down
    Then most will have a power on/ off switch turn it off or remove the drive and restart.
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  6. Baddog22556
    Posts : 216
    Windows 7
       New #4

    I doubt you'll find a USB external drive with on/off switches anymore. Certainly shutting down the
    complete system will force any background process to stop. Once CPU is powered off, pull drive off.
    But using Eject USB to ATA/ATAPI Bridge always works for me as it is only used for system images
    and when they're done it shows "Complete" so I know nothing is running in background to USB drive.
      My Computer
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  7. ThrashZone
    Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       New #5

    I just bought a enterprise 4x it has a power switch
    Probably nothing I'd use in a raid and it has some poor reviews but mostly from people using it as a raid

    I personally simply shut down and turn the power switch off
    Drives do not show unless power is on.
    I bought it mainly because it had an esata port which my old Acer board has too and it was about all Fry's had that was reasonably priced about 80.us and does have a cooling fan.
      My Computer
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  8. Baddog22556
    Posts : 216
    Windows 7
       New #6

    ThrashZone said:
    I just bought a enterprise 4x it has a power switch
    But that is an enclosure system for 3.5 inch drives that are externally powered. I was more talking
    about 2.5 inch USB only external drives. Whatever works, right?
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  10. ThrashZone
    Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       New #7

    I don't believe it makes a difference external devices are pretty much the same usb/ esata
    But in the properties of the device some have more options than others

    If you specify flash or pin drives then yes those would be slightly different animal but now days are getting larger in capacity than early days
    I have a PNY usb3 64gb's flash drive it has Linux mint mate 17.1 - 32 bit on it works well :)
      My Computer
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