Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device

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Hello,

Lately this message always pops up whether the device is in use or not.

So device has to be  disconnected without clearing it, as there seems to be no alternative.

Are others experiencing this?

Is it a problem with a recent update?

Thank you

 

Razz

ASUS GL702VS 24GB RAM Intel Core i7 64 bit Win 10 Home 22H2 OS Build 19045.3693
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19053.1000.0
Not Win 11 eligible.

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I regularly get that same message if I’ve actually been “using” the device right before trying to eject it; especially if it was being viewed using File Explorer right before I tried to eject it.

If I wait ~15-20 secs and try again, it normally ejects just fine.

I suspect it’s some sort of timing issue where Windows doesn’t immediately release the memory hook to the device when you’re done using it.

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What you describe is typical. That is not what I am experiencing, it is entirely new. A restart doesn’t even change it.

 

ASUS GL702VS 24GB RAM Intel Core i7 64 bit Win 10 Home 22H2 OS Build 19045.3693
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19053.1000.0
Not Win 11 eligible.

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I regularly get that same message if I’ve actually been “using” the device right before trying to eject it…

Suggest checking the disk write caching setting on the drive that cannot be ejected.  If disk write caching is on, turn it off.  It might help.

Also, avoid have the drive you want to eject being the last one you accessed.  Before trying to eject it, navigate to a one of your user folders on your C drive boot disk.

https://www.howtoguides.org/Disable-Write-Caching-on-SSD

This is an old link, but directions are still valid.

Desktop mobo Asus TUF X299 Mark 1, CPU: Intel Core i7-7820X Skylake-X 8-Core 3.6 GHz, RAM: 32GB, GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti 4GB. Display: Four 27" 1080p screens 2 over 2 quad.

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TechTango wrote:

Suggest checking the disk write caching setting on the drive that cannot be ejected. If disk write caching is on, turn it off. It might help.

All of my USB drives are set for “Quick removal” (i.e. write caching disabled) but I still “sometimes” have to wait ~15-20 sec before Windows will let me eject it.

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A tool like Microsoft’s Sysinternals Handle can identify processes that hold an open handle to the USB drive that may be the source of the issue.  In my experience if processes that you cannot end safely are identified then perform a system shutdown.  When the system is not running you can disconnect/remove the USB drive.  FWIW, I have disabled Fast Startup on my own system so it does a complete shutdown and cold boot when it starts.

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TechTango

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Check Quick Removal Mode setting on the USB device

https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Flash-Drive-from-a-Windows-10-Computer

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dgc-art

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Susan says she never bothers to eject disks and has never had a problem with just unplugging.

cheers, Paul

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Every time I pulled a USB device without eject the next time when connecting the device I got notification for fixing the device.

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