Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device

[tgfyhre]

Okay so on my own machine it seems normal that those files are in use when a USB drive is plugged in.

View attachment 364001​

Note: Explorer also locks the drive.

However for me - "Safely Remove Hardware" works and the drive can be ejected.

I still suggest trying the stop explorer trick which leads me to one more thought. Perhaps set folder view options like this if yours are different.

View attachment 364002​

Okay, I believe autoplay was already disabled but I downloaded the reg file for removable drives and ran it. I also unchecked the folder view option as you suggested. I'll see if that improves things. I haven't tried killing explorer yet. I did have another instance of my external media player not ejecting tonight - it connects to my PC for file transfers via USB 3.0 and it did the same thing my enclosures do - the same locked files like you had in your screenshot above.

I'd love to solve this. It's a huge inconvenience and pretty ridiculous that it happens.

 

[easworld]

Try these steps:

1. right-click on Computer, select manage
2. click on disk management tab
3. left tab on external storage drive. right click on it and select "offline"
4. click the usb icon in task bar, you should see "safely remove"

hope this works

 

[tgfyhre]

Try these steps:

1. right-click on Computer, select manage
2. click on disk management tab
3. left tab on external storage drive. right click on it and select "offline"
4. click the usb icon in task bar, you should see "safely remove"

hope this works

I'll give this a try tomorrow and report back. Thanks for the suggestion.

EDIT: Gave it a quick try, but I don't have an option for "offline". I opened Computer Management, then selected disk management. On the right pane I have the different drives listed. When I right-click on the part to the left that says "Disk 2 - Basic - Online" I get a few different options (convert to dynamic disk, properties, help) but the other 3 options are all greyed out, and none of them is "offline". Am I doing something wrong?

 

[tgfyhre]

I couldn't eject my drives again this morning so I killed explorer and used my USB Disk ejector software to eject the disk - it still wouldn't eject so I restarted explorer and the drives are still there. This seems hopeless.

 

[GokAy]

Ok I will say try removing upper/lower filters at this stage:
Step by Step Guide to Deleting the UpperFilters and LowerFilters Registry Values

Create a manual System Restore point before starting

 

[Callender]

Okay well other than Gokay's suggestion - I do seem to remember having a similar problem maybe a year ago or more. From memory it was because a buggy shell extension was locking the drive but it didn't show up in any unlocking software.

These things can be hard to pin down but:

Check for and install updates for any software that installed a shell extension.

Also try disabling the most likely culprits and reboot then test.

If you want to really be sure - disable all non-microsoft shell extensions and reboot then test. If the problem vanished - try re-enabling shell extensions in small groups until the problem re-appears.

 

[GokAy]

Callender, how can you disable shell extensions? If you are talking about clean boot, we already tried that (see post 17). If it is something else, I would like to add to my library.

Hmm, checking the follow up posts, I can't say if OP actually tried a clean boot.

 

[Layback Bear]

Just a thought.

Remove the external drive from the enclosure. Hook power and data cables to the drive.

My understanding that some enclosures have programs/circuits that work independent to what the computer has.

I'm back to watching.

 

[Callender]

Re: Disabling shell extensions. Just for testing - not a guaranteed fix. Also I tend to disable those shell extensions that I never make use of or don't need.

Methods I use:

Run a scan with UVK and let it scan - you get a report showing file and folder context menu entries (shell extensions) and if any are found that are left installed afer removing software that didn't uninstall cleanly they can be deleted using a script.

<FileContextMenu> | edit | C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe | Notepad | F2C7BB8ACC97F92E987A2D4087D021B1 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | File Information | C:\Program Files\UVK - Ultra Virus Killer\UVK_en.exe | Ultra Virus Killer | 2E381E3D8073B86A5B546C29E2BCC63E | Signed :  Carifred

<FileContextMenu> | Force Delete | C:\Program Files\UVK - Ultra Virus Killer\UVK_en.exe | Ultra Virus Killer | 2E381E3D8073B86A5B546C29E2BCC63E | Signed :  Carifred

