Safely Remove Hardware - Eject Device

How to Use Safely Remove Hardware to Eject a Device in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to use Safely Remove Hardware in Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows RT to safely shutdown and eject a storage device before just unplugging or disconnecting it to help prevent accidental data loss if data were still being copied or saved to or from the device. For example, if you have write caching enable on the device.

   Tip

To have access to an external drive (ex: USB key) again after you have already ejected it using Safely Remove Hardware, you will just need to unplug it and plug it back in, or restart the PC.


Available Hotfix:

• USB Port Remains Active for Disabled or Safely Removed USB Device

   Warning

It is not recommended to eject an internal drive. If you do, then restarting the computer will allow you to have access to it again.

Here's How:
1. Make sure that anything that is being copied or saved to or from the storage device that you want to eject has finished.

2. Click/tap on the Safely Remove Hardware notification area icon, and click/tap on the Eject drive option for the listed drive that you want to eject, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)

OR

3. Open Devices and Printers.
A) Right click or press and hold on the storage device that you want to eject, then click/tap on Eject. (see screenshot below)

OR

B) Right click or press and hold on your computer device (ex: WINDOWS7-PC), select Eject, then click/tap on a listed storage device that you want to eject. (see screenshot below)

C) You will notice that your device will have a warning/alert overlay icon it now. This only indicates that you will not be able to use this device again unless you unplug it and then plug it in again. (see screenshot below)

4. When you see this notification message below, you can now safely remove the device from the computer. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Some devices (ex: USB flash drives) may still have their light on even after you ejected it. As long as you got this Safe to remove hardware message below, it will be safe to disconnect your device even though the light is still on.

   Tip

If you do not get the Safe to remove hardware notification message above, then for next time uncheck Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar (click on link) box and click on OK. Afterwards check the Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar box and click on OK. This will toggle these settings off an on to have it work again.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Enable or Disable Write-Caching for a Storage Device in Windows 7
• How to Open Devices and Printers in Windows 7
• How to Create a "Safely Remove Hardware" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Add "Safely Remove Hardware" to the Desktop Context Menu
• How to Disable "Do you want to scan and fix Removable Drive" Prompt in Windows
• How to Uninstall a Device in Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[kman1953]

Brink,
Thanks again! Makes me feel better knowing what's going on there.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome kman.

 

[tonyw]

Thanks Shawn,
An old post, but your tip to "... then for next time uncheck Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar (click on link) box and click on OK. Afterwards check the Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar box and click on OK. This will toggle these settings off an on to have it work again".

I tried other tips that didn't work. I now have the icon again to "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media". Toggling all-on then, off and selecting the one I want to show and toggling on "Show icon and notifications" worked.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Tony. I'm glad it could help.

 

[pxfragonard]

Hi Shawn. It's strange, but, the external drive I use for music won't eject. It says that an application is still using it. But it isn't. When I tried to eject it through the Devices & Pinter method, it worked! Two questions: any idea why it works one way & not the other? Second, any idea how to find out what application or service is using it when if fails to eject?

 

[Brink]

Hello pxfragonard,

I'm not sure why one method would eject it and not the other. You could check in Task Manager to see what is running that be holding it up.

 

[pxfragonard]

Hello pxfragonard,

I'm not sure why one method would eject it and not the other. You could check in Task Manager to see what is running that be holding it up.

Hi back. I've looked there and no apps were running. Looked in Task Manager but don't really know what I'm looking for. No apps running. I'll include a screen shot of all processes. Maybe you can tell me if you can spot something that might be connected to external drives, please?

 

[Brink]

I would suspect that it may be the app you were using to listen to the music, or anything that was accessing the drive that could have hanged.

 

[pxfragonard]

That's what I thought, but the vlc wasn't running. Thanks anyway.