How to identify what app has hard drives "in use"?

[HankAZ]

I have two external drives connected to my system most of the time. Lately when I try ti disconnect either of them using the safely remove hardware applet, I get an error message telling me that the drive is in use and cannot be stopped. I get the same message whether I have any apps running or not. How can I identify what is causing this problem?

 

[Tepid]

One application yo9u can use is Process Monitor
It shows more than you need and you will have to hunt through it, but it will show you paths of files in use or executed, etc.

You can also try USBDeview ,, it won't show you what is using the drive,, but it may help pull it safely.

There might be some others. And I know I saw another thread on these forums regarding the same question.

Quite honestly, I have never had a problem just yanking the drive. Ever. That I have ever noticed. This doesn't mean that others will not have problems. But, I never have. I almost always just yank the drive when I see the light ain't flashing no more. If it is and I want it to stop,, If I am really concerned about it (rarely) I will shut the system down then yank it. or try logging off.

 

[karlsnooks]

I have two external drives connected to my system most of the time. Lately when I try ti disconnect either of them using the safely remove hardware applet, I get an error message telling me that the drive is in use and cannot be stopped. I get the same message whether I have any apps running or not. How can I identify what is causing this problem?

WIN key
type Resource Monitor
ENTER key
Disk tab

WIN key is the key with the funny lookiing, wavy flag

 

[HankAZ]

One application yo9u can use is Process Monitor
It shows more than you need and you will have to hunt through it, but it will show you paths of files in use or executed, etc.

You can also try USBDeview ,, it won't show you what is using the drive,, but it may help pull it safely.

There might be some others. And I know I saw another thread on these forums regarding the same question.

Quite honestly, I have never had a problem just yanking the drive. Ever. That I have ever noticed. This doesn't mean that others will not have problems. But, I never have. I almost always just yank the drive when I see the light ain't flashing no more. If it is and I want it to stop,, If I am really concerned about it (rarely) I will shut the system down then yank it. or try logging off.

Thanks, I'll keep looking... So far I haven't had any issues with just pulling the USB connector, but it's always a risk... but it's puzzling what is holding the drive(s)... and when I reconnect them, the drive letters change (unless I reboot in between), because the old assigned drive letters are still assigned...

 

[arkhi]

Thanks, I'll keep looking... So far I haven't had any issues with just pulling the USB connector, but it's always a risk... but it's puzzling what is holding the drive(s)... and when I reconnect them, the drive letters change (unless I reboot in between), because the old assigned drive letters are still assigned...

Not really. Here's why:

Quick removal
This option is usually the best choice for devices that you are likely to remove from the system frequently, such as USB flash drives, SD, MMC, Compact Flash, or similar memory cards, and other externally attached storage.
When you select the Quick Removal option, Windows manages commands sent to the device using a method called write-through caching. In write-through caching, the device operates on write commands as if there were no cache. The cache may still provide a small performance benefit, but the emphasis is on treating the data as safely as possible by getting the commands to the principal storage. The main benefit is that you can remove the storage device from the system quickly without risking data loss. For example, if a flash drive were to be accidentally pulled out of its port, the data being written to it is much less likely to be lost.

Source: mkMSITStore:C:\Windows\help\mui\0409\diskmgt.CHM::/html/2202dcee-7989-4c2d-b1ff-00883f1a2d9e.htmmk:@MSITStore:C:\Windows\help\mui\0409\diskmgt.CHM::/html/2202dcee-7989-4c2d-b1ff-00883f1a2d9e.htm

Quick Removal setting is default on all removable media.