<FileContextMenu> | PeaZip |  | No description | Hash error: File not found | Unsigned :  No publisher

<FileContextMenu> | removeproperties | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | runas | C:\Windows\system32\takeown.exe | Takes ownership of a file | 53F4BCD594CC2A791E16246AED525B6D | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | TakeOwnerShipEx | C:\Program Files (x86)\TakeOwnershipEx\TakeOwnershipEx.exe | TakeOwnershipEx | AA6964CF7CE6212808C5A117019F023F | Unsigned :  http://winaero.com

<FileContextMenu> | Type | C:\Program Files\Types\Types.exe | Types | 8AC41B76CDD75703E5074D48A0231F26 | Unsigned :  E. Strunnikov

<FileContextMenu> | VirusTotal Scanner | C:\program files (x86)\securityxploded\virustotalscanner\virustotalscanner.exe | Desktop Tool to Perform Quick Anti-virus Scan using VirusTotal | 7C783AD72CAD7D178214D6B9D930DD5A | Unsigned :  SecurityXploded

<FileContextMenu> | Balabolka | C:\Program Files (x86)\Balabolka\BFileExt.dll | Balabolka Shell Extension | 40E53245A9073751693D1B0E77EA4971 | Unsigned :  Ilya Morozov

<FileContextMenu> | BriefcaseMenu | C:\Windows\system32\syncui.dll | Windows Briefcase | A10B048B681C38E26CA90CD1BC123604 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | EmEditor | C:\Program Files\EmEditor\emedshl64.dll | EmEditor Context Menu | 6A25C383BC6804933F5F7A3B4D9781CF | Signed :  Emurasoft, Inc.

<FileContextMenu> | LockHunterShellExt | C:\Program Files\LockHunter\LHShellExt64.dll | LockHunter Explorer Extension | 579AD392C231FDDD39E5792D7DCDA77A | Signed :  Crystal Rich Ltd

<FileContextMenu> | Open With | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | Open With EncryptionMenu | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | PuranDefrag |  | No description | Hash error: File not found | Unsigned :  No publisher

<FileContextMenu> | SAScanShlExt | C:\Program Files\SecureAge\AntiVirus\SAScanCtx.dll | SecureAge Antivirus Context Menu | 228186E71F6EA95D210237CBEA19D5E9 | Signed :  SecureAge Technology

<FileContextMenu> | SATrustCtxMenuExt | C:\Program Files\SecureAge\Whitelist\SATrustCtx.dll | Application Whitelisting context menu | A15CD09E2CF9CCBEAC74C259C1E48B77 | Signed :  SecureAge Technology Pte. Ltd.

<FileContextMenu> | Sharing | C:\Windows\system32\ntshrui.dll | Shell extensions for sharing | 037A719DAD50603202C978CD802623E4 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | {90AA3A4E-1CBA-4233-B8BB-535773D48449} | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | {a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | CopyAsPathMenu | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | FG_CTX | C:\PROGRA~1\NoVirusThanks\File Governor\FG_SHLEXT.dll | No description | 5320E5DFEE8A0D7BE8F91232167D6A10 | Signed :  No publisher

<FileContextMenu> | SendTo | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FileContextMenu> | {596AB062-B4D2-4215-9F74-E9109B0A8153} | C:\Windows\system32\twext.dll | Previous Versions property page | 534D84434D9DB1D1E1E865F64E52AA8E | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | explore | C:\Windows\system32\explorerframe.dll | ExplorerFrame | EED05D42D91835064703E2318552ED25 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | open | C:\Windows\Explorer.exe | Windows Explorer | 332FEAB1435662FC6C672E25BEB37BE3 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | opennewprocess | C:\Windows\system32\explorerframe.dll | ExplorerFrame | EED05D42D91835064703E2318552ED25 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | opennewwindow | C:\Windows\system32\explorerframe.dll | ExplorerFrame | EED05D42D91835064703E2318552ED25 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | TakeOwnerShipEx | C:\Program Files (x86)\TakeOwnershipEx\TakeOwnershipEx.exe | TakeOwnershipEx | AA6964CF7CE6212808C5A117019F023F | Unsigned :  http://winaero.com

