Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device

tgfyhre · 01 Jul 2015

Callender said:

Okay so on my own machine it seems normal that those files are in use when a USB drive is plugged in.

Note: Explorer also locks the drive.

However for me - "Safely Remove Hardware" works and the drive can be ejected.

I still suggest trying the stop explorer trick which leads me to one more thought. Perhaps set folder view options like this if yours are different.

Attachment 364002

Okay, I believe autoplay was already disabled but I downloaded the reg file for removable drives and ran it. I also unchecked the folder view option as you suggested. I'll see if that improves things. I haven't tried killing explorer yet. I did have another instance of my external media player not ejecting tonight - it connects to my PC for file transfers via USB 3.0 and it did the same thing my enclosures do - the same locked files like you had in your screenshot above.

I'd love to solve this. It's a huge inconvenience and pretty ridiculous that it happens.

easworld · 01 Jul 2015

Try these steps:

1. right-click on Computer, select manage
2. click on disk management tab
3. left tab on external storage drive. right click on it and select "offline"
4. click the usb icon in task bar, you should see "safely remove"

hope this works

tgfyhre · 01 Jul 2015

easworld said:

Try these steps:

1. right-click on Computer, select manage
2. click on disk management tab
3. left tab on external storage drive. right click on it and select "offline"
4. click the usb icon in task bar, you should see "safely remove"

hope this works

I'll give this a try tomorrow and report back. Thanks for the suggestion.

EDIT: Gave it a quick try, but I don't have an option for "offline". I opened Computer Management, then selected disk management. On the right pane I have the different drives listed. When I right-click on the part to the left that says "Disk 2 - Basic - Online" I get a few different options (convert to dynamic disk, properties, help) but the other 3 options are all greyed out, and none of them is "offline". Am I doing something wrong?

tgfyhre · 01 Jul 2015

I couldn't eject my drives again this morning so I killed explorer and used my USB Disk ejector software to eject the disk - it still wouldn't eject so I restarted explorer and the drives are still there. This seems hopeless.

GokAy · 01 Jul 2015

Ok I will say try removing upper/lower filters at this stage:
Step by Step Guide to Deleting the UpperFilters and LowerFilters Registry Values

Create a manual System Restore point before starting

Callender · 01 Jul 2015

Okay well other than Gokay's suggestion - I do seem to remember having a similar problem maybe a year ago or more. From memory it was because a buggy shell extension was locking the drive but it didn't show up in any unlocking software.

These things can be hard to pin down but:

Check for and install updates for any software that installed a shell extension.

Also try disabling the most likely culprits and reboot then test.

If you want to really be sure - disable all non-microsoft shell extensions and reboot then test. If the problem vanished - try re-enabling shell extensions in small groups until the problem re-appears.

GokAy · 01 Jul 2015

Callender, how can you disable shell extensions? If you are talking about clean boot, we already tried that (see post 17). If it is something else, I would like to add to my library.

Hmm, checking the follow up posts, I can't say if OP actually tried a clean boot.

Layback Bear · 01 Jul 2015

Just a thought.

Remove the external drive from the enclosure. Hook power and data cables to the drive.

My understanding that some enclosures have programs/circuits that work independent to what the computer has.

I'm back to watching.

Callender · 01 Jul 2015

Re: Disabling shell extensions. Just for testing - not a guaranteed fix. Also I tend to disable those shell extensions that I never make use of or don't need.

Methods I use:

Run a scan with UVK and let it scan - you get a report showing file and folder context menu entries (shell extensions) and if any are found that are left installed afer removing software that didn't uninstall cleanly they can be deleted using a script.

