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Comment from Urso BR on 2009-05-09

2009-05-10T04:40:00Z

I am having this problem right now. I wish there was a way to know which disk is which (\Device\HarddiskN etc.). However, the drive properties in Device Manager say that it's optimized for quick removal and "this setting disables write caching on the disk and in Windows, so you can disconnect this device without using the Safe Removal icon." I am just going to do that, by lack of an alternative. It is empty right now anyway, I just formatted it and wiped it with PGP Shredder to eliminate malware that often comes with new flash disks.

Question: doesn't the error occur simply because of the "quick removal" setting, meaning Windows has no cache to flush and can't "remove" something that is already not permanently attached?

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Comment from Robert on 2009-02-19

2009-02-20T04:06:16Z

The drive may also be optimized for quick removal as opposed to performance in the device manager. If you check it in the list of drives you can change the option with a restart required.

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Comment from Galane on 2009-01-15

2009-01-15T08:41:03Z

Why, after so many years and so many versions of Windows, does Windows still do this? What SHOULD happen when the user selects a device to Safely Remove is Windows should AUTOMATICALLY and QUIETLY close all open file handles and flush all pending writes to the drive, then pop up the OK box. If for some reason it thinks some file is still open, it should present a list to the user. If the user knows nothing on the drive is in use, there should be a button to smack Windows upside the head. If the drive happens to be open in Windows Explorer, Windows should simply and QUIETLY move to C: or somewhere else WITHOUT COMPLAINING, just like it does when you eject a CD while looking at it with Windows Explorer.

Why, after all this time, does Windows not behave in this logical manner? Will the current dumb behavior be perpetuated in Windows 7?

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Comment from ray on 2009-01-09

2009-01-10T07:42:17Z

To unhook whatever is accessing your device, simply create a new folder anywhere, cut it and paste it in your recycle bin then emty your recycle bin.
now you should be able to safely unplug your device

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Comment from Wizzardofoz on 2008-12-24

2008-12-25T03:11:26Z

If you are in Vista you can use the inbuilt Resource monitor to check what is accessing the disk. Resource Monitor actually lists the drive letter so it is a little easier to identify the correct disk if you have many drives.

However I am not sure if it is present in all the flavors of Vista.

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Comment from Brian Bozwick on 2008-12-03

2008-12-03T16:08:46Z

closing outlook took care of the problem for me. I had sent an attachment from my usb drive and though e mail had been sent, I was still getting the "cannot be stopped error"

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Comment from WiseJoe on 2008-01-22

2008-01-22T18:18:58Z

Also there is another way of getting rid of this problem without any additional cliks - to use USB Safely Remove ( http://safelyremove.com ). It fully replaces native safely remove utility and allows to displays programs are locking the device. It's not free, but it's very handy when you use USB gadgets often

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Comment from susan b on 2008-01-17

2008-01-17T16:32:25Z

re: using "unhooker" to close any handles on the removeable drive: Just r-click on the drive in explorer, unhooker shows, select it, and select close handles. cant find this and cant unplug my WD external drive. thanks 4 the help! Susan

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Comment from ashoka on 2008-01-01

2008-01-01T14:07:31Z

Thanx Leo It was very good article.Now I am able to resolved the problem that I ever face.

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Comment from Bill Holland on 2007-12-29

2007-12-29T18:59:23Z

I frequently have .doc files on a USB drive that I may have been editing. I use Word as my default editor for Outlook, also. I have found that I have to close Outlook in order for the "Safe to remove..." message returns. It took me awhile to find that one.

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Comment from Robert Petteway on 2007-12-28

2007-12-29T02:16:20Z

I noticed, at the bottom of a Microsoft document, the author put a comment about using "unhooker" to close any handles on the removeable drive. It is free, donate if you want, and it works great! Just r-click on the drive in explorer, unhooker shows, select it, and select close handles. Done.

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Comment from Ken B on 2007-12-27

2007-12-27T19:01:25Z

Another useful feature of Process Explorer that you've pointed me to. Thanks. (I think I should take some time and just go through every menu choice and dialog box in that thing.)

In addition to "\device\harddisk", you may also want to search for "X:\" where "X:" is the drive letter of the USB drive.

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