<FolderContextMenu> | BriefcaseMenu | C:\Windows\system32\syncui.dll | Windows Briefcase | A10B048B681C38E26CA90CD1BC123604 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | Library Location | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | SAScanShlExt | C:\Program Files\SecureAge\AntiVirus\SAScanCtx.dll | SecureAge Antivirus Context Menu | 228186E71F6EA95D210237CBEA19D5E9 | Signed :  SecureAge Technology

<FolderContextMenu> | SATrustCtxMenuExt | C:\Program Files\SecureAge\Whitelist\SATrustCtx.dll | Application Whitelisting context menu | A15CD09E2CF9CCBEAC74C259C1E48B77 | Signed :  SecureAge Technology Pte. Ltd.

<FolderContextMenu> | {a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | Browse with &IrfanView | C:\Program Files (x86)\IrfanView\i_view32.exe | IrfanView | D5C0C468F5CE03E680F73283EC5DF1AC | Signed :  Irfan Skiljan

<FolderContextMenu> | cmd | C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe | Windows Command Processor | 5746BD7E255DD6A8AFA06F7C42C1BA41 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | find | C:\Windows\Explorer.exe | Windows Explorer | 332FEAB1435662FC6C672E25BEB37BE3 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | Force Delete | C:\Program Files\UVK - Ultra Virus Killer\UVK_en.exe | Ultra Virus Killer | 2E381E3D8073B86A5B546C29E2BCC63E | Signed :  Carifred

<FolderContextMenu> | PeaZip |  | No description | Hash error: File not found | Unsigned :  No publisher

<FolderContextMenu> | runas | C:\Windows\system32\takeown.exe | Takes ownership of a file | 53F4BCD594CC2A791E16246AED525B6D | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | UltraFileSearch | C:\Program Files (x86)\UltraFileSearch\UltraFileSearch.exe | UltraFileSearch - File Search Utility | 9F22B70497B99C813551841617A333A3 | Unsigned :  Stegisoft

<FolderContextMenu> | EmEditor | C:\Program Files\EmEditor\emedshl64.dll | EmEditor Context Menu | 6A25C383BC6804933F5F7A3B4D9781CF | Signed :  Emurasoft, Inc.

<FolderContextMenu> | EncryptionMenu | C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll | Windows Shell Common Dll | 01F9FEB7F0C84EA1AC6A9B4D7C6B0435 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | LockHunterShellExt | C:\Program Files\LockHunter\LHShellExt64.dll | LockHunter Explorer Extension | 579AD392C231FDDD39E5792D7DCDA77A | Signed :  Crystal Rich Ltd

<FolderContextMenu> | Sharing | C:\Windows\system32\ntshrui.dll | Shell extensions for sharing | 037A719DAD50603202C978CD802623E4 | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

<FolderContextMenu> | {596AB062-B4D2-4215-9F74-E9109B0A8153} | C:\Windows\system32\twext.dll | Previous Versions property page | 534D84434D9DB1D1E1E865F64E52AA8E | Signed :  Microsoft Corporation

For the rest of the entries - manually check version and check for software updates.

For an in depth look at shell extensions:

There's Nirsofts ShellExView or there's a 64 bit version. As you can see it's possible to disable non-microsoft shell extensions if you think they are problematic.



Then there's ShellMenuView from the same company. It's possible to see shell extensions by type and we would be interested in any non-microsoft ones labelled Directory, Drive or File Folder, plus any other non-microsoft entries.

On my machine I had installed software "Disk Sorter" and the shell extension did lock drives.

 

[GokAy]

You must spread some love before ...

Thanks for the info, I knew context menu entries are shell extensions but would think there were more to them. In this case, perhaps you can add CCleaner to the list too? I don't know if it actually disable them or make them to not show.

 

[Callender]

Ccleaner - it's okay but doesn't show all entries for shell extensions. It's a good place to start though. It offers disable and dlete options.

Re: My earlier post on write caching.