Code:

<FileContextMenu> | edit | C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe | Notepad | F2C7BB8ACC97F92E987A2D4087D021B1 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | File Information | C:\Program Files\UVK - Ultra Virus Killer\UVK_en.exe | Ultra Virus Killer | 2E381E3D8073B86A5B546C29E2BCC63E | Signed :  Carifred

<FileContextMenu> | Force Delete | C:\Program Files\UVK - Ultra Virus Killer\UVK_en.exe | Ultra Virus Killer | 2E381E3D8073B86A5B546C29E2BCC63E | Signed :  Carifred

<FileContextMenu> | PeaZip |  | No description | Hash error: File not found | Unsigned :  No publisher

<FileContextMenu> | removeproperties | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | runas | C:\Windows\system32\takeown.exe | Takes ownership of a file | 53F4BCD594CC2A791E16246AED525B6D | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | TakeOwnerShipEx | C:\Program Files (x86)\TakeOwnershipEx\TakeOwnershipEx.exe | TakeOwnershipEx | AA6964CF7CE6212808C5A117019F023F | Unsigned :  http://winaero.com

<FileContextMenu> | Type | C:\Program Files\Types\Types.exe | Types | 8AC41B76CDD75703E5074D48A0231F26 | Unsigned :  E. Strunnikov

<FileContextMenu> | VirusTotal Scanner | C:\program files (x86)\securityxploded\virustotalscanner\virustotalscanner.exe | Desktop Tool to Perform Quick Anti-virus Scan using VirusTotal | 7C783AD72CAD7D178214D6B9D930DD5A | Unsigned :  SecurityXploded

<FileContextMenu> | Balabolka | C:\Program Files (x86)\Balabolka\BFileExt.dll | Balabolka Shell Extension | 40E53245A9073751693D1B0E77EA4971 | Unsigned :  Ilya Morozov

<FileContextMenu> | BriefcaseMenu | C:\Windows\system32\syncui.dll | Windows Briefcase | A10B048B681C38E26CA90CD1BC123604 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | EmEditor | C:\Program Files\EmEditor\emedshl64.dll | EmEditor Context Menu | 6A25C383BC6804933F5F7A3B4D9781CF | Signed :  Emurasoft, Inc.

<FileContextMenu> | LockHunterShellExt | C:\Program Files\LockHunter\LHShellExt64.dll | LockHunter Explorer Extension | 579AD392C231FDDD39E5792D7DCDA77A | Signed :  Crystal Rich Ltd

<FileContextMenu> | Open With | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | Open With EncryptionMenu | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | PuranDefrag |  | No description | Hash error: File not found | Unsigned :  No publisher

<FileContextMenu> | SAScanShlExt | C:\Program Files\SecureAge\AntiVirus\SAScanCtx.dll | SecureAge Antivirus Context Menu | 228186E71F6EA95D210237CBEA19D5E9 | Signed :  SecureAge Technology

<FileContextMenu> | SATrustCtxMenuExt | C:\Program Files\SecureAge\Whitelist\SATrustCtx.dll | Application Whitelisting context menu | A15CD09E2CF9CCBEAC74C259C1E48B77 | Signed :  SecureAge Technology Pte. Ltd.

<FileContextMenu> | Sharing | C:\Windows\system32\ntshrui.dll | Shell extensions for sharing | 037A719DAD50603202C978CD802623E4 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | {90AA3A4E-1CBA-4233-B8BB-535773D48449} | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | {a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | CopyAsPathMenu | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | FG_CTX | C:\PROGRA~1\NoVirusThanks\File Governor\FG_SHLEXT.dll | No description | 5320E5DFEE8A0D7BE8F91232167D6A10 | Signed :  No publisher

<FileContextMenu> | SendTo | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | {596AB062-B4D2-4215-9F74-E9109B0A8153} | C:\Windows\system32\twext.dll | Previous Versions property page | 534D84434D9DB1D1E1E865F64E52AA8E | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | explore | C:\Windows\system32\explorerframe.dll | ExplorerFrame | EED05D42D91835064703E2318552ED25 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | open | C:\Windows\Explorer.exe | Windows Explorer | 332FEAB1435662FC6C672E25BEB37BE3 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | opennewprocess | C:\Windows\system32\explorerframe.dll | ExplorerFrame | EED05D42D91835064703E2318552ED25 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | opennewwindow | C:\Windows\system32\explorerframe.dll | ExplorerFrame | EED05D42D91835064703E2318552ED25 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | TakeOwnerShipEx | C:\Program Files (x86)\TakeOwnershipEx\TakeOwnershipEx.exe | TakeOwnershipEx | AA6964CF7CE6212808C5A117019F023F | Unsigned :  http://winaero.com

