Safely removing USB External Hard Disk Drive

[Melissa]

Hello Forum,

I have run the Disk Check - which found errors.

I am wondering if I can access the FOUND.000 folder that was created?

I am also wondering if I should have perhaps used the manufacturers - Seagate's tool - would this assist me or would I be wasting my time - SeaTools for Windows | Seagate

I am not too sure what to do now. I have spent ages waiting for the scan and appreciate the advice given on here.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No Melissa go ahead and do that.

 

[Melissa]

What do you mean - no Melissa - go ahead and do that?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

What do you mean - no Melissa - go ahead and do that?

I meant go ahead and run the Seagate hard drive tests - sorry should have been a bit more explicit

 

[Melissa]

That is fine.

I do not know if I have lost any information or why there now is a folder named FOUND.000 on my hard drive.

I can not make any sense on the report that came after the scan. I am hoping that I did not loose any data. I did note that the volume size did change after the scan.

I did go onto the Seagate Support facebook page - they advised the following regarding the safely removing issue: Windows will not allow me to safely remove my drive. It keeps reporting the drive is busy or in use

I noted that one option was to turn off indexing. I have taken the advice to leave it on.

So perhaps I should have left the SCANNOW and used the right tools.

Can you please assist me?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Melissa no the scans or the scannow - it is an inbuilt Windows feature would not have done anything untoward. As for the indexing I am not real sure of what it is they are referring to. Might have to ask around and see what comes up.

 

[Barman58]

I think the basic issue with the indexing of a removable drive is due to the way indexing works.

As soon as the user activity drops off, below a certain level, which indicates that it is OK for the system to start updating the index, the system commences to index.

The Safely remove device routine sees the indexing activity, which is read/write access to the drive, and therefore will not complete and allow safe removal.

The only ways that this could be prevented is to either not index the removable drive or to allow a suitable amount of time after the last use of the drive to allow indexing to complete before attempting removal.

The problem is that you never know how long you need to leave the system to complete, as it depends on the size of the drive and the number of changes to indexed data to be processed.

The indexing will not start or will stop if there is user interaction but unfortunately the Remove Safely routine is a system activity which will not stop the indexing, and thus starts a loop, the act of starting the safe removal is a user action but this may not be enough to stop indexing.

There may be a setting somewhere in the system to set the length of user inactivity required to stop indexing, I don't know, and it may not be user configurable

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Nigel I think I have got the gist of it as in the indexing is an automatically triggered feature via inactivity or when one is asking to safely remove the drive?

So I am now thinking maybe to turn off the indexing as the OP is asking. If so I shall have to go find how to do that - thanks again.

 

[Barman58]

Can be controlled on a drive by drive basis or folder by folder in the indexing options' just type indexing in start search

 

[Melissa]

I am just enquiring as to what the best option is to do -- turn off indexing as per the Seagate Websites advice.

I am still having trouble with Safely removing the drive.

In easy to digest for the non computer user - do you suggest turning off the indexing and also running the Seatools?

The other question is can you post screen shots on how to remove the drives from indexing or just do as above and then it will be easier to remove the drive safely.

Very confused.

Thanks again.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=7A797BF1CB645296!883
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=7A797BF1CB645296!874

I have a few screen shots as my other computer is out of action - like myself

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I am just enquiring as to what the best option is to do -- turn off indexing as per the Seagate Websites advice.

I am still having trouble with Safely removing the drive.

In easy to digest for the non computer user - do you suggest turning off the indexing and also running the Seatools?

The other question is can you post screen shots on how to remove the drives from indexing or just do as above and then it will be easier to remove the drive safely.

Very confused.

Thanks again.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=7A797BF1CB645296!883
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=7A797BF1CB645296!874

I have a few screen shots as my other computer is out of action - like myself

Sorry for late reply Melissa yep use this - OPTION TWO

Index - Enable or Disable

it says Vista but it is for 7 as well.

 

[Melissa]

I am sorry for asking a silly question - do you mean OPTION TWO to the link that you posted.

I am not the best at following directions at the moment and do not wish to stuff it up.

I am going to post up some other questions as I see some of the performances and services used on the Windows Task Manager a bit wierd.

But that can wait. Many Windows Updates to hit my computer.

Thanks for the post

 

[AddRAM]

Don`t turn off indexing M, leave windows settings as they are.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes Melissa to be honest I have to go with AddRAM with the indexing. As for the updates do them in batches that is tick a few at a time to download and install instead of doing the whole lot. Doing that means if you hit a problem with one at least you can go back sort it out.