Take a look at the post here from member WHS (note the number of forum posts - he knows what he is talking about)

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware...b-external-drive-post1484453.html#post1484453

If you are worried about loosing data - backup a drive that you want to test before going ahead.

Also see:

HTG Explains: Do You Really Need to Safely Remove USB Sticks?

Apparently enabling write caching does increase the chance of data corruption.

 

[Callender]

More tests:

Do you have ProcessExplorer? If so does entering the drive letter in the find handle or DLL search box reveal anything other than those System processes?

If so - I've found that if you close any file handles the drive can still be ejected.

See:

Explorer locking external drive F



From the PID - close handle





You can see that Windows Photo Viewer is still displaying the image (file that was opened from drive F) but since the handle has been closed it's possible to eject the drive.

Of course none of that helps if there are no non system processes or Dll's showing up!

 

[easworld]

I'll give this a try tomorrow and report back. Thanks for the suggestion.

EDIT: Gave it a quick try, but I don't have an option for "offline". I opened Computer Management, then selected disk management. On the right pane I have the different drives listed. When I right-click on the part to the left that says "Disk 2 - Basic - Online" I get a few different options (convert to dynamic disk, properties, help) but the other 3 options are all greyed out, and none of them is "offline". Am I doing something wrong?[/QUOTE]

In that case, your device is cannot be recognized properly to do this.
Try following:

1) Go to Device Manager
2) Extend Disk drives and right-click on the USB device
3) Select Properties
4) Go to the Policies tab of the newly open window.
5) Check the option ‘Quick removal'

 

[tgfyhre]

I still haven't had any luck with this. My "computer management" doesn't have that "offline" option when I click on it.

 

[tgfyhre]

Well I'm at my wit's end with this issue.

Since I bought additional USB 3.0 external drive bays for storage it's been a nightmare for me. I never had these issues with eSATA but eSATA cards are much more expensive than USB 3.0 cards. I never know when it's going to eject the drives okay and when it's going to fail, and every time it fails I have to stop what I'm doing to reboot my PC to turn off my external boxes. Ridiculous. I cannot believe Microsoft hasn't come up with a solution for this.

 

[Callender]

Perhaps you could try disabling all non-microsoft shell extensions and non-microsoft context menu items of explorer before rebooting and testing to see if you can then eject drives.

ShellMenuView - Disable/enable context menu items of Explorer

ShellExView - Shell Extension Manager For Windows

What you would be most interested in is non-microsoft context menu items for drives:

ShellMenuView:



But you can also disable only non-microsoft shell extensions perhaps in small groups using ShellExView.

 

[tgfyhre]

Something weird happened just 5 minutes ago. I went to detach one of my external USB 3 enclosures, and as usual, it wouldn't allow me to. I also had my Mede8er external media player attached via USB 3.0 for file transfer to it's internal HDD. To detach that player, the tech support team strongly advises using the USB Disk Ejector:

The International House of Mojo

due to the Mede8er using Linux. They strongly advise not using the regular Windows USB eject method. So I use that, but it often has the same issue - sometimes it will eject the Mede8er player, sometimes it can't because it's "in use" by the same process that gives me trouble with my external enclosures. Well after Windows failed to eject my enclosure today, I then clicked on the USB Disk Ejector icon to try and eject the Mede8er, and that actually ejected fine this time. For the heck of it, I tried again to eject my enclosure using the standard Windows "Safely remove hardware and eject media" icon, and this time, it ejected the enclosure.

So it failed to eject the enclosure, I then used USB disk ejector to eject my external media player, then tried again to eject my enclosure and it ejected. I have no idea why it ejected the enclosure fine the second time. It must have been something to do with the USB disk ejector, but that doesn't work for my enclosure, only my media player - when I try to use it on my enclosure, it appears to eject but immediately pops right back up again in the list of drives.

I actually have ShellExView already - I use it to keep my right-click options under control. I'm still convinced this is caused by a Windows process.

 

[Callender]

Well you may be correct but I remember having the same problem around two years ago - too long ago to remember exact details but it was a software issue (for me) and fully removing the software solved the problem!

Try ShellMenuView anyway and see what shows up for drives?