brbillyh

Hi,

Does anyone know how to remove HDD from USB port on Windows Vista? Whenever I try to remove, the message saying that the device is being used is showed in the box, however, all windows and applications are closed.

This procedure doesn't happen on Windows XP, or if I use any pen drive on Vista.

I have searched some solutions in the Internet, but none of them solved the case. I also have changed in device manage the policy to use - optimize performance, but it was not the solution. I tried to use some software, but it didn't work as well.

I have two external HD that have the same behavior - IOMEGA and FREECOM.

I would appreciate it if anyone has any solution to solve it - remove USB safety.

Thanks.

Deleted090308

Hi

Have you scanned the computer, including external drives, for malware?

brbillyh

Hi,

Yes, and there is no virus or malware installed in the HDDs....

however, I think that it is not the problem, because it doesn't happen when the external HDD is connected to Windows XP. On WXP works normally, I am able to remove using the icon installed in the tray to remove in safety the HDD.

Thanks.

Deleted090308

Try running Process explorer when an external HDD is connected to see what's "using" the drive.

brbillyh

Hi,

I installed the process explorer, but how do I know which process I need to "kill" in order to be possible to remove in safety the HDD? I didnt see any process identified as an external HDD.

Does anyone have any hints?

Thanks.

Deleted090308

Run process explorer when you have an external drive connected. Maximize the window.
Please post a screenshot.

How to post a screenshot.

brbillyh

Hi,

See attached. you will be able to see the print screen. Please let me know if you need more information, and tell me how to remove the HDD: note: there are two external HD connected by USB port.

Thanks.

Process-01.jpg

Process-02.jpg

Process-03.jpg

Deleted090308

I would look closer at VMware. Are you running virtual machines?

brbillyh

Hi,

I have VMware installed, but the vmware is not running when the USB (HDD) is active.

I have other laptop where vmware is not installed, and I have the same problem.

Does anyone have external HDD and Vista to test it? It is not happening in this kind of machine? Remember: it works on WXP.

Thanks.

Deleted090308

I have no problems with "safely remove" in Vista 32- and 64-bit.
(there are a few WMware processes running in the screenshots)

I'll move this thread to the Vista forum. Let's hope somebody knows the answer.

brbillyh

Hi,

I want to say that I also have no problem when I use pen drive. If it is a pen drive, the remove option works fine, but if it is an external HD, such as IOMEGA or FREECOM, it is not possible to remove them.

Thanks.

telwat

I use a Freecom with the policy 'optimize performance' and have no problems with 'safely remove'
Vista HP Sp1

brbillyh

Hi,

Luck you, but I have already changed this option before, but it didnt work, the message saying that there is a program using the HDD is showed in the msg box, however, none program is running, all windows are closed.


Thanks.

jcgriff2

Hi brbillyh. . .

Welcome to Vista Support.

For my understanding, please:

The issue at this time is that you have an external USB HDD that you cannot "remove safely" because Vista tells you that a process is using it?

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

brbillyh

Hi,

Yes, but there is no process running in the moment that I try to remove the HDD. If i just connect the HDD in the USB port, and - this time, there is no program or process running - all windows are closed, even after this, the message is still the same.

Thanks.

jcgriff2

There are dozens of Vista system services that run under a single svchost - and this system has 14 svchost running right now. So the actual service or app running just may not be readily apparent at this time.

In Task Manager, are you clicking on the bottom-left of the app screen - show processes from all users?

brbillyh

Hi,

Look, as I said, if the computer is started, I plugged the HDD, and I try to disconnect it using the option - remove safety - in the tray, the message is showed. None applications are running, none applications in the task manager...have you seen the screenshot that I posted? you will be able all processes running.

Note, this is not happen when I remove a pen drive, it works normally.

It is not a HDD problem, because on WXP, it works.

Thanks.

macten

just taking a wild guess here. And I didn't look at the screen shots. I would shut down everything on the lower right side of the task bar and then try it. Right click the icons and shut em down. I know, probably won't do anything but will only take a minute to find out.

jcgriff2

Hi. . .

Apologies... I missed the pix the 1st time through earlier. I see you use one of my my favorites - SysInternals Suite by Dr. Mark Russinovich. Nice.

Did you check the properties tab on the 2 external HDDs to make sure that ReadyBoost is not enabled?

What are your system's page file settings? Is there a chance that the system is managing a pagefile.sys on either drive?

What about KIS? Could it have been scanning?

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

brbillyh

Hi,

I turned off the option about ReadBoost, and I also have posted a question about this problem in the other forum - kaspersky, but it seems that it is not KIS problem. In both situation, none of them worked.

There is a interesting and weird situation. I have 3 HDDs. Two of them has 120 (Freecom) and 160 GB (Iomega), and one has 500GB (Iomega). All of them works fine on WXP - to remove - as I said. The last one HDD500GB works fine on Vista. I am not sure why it works fine, but the hdd (120 and 160), it is not possible to remove them.

Thanks.