Solved External Hard Drive not safely removable

[Computer0304]

I have a Dell Vostro 400 using onboard Intel G31/G33 graphics. When I log into admin user and try to remove my Western Digital My Passport it gives me a message that it could not be removed because a program is using it. I ran Process Explorer and the processes running on the drive were all system processes. I tried running my antivirus on both the pc and the hard drive. I tried running WD Drive Utillities and did a quick self test and SMART test and both passed. I tried plugging other devices on the same port but they did not have problems. Also, if I insert the USB plug on a different port, use a different user, or plug in on my laptop it does work fine.

Note that this happens only sometimes and most of the times after I read or write on the drive it happens.
Should I worry about this or just shut down and remove the drive? It does not seem to be writing or reading anything on the drive because the indicator light is not blinking.

 

[essenbe]

Externals giving that message is quite common. Many of us have had a similar problem. It is really just a pain and not a problem to be worried about. I would just turn it on when I need it and when you need to remove it, just shut down. Is your sata controller in AHCI mode? If it is, that is one of the features of AHCI, drives being hot swappable. I had a similar problem once even in AHCI mode (a BIOS setting), I installed Intel Rapid Storage driver and have not had the problem since. If you are not in AHCI mode, don't change it or your computer won't boot. There is a way to change it and if you need to know how, we will give you the link to a tutorial. But, unless you have an SSD, it really makes little difference.

 

[Computer0304]

Externals giving that message is quite common. Many of us have had a similar problem. It is really just a pain and not a problem to be worried about. I would just turn it on when I need it and when you need to remove it, just shut down. Is your sata controller in AHCI mode? If it is, that is one of the features of AHCI, drives being hot swappable. I had a similar problem once even in AHCI mode (a BIOS setting), I installed Intel Rapid Storage driver and have not had the problem since. If you are not in AHCI mode, don't change it or your computer won't boot. There is a way to change it and if you need to know how, we will give you the link to a tutorial. But, unless you have an SSD, it really makes little difference.

Ok, so there isn't a big problem if I don't care about shutting down to take it out right?

 

[essenbe]

Right. Sometimes, it just happens that way. I used to have to do it all time. It does not mean there is anything wrong with the hard drive.

 

[essenbe]

Also, you may find this helpful. Read the bottom of the tutorial, it will give you an option to try.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10169-safely-remove-hardware-eject-device.html

 

[Computer0304]

Also, you may find this helpful. Read the bottom of the tutorial, it will give you an option to try.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10169-safely-remove-hardware-eject-device.html

Thank you, so are you sure its safe? It has all my photos and I don't won't to corrupt anything.

 

[essenbe]

I don't see a thing that could harm your drive. You are just resetting settings on the computer. It has nothing to do with the drive.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Also, you may find this helpful. Read the bottom of the tutorial, it will give you an option to try.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10169-safely-remove-hardware-eject-device.html

Thank you, so are you sure its safe? It has all my photos and I don't won't to corrupt anything.

You do have your photos backed up, right?

 

[Computer0304]

Also, you may find this helpful. Read the bottom of the tutorial, it will give you an option to try.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10169-safely-remove-hardware-eject-device.html

Thank you, so are you sure its safe? It has all my photos and I don't won't to corrupt anything.

You do have your photos backed up, right?

No I mean my external hard drive has the photos. And I mean if it is safe to just eject the drive when I'm using it right?

 

[Computer0304]

And I did try that essenbe. Maybe I should try using sfc /scannow and let Windows check if there is any corrupted DLLs.

 

[Computer0304]

And I did try that essenbe. Maybe I should try using sfc /scannow and let Windows check if there is any corrupted DLLs.

And its safely eject device not letting me eject it. But I don't get why it's happening on that specific external hdd on that specific usb port on the specific admin user.

 

[essenbe]

You can try the SFC /scannow, it's not going to hurt anything and could help. But, do not remove the drive while using it. Until you can safely eject it, be sure to shut down the computer before unplugging it. Unplugging it while using it will cause file corruption. Sometimes, if you have ever removed it without safely ejecting can cause the problem you are experiencing.

 

[Computer0304]

You can try the SFC /scannow, it's not going to hurt anything and could help. But, do not remove the drive while using it. Until you can safely eject it, be sure to shut down the computer before unplugging it. Unplugging it while using it will cause file corruption. Sometimes, if you have ever removed it without safely ejecting can cause the problem you are experiencing.

