how to let windows 7 and any other software not to occupy things?

[kenny1999]

how to avoid external HDD being occupied by programs

i've got some external 3.5 HDD. They are mainly for storage of films and movies. I never install programs or software on these drives. However, I find that a lot of time even though there are no files on these drives being processed (being copied, edited, transferred, etc) I still cannot safely remove these HDDs, returning with message saying that files are in used but I AM SURE that I do not.

I don't feel good unplugging the USB cable without safely remove

 

[TwoCables]

Can you try to use Safely Remove immediately on a fresh boot, before opening any of your programs?

 

[boohbah]

depending on what media players you use they can store info of the last movie played and some players can continue from where you left off , this can then stop you being able to eject a drive as it thinks it is in use, also sometimes if a drive is indexing or in the library this can also stop it ejecting "safely".
its my experience that if you are not playing any media then pulling out the usb is ok.
others will argue differently.

 

[ThrashZone]

I always right click and eject removable devices.
Which this should halt any program accessing them if it not go to Task manager and see what's listed.
Otherwise you should be able to remove it after shut down or using Clean boot on start up.
Clean boot,
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

 

[Kaktussoft]

Use this tool Handle