<FolderContextMenu> | BriefcaseMenu | C:\Windows\system32\syncui.dll | Windows Briefcase | A10B048B681C38E26CA90CD1BC123604 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | Library Location | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | SAScanShlExt | C:\Program Files\SecureAge\AntiVirus\SAScanCtx.dll | SecureAge Antivirus Context Menu | 228186E71F6EA95D210237CBEA19D5E9 | Signed :  SecureAge Technology

<FolderContextMenu> | SATrustCtxMenuExt | C:\Program Files\SecureAge\Whitelist\SATrustCtx.dll | Application Whitelisting context menu | A15CD09E2CF9CCBEAC74C259C1E48B77 | Signed :  SecureAge Technology Pte. Ltd.

<FolderContextMenu> | {a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | Browse with &IrfanView | C:\Program Files (x86)\IrfanView\i_view32.exe | IrfanView | D5C0C468F5CE03E680F73283EC5DF1AC | Signed :  Irfan Skiljan

<FolderContextMenu> | cmd | C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe | Windows Command Processor | 5746BD7E255DD6A8AFA06F7C42C1BA41 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | find | C:\Windows\Explorer.exe | Windows Explorer | 332FEAB1435662FC6C672E25BEB37BE3 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | Force Delete | C:\Program Files\UVK - Ultra Virus Killer\UVK_en.exe | Ultra Virus Killer | 2E381E3D8073B86A5B546C29E2BCC63E | Signed :  Carifred

<FolderContextMenu> | PeaZip |  | No description | Hash error: File not found | Unsigned :  No publisher

<FolderContextMenu> | runas | C:\Windows\system32\takeown.exe | Takes ownership of a file | 53F4BCD594CC2A791E16246AED525B6D | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | UltraFileSearch | C:\Program Files (x86)\UltraFileSearch\UltraFileSearch.exe | UltraFileSearch - File Search Utility | 9F22B70497B99C813551841617A333A3 | Unsigned :  Stegisoft

<FolderContextMenu> | EmEditor | C:\Program Files\EmEditor\emedshl64.dll | EmEditor Context Menu | 6A25C383BC6804933F5F7A3B4D9781CF | Signed :  Emurasoft, Inc.

<FolderContextMenu> | EncryptionMenu | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | LockHunterShellExt | C:\Program Files\LockHunter\LHShellExt64.dll | LockHunter Explorer Extension | 579AD392C231FDDD39E5792D7DCDA77A | Signed :  Crystal Rich Ltd

<FolderContextMenu> | Sharing | C:\Windows\system32\ntshrui.dll | Shell extensions for sharing | 037A719DAD50603202C978CD802623E4 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | {596AB062-B4D2-4215-9F74-E9109B0A8153} | C:\Windows\system32\twext.dll | Previous Versions property page | 534D84434D9DB1D1E1E865F64E52AA8E | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

For the rest of the entries - manually check version and check for software updates.

For an in depth look at shell extensions:

There's Nirsofts ShellExView or there's a 64 bit version. As you can see it's possible to disable non-microsoft shell extensions if you think they are problematic.

Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device-shellexview.jpg

Then there's ShellMenuView from the same company. It's possible to see shell extensions by type and we would be interested in any non-microsoft ones labelled Directory, Drive or File Folder, plus any other non-microsoft entries.

On my machine I had installed software "Disk Sorter" and the shell extension did lock drives.

Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device-shellmenuview.jpg

GokAy · 01 Jul 2015

You must spread some love before ...

:)

Thanks for the info, I knew context menu entries are shell extensions but would think there were more to them. In this case, perhaps you can add CCleaner to the list too? I don't know if it actually disable them or make them to not show.