The hard drive runs on usb power. So as long as I shut down correctly, I'm fine, right?
Also, I have another question.
Does bad sectors spread while the hard drive is off? Because recently my computer frose and the only thing I could do was move my cursor. The read/write light was on, so I am worried that it might have caused a bad sector on the system hdd. Also, could sfc /scannow cause problems if I'm using the computer while its running?

 

[essenbe]

SFC will not cause any problems at all, using the computer or not. It simply scans and attempts to repair system files. It is possible that it may be better if you don't use the computer while running it, but I've never heard that. I do not see any way bad sectors could spread while the hard drive is off. However, you said it runs on USB power. If it is plugged in, it is on. Why not, plug it in and run check disk. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html It will take quite a while to run it, so just let it run until completed.

 

[Computer0304]

SFC will not cause any problems at all, using the computer or not. It simply scans and attempts to repair system files. It is possible that it may be better if you don't use the computer while running it, but I've never heard that. I do not see any way bad sectors could spread while the hard drive is off. However, you said it runs on USB power. If it is plugged in, it is on. Why not, plug it in and run check disk. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html It will take quite a while to run it, so just let it run until completed.

Could something go wrong durning chkdsk and corrupt files? Also to fix problems, what argument do I have to use? I'm scared to lose anything on the drive when it's fixing bad sectors. And by spreading bad sectors, I mean hard bad sectors. Are hard bad sectors even fixable?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Is the drive the only place you have your photos? If so, don't do anything with it until you make a copy of them somewhere, such as another HDD (if you don't have one, then you need to get one if you care about your photos). Data is not backed up until it exists in two or more places (preferably, three or more places). If your photos exist on another drive, then you don't need to worry about working on the drive; you can always restore the photos from the other copy if you should lose them while working on the drive in question. Otherwise, you are at risk for losing all your photos. HDDs can fail without warning.

 

[Computer0304]

Is the drive the only place you have your photos? If so, don't do anything with it until you make a copy of them somewhere, such as another HDD (if you don't have one, then you need to get one if you care about your photos). Data is not backed up until it exists in two or more places (preferably, three or more places). If your photos exist on another drive, then you don't need to worry about working on the drive; you can always restore the photos from the other copy if you should lose them while working on the drive in question. Otherwise, you are at risk for losing all your photos. HDDs can fail without warning.

Ok so thank you I will get another hard drive as soon as I could.

 

[therealaitch]

If you have "Everything" search engine installed you will find that is the culprit. Similar software may act the same.
Just exit "Everything" and "Safely Remove" will work.
Always try the simple solution first. So much damage is caused by advice that is not appropriate.

 

[bawldiggle]

I had this problem too -- like you I freaked at the possible loss of data.
As I understand it (ex Brink for memory) USB powered storage devices do not buffer in themselves where as self powered storage devices (power from an electrical connection) self buffer.
If you have added, deleted, edited anything on the USB powered storage device -- writing onto the device is slower than self powered are faster at writing because they self buffer.

I now use a commercial Program "USB Safely Remove".
It gives considerable feedback as to where the "holdup" is

eg, WinExp window still open that references the HD
Files on the HD that are still open.
​

My desktop gets rather busy and trying to view what is open (especially with Win7/8 Taskbar "stacking") -- USB Safley Remove saves me considerable time. (I have also implemented it in my small business)

Prior to "USB Safely Remove" I corrupted a backup disc because I did not know about the buffering thing.
"USB Safely Remove" has been worth the money for me. (Wife and staff now understand what is going on)

Hope this helps
--------

ADDEND:
Indexing: Others more knowledgeable than me might know if Indexing can be interfering.
I also use "Everything" (file finder) - portable version, and have not had a single problem

 

[MilesAhead]

If you have "Everything" search engine installed you will find that is the culprit. Similar software may act the same.
Just exit "Everything" and "Safely Remove" will work.
Always try the simple solution first. So much damage is caused by advice that is not appropriate.

That's a good point iff you have Everything set to autodetect changes. It will watch the MFTs for changes. Even if you have everything that might hook the drive off, sometimes Windows just doesn't want to let go. On my machines that's why I stopped using a free copy of Safely Remove. It pretty much did nothing except provide eye candy(might be particular to my machine.. I'm not saying the software isn't worth using if your PC likes it.)