How to safely remove a USB drive even when Windows says it isn’t safe to do so - gibsonthistalre98

Windows doesn't always allow you to safely remove a flash drive or foreign hard drive. Klaatu asked the Answer Demarcation forum for advice.

If you simply pull an external drive kayoed of a running computer, you're asking for trouble. You mightiness lose files, crash applications, OR even ruin everything on the computer. Merely removing it safely ISN't e'er as easy equally it should exist.

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Windows' assembled-in solution usually works: Click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area (aka the organisation tray operating theater the systray) and select the drive. When you get the "Safe To Remove Computer hardware" message, it's safe to remove the computer hardware.

But sometimes, "usually" ISN't good, and Windows instead tells you that "This device is currently in use."

But Windows won't William Tell you what's victimisation the gimmick. Without that entropy, it's tough to know how to fix the problem.

Guessing makes a good start. Close all of your Windows Explorer Windows, along with any programs that might atomic number 4 holding onto a file in from the campaign. Then effort the Safely Remove Hardware picture again.

If that doesn't work, you bathroom simply close your computer–not hole up it or put it in sleep mode–but shut it down completely. That always plant, but it takes time and interrupts your workflow.

In the original forum discussion, Flashorn offered an improved variation: Log off, log connected, and try over again. Information technology's quicker than a full closedown and reboot, and IT will in all likelihood scalelike whatever process is causing the problem. But it still takes time.

Which is why I prefer Unlocker. Intended to help you unrestrained up files that Windows won't let you delete, it can also serve free external drives. Unlocker doesn't cost anything, although you're pleased to make a $5 donation.

Download and install the program. Then, the close time Windows tells you that a "device is currently used," right-sink in the drive and select Unlocker. The program testament tell you what procedure or processes are causation the problem.

It will also offer solutions. It can kill the process(Es), but that can make Windows unstable. It can also try to unlock the files from one or all processes without killing them.

My favorite solution isn't connected the Unlocker menu. Once you know what process is causation the problem, you can usually puzzle out what application you need to close–they loosely have the identical name. Indeed you simply close that program manually, saving all appropriate files, then use the Safely Polish of Computer hardware ikon again.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/452305/how-to-safely-remove-a-usb-drive-even-when-windows-says-it-isnt-safe-to-do-